Enjoy Christmas without the credit card trimmings

Shoppers funding Christmas with a credit card could face debts that hang around long after the decorations come down.

New research from moneysupermarket.com reveals cardholders who only make minimum repayments against their Christmas spending could face a debt sentence that lasts until September 2016.

Anyone spending the expected average of £376 on Christmas using a typical credit card could take over seven years to repay the cost of just one season's festivities if they only make the minimum repayment each month. It could also cost them £217 in interest.

Peter Harrison, credit card expert at moneysupermarket.com, said: "Shoppers planning to use their cards over the festive season should consider taking out a zero per cent purchase card such as Halifax One, which will give them 10 months to pay off their Christmas purchases without incurring any interest."

Those who can only afford to make minimum repayments could opt for a low standard rate card such as Barclaycard Simplicity at 6.8 per cent - but this would still take six years and 10 months to pay off and incur £84 in interest.

Peter Harrison added: "Those who have an existing balance currently - or who are likely to be left with a balance in the New Year - could look to move to a zero per cent balance transfer card such as Virgin with its 16-month offer. But don't do any spending on the card.

"To avoid a seven-year financial hangover from Christmas, shoppers should make some fiscal New Year resolutions. They should try to transfer existing debt to a zero per cent balance transfer card and ensure they pay off this Christmas's spending before they start on next year's. The key benefit of any zero per cent card is that all of the monthly repayment goes towards clearing the outstanding balance and therefore the debt can be cleared much quicker."