Founder of Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has warned anyone who has a loan, overdraft, mortgage or credit card has just days left to take action that could prevent you spiralling into debt before Christmas.
Government protections brought in during the coronavirus pandemic are about to change shifting the rules, and people have just over a week to protect their finances, according to Martin.
He said the measures brought in to help people during the outbreak are now starting to come to an end.
Writing on the MoneySavingExpert website, Martin said: "While as a nation we're far from out of the pandemic's clutches, these schemes are gradually being dismantled. With most, there's little you can do to alter that."
Martin is urging anyone who needs help with their debt to take action within the next 10 days - and secure a three-month payment holiday.
Contact your lender and tell them you want to apply for the payment holiday as soon as possible.
You can apply before the October 31 deadline and get a payment holiday almost automatically on mortgages, overdrafts, credit cards, personal loans, insurance, car finance, buy-now-pay-later, rent-to-own and pawnbroker loans.
Martin warns that your payments will be higher once they begin again in the new year - as interest will have accrued.
And while it won't go on your credit history it may be used in future to help decided whether to extend new credit.
After October 31 the scheme will change and will be much more limited - with any payment holidays being registered on your file.
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