Young people heading to university this autumn are being urged to understand the risks associated with easily accessible forms of credit. Advice NI warns that the repayments across credit options such as payday loans, overdrafts, credit cards, and buy-now-pay-later schemes, can quickly become unaffordable, leaving students vulnerable to problematic debt.
Data from the charity’s personal debt service shows that students across Northern Ireland are becoming increasingly reliant on credit cards, with those supported by Advice NI in 2025 owing around £1,600 on average. Worryingly, the data also shows that some students have turned to payday loans, with individual amounts owed exceeding £2,000. Students seeking support from the…