For the past 10 years, a £9k black cloud of debt hung over the head of one writer, until this month when it was finally paid off. Rather than celebrating, the writer regrets a costly debt repayment mistake.

Back in 2015 at age 22, a £9,000 loan was taken out with a private student loan company to fund a postgraduate journalism course. The funds covered tuition and living costs for the year-long program.

With help from a step-dad, the loan paperwork was reviewed to calculate the interest. The interest rate used two benchmarks during different years, causing rates to fluctuate between roughly 9% and 7%. Initial estimates showed about £4,000 would go toward interest if only minimum monthly payments were made.

The step-dad advised increasing monthly repayments after securing a job to save thousands, as paying off debt faster reduces total interest. However, this advice was ignored. After getting a first job in journalism, spare cash went toward treats like Nando's takeaways, ASOS hauls, and pub visits instead of the loan.

Even after moving to a higher-paying job, clearing the loan was not prioritized. While becoming more financially savvy through savings and investing, experts note that high-interest debt should be cleared first.

Monthly payments varied between £110 and £117, resulting in roughly £4,300 paid in interest overall. Paying £150 monthly could have saved about £1,400 in interest, while £180 monthly could have saved around £2,300.

I am one of thousands of debt-surfers

Coasting on minimum monthly payments makes someone a debt-surfer, and this group is large. According to the Financial Conduct Authority, more than 1.5 million people pay only the minimum on their credit cards each month, excluding private loan holders.

Debt surfers can follow four steps to regain control.

First, create a budget to find spending cuts that free up money for loan payments. Cancelling a gym membership or starting a no-buy month for non-essentials can help. Small, regular overpayments drastically reduce interest over time.

Sarah advises starting with manageable overpayments and increasing them when finances improve. For overpayments exceeding £8k a year, check for fees to ensure interest savings outweigh charges.

Second, prioritize which debt to clear first. The avalanche method targets debts with the highest interest rates first to minimize interest costs. Alternatively, the snowball method tackles the smallest debt first for a psychological boost, though it makes less financial sense.

Third, automate debt repayments using direct debits for minimum payments so no due dates are missed.

Fourth and finally, contact the loan provider if struggling to pay. They might reduce repayment terms or freeze interest.

How to get debt help

Free, confidential, and impartial support is available for anyone struggling with debt. Debt advice should not cost money, and the Government's MoneyHelper website can locate free support from organisations like Money Wellness, StepChange, and National Debtline by visiting moneyhelper.org.uk and searching for the debt advice locator.

Citizens Advice offers debt support in England at 0800 144 8848. Self-employed individuals can contact Business Debtline for specialist free advice at 0800 197 6026.