Credit Card Stoozing UK: How To Maximise 0% Financing

What if you could borrow money from a credit card company, pay zero interest on it, and earn a profit from the cash sitting in your savings account?

That is credit card stoozing. And right now, it is one of the best times in years to give it a go. Savings rates are sitting around 4.5% to 4.67%, and 0% spending credit cards are offering up to 26 months interest-free.

This guide explains exactly how stoozing works, who should (and should not) do it, the golden rules to stay safe, and the current best 0% credit cards to get started with.

What Is Stoozing?

Stoozing is the art of creating an unneeded debt to make money. Here is the simple version:

1. You take out a 0% spending credit card (interest-free for a set period, typically 12-26 months).
2. You do all your normal everyday spending on that card instead of your debit card.
3. The cash that would have left your bank account stays there. You move it into a high-interest savings account.
4. You only pay the minimum monthly repayment on the card (via Direct Debit, so you never miss a payment).
5. When the 0% period is about to end, you clear the card balance using the cash you saved. The interest earned is your profit.

It is genuinely that simple. The credit card company lends you money at 0%, you park the equivalent cash in savings earning 4.5%+, and you pocket the difference.

Is Stoozing Right For You?

Let's be straight: stoozing is not for everyone. It requires discipline and organisation. Get it wrong and it costs you money rather than making it.

Stoozing is for you if:

• You are credit-card-debt-free (this is non-negotiable).
• You always pay your bills on time and never miss a Direct Debit.
• You are comfortable managing multiple financial products.
• You have a decent credit history and are likely to be accepted for a 0% card.
• You want to earn an extra few hundred quid a year for about half an hour of effort.

Do NOT stooze if:

• You have existing credit card, overdraft, or loan debt. Pay that off first.
• You are forgetful with payments. One missed minimum repayment can kill the 0% deal.
• You are likely to be tempted to spend more just because you have a new credit card.
• You have a mortgage or important credit application coming up soon (the extra debt on your file could affect affordability checks).
• You find the whole thing confusing or stressful. A cashback credit card paid off in full each month is a simpler alternative.

How Much Can You Make From Stoozing?

The profit from stoozing is the interest you earn on cash that sits in savings instead of leaving your bank account. Because the money builds up month by month rather than all at once, the maths depends on how much you spend and how long your 0% period lasts.

Below are five worked examples, all assuming a 24-month 0% card and a 4.5% AER easy-access savings rate (compounded monthly). Minimum payments are calculated at 2.5% of the balance or £25, whichever is higher.

A quick note on credit limits: the examples assume your limit is high enough. In reality, a single 0% card typically offers £3,000 to £8,000. For the higher spending levels, you would need two or three cards running at the same time.

If you spend £1,000 per month, you could make £1,134 profit by stoozing

• Total moved to savings over 24 months: £24,000
• Interest earned at 4.5% AER: £1,134
• That is about £47 per month in free money.

With £1,000 monthly outgoings (groceries, fuel, bills, subscriptions), you would need a credit limit of around £6,000. One 0% card is plenty. This is the easiest entry point and the one that suits most people.

If you spend £2,000 per month, you could make £2,268 profit by stoozing

• Total moved to savings over 24 months: £48,000
• Interest earned at 4.5% AER: £2,268
• That is about £95 per month in free money.

A £2,000 monthly spend might be a couple or a family with a mortgage, utilities, food shop, and childcare. You would need about £12,000 in total credit limits across two 0% cards. Apply a few months apart to avoid back-to-back hard searches.

If you spend £3,000 per month, you could make £3,402 profit by stoozing

• Total moved to savings over 24 months: £72,000
• Interest earned at 4.5% AER: £3,402
• That is about £142 per month in free money.

This is higher-end spending: a London household, a family with higher outgoings, or someone who puts big one-off purchases through the card. You would need about £18,000 across two or three cards. At this level, stoozing starts to feel like a meaningful side income.

If you spend £4,000 per month, you could make £4,537 profit by stoozing

• Total moved to savings over 24 months: £96,000
• Interest earned at 4.5% AER: £4,537
• That is about £189 per month in free money.

£4,000 monthly outgoings puts you at the top end for most UK households. You would need about £25,000 across three or more cards, plus the organisational skills to track multiple payment dates and 0% end dates.

If you spend £5,000 per month you could make £5,671 profit by stoozing

• Total moved to savings over 24 months: £120,000
• Interest earned at 4.5% AER: £5,671
• That is about £236 per month in free money.

This is rare territory: high-earning households, people who travel for work and expense it, or those running a limited company. You would need £30,000+ in credit limits across three or more cards. This requires top-tier credit and meticulous date tracking.

A few things to keep in mind...

First, savings rates change. If the Bank of England cuts the base rate, your 4.5% account might drop. You still make a profit because the 0% debt costs you nothing. It is just a smaller one.

Second, these numbers assume you never miss a payment and always clear or transfer the balance before the 0% period ends. Get either of those wrong and the 25% APR will wipe out your gains fast.

The key takeaway: even at £1,000 a month, you are looking at over £1,100 in free money over two years. Scale that up to your actual monthly spending and the numbers speak for themselves.

The Golden Safety Rules

These five rules are non-negotiable. Break any of them and your stooze turns from a money-maker into an expensive mistake.

1. Always pay the monthly minimum. Set up a Direct Debit for the minimum repayment the day you get the card. Miss a payment and you could lose the 0% deal entirely, plus get hit with a ~£12 fee and a mark on your credit file.
2. Never withdraw cash or transfer debt onto the card. Only use your stoozing card for everyday spending (groceries, fuel, bills, etc.). Cash withdrawals trigger interest immediately, often at 25%+ APR, plus a cash advance fee of around 3%.
3. Clear the card or balance-transfer it before the 0% period ends. The month before your 0% deal expires, either pay the balance in full from your stooze savings pot, or shift it to another 0% card using a balance transfer. If you let it roll onto the standard rate, you will pay around 25% APR and wipe out all your gains.
4. DO NOT take risks with the stooze pot. The cash you have set aside to clear the card is not yours to gamble with. Keep it in an easy-access savings account, not in crypto, not in shares, not spent on a holiday.
5. Remember: stoozing debt is still debt. It appears on your credit file and lenders see it. If you have maxed out your card, it can affect future credit applications.

How To Stooze: The 4-Step Method

Step 1: Get A Long 0% Spending Credit Card

The cornerstone of stoozing is a 0% purchase credit card with the longest interest-free period you can get. As of July 2026, the top options are:

• M&S Bank: 25 months 0% (guaranteed, not up-to). 24.9% rep APR after.
• Tesco Bank: 22 months 0% (guaranteed). 24.9% rep APR after.
• TSB: Up to 26 months 0% (the longest possible, but you might get a shorter period depending on creditworthiness). 24.9% rep APR after.
• HSBC: Up to 24 months 0% plus possible £25 cashback. 24.9% rep APR after.

Use an eligibility checker before applying. This shows which cards you are most likely to be accepted for without leaving a hard search on your credit file. MoneySavingExpert's Credit Club and most comparison sites offer this for free.

Aim for the highest credit limit you can get. The more they lend you at 0%, the more cash you can park in savings. But do not be greedy. Only borrow what you can comfortably manage and what your normal spending will fill.

Step 2: Do All Your Normal Spending On The Card

From the day your card arrives, put every pound of your everyday spending through it. Groceries, petrol, utility bills, subscriptions, the weekly shop, the odd meal out. Everything.

This is not a licence to spend more. The golden rule of stoozing is that you only spend what you would have spent anyway. The card is simply replacing your debit card as the payment method.

Set up a Direct Debit for the minimum monthly repayment (usually 2% to 2.5% of the outstanding balance, or £5, whichever is higher). This is one of the rare situations where paying only the minimum is the correct strategy. You want as much cash as possible sitting in savings, not paying down cheap debt.

Step 3: Move The Unspent Cash Into High-Interest Savings

Every month, because you used the credit card instead of your debit card, your current account will have more cash in it than usual. Sweep that surplus into a top easy-access savings account.

As of July 2026, the best easy-access options include:

• Trading 212 Cash ISA: 4.67% AER (tax-free, flexible ISA).
• Tembo HomeSaver: 4.55% AER.
• Saga Easy Access: 4.50% AER.
• Chase Saver: 4.50% AER.

Easy-access is the right choice for your stooze pot. While the card debt technically cannot be called in at short notice, you want the money available if you need it. Fixed-rate accounts lock your cash away and are not suitable here.

If you have an offset mortgage and your mortgage rate is higher than what savings accounts pay, put the stooze cash there instead. Offsetting reduces mortgage interest, which is effectively tax-free 'earnings'.

Step 4: Clear Or Transfer Before The 0% Period Ends

A month before your 0% deal expires, you have two choices:

1. Pay it off. Use the cash in your stooze savings pot to clear the credit card balance in full. The interest earned is your profit. This is the cleanest and simplest approach.
2. Balance-transfer it. Shift the debt to a new 0% balance transfer card with a low or no fee. This extends your stooze and keeps the cash earning interest for longer. Watch out for transfer fees — typically 2% to 3% of the balance, which eats into your profit.

If you go the balance transfer route, aim for a fee-free card. They are rare but they exist. Even a 1% fee card is far better than the standard 3%.

Best 0% Credit Cards For Stoozing Right Now (July 2026)

Here are the current top-pick 0% purchase cards for stoozing. All details were checked on 22 July 2026. Offers change frequently, so verify before applying.

M&S Bank: 25 Months 0% (Guaranteed)

• Guaranteed 25 months interest-free on purchases (not an 'up to' deal).
• 24.9% representative APR after the 0% period ends.
• Use the MSE eligibility checker to see your chances before applying.
• This is the longest guaranteed deal on the market and the top recommendation for most stoozers.

Tesco Bank: 22 Months 0% (Guaranteed)

• Guaranteed 22 months interest-free on purchases.
• 24.9% representative APR after the 0% period.
• Eligibility checker available via MSE Credit Club.
• A solid second choice. Clubcard points on Tesco spending is a nice extra perk but secondary to the stoozing goal.

TSB: Up To 26 Months 0%

• The longest possible 0% period at up to 26 months.
• But it is an 'up to' deal. You might be offered a shorter period depending on your creditworthiness.
• 24.9% representative APR after the 0% period.
• No MSE eligibility checker available. Apply directly.
• Best for people with excellent credit who want to maximise the 0% window.

HSBC: Up To 24 Months 0% + £25 Cashback

• Up to 24 months 0% on purchases.
• Possible £25 cashback for new customers.
• 24.9% representative APR after the 0% period.
• Eligibility checker available via MSE Credit Club.
• Existing HSBC customers may need a different application link.

What Stoozing Does To Your Credit Score

Stoozing creates real debt on your credit file, even though you are using it strategically. Here is what to expect:

• Credit utilisation: if you use a high percentage of your credit limit (say £4,500 of a £5,000 limit), lenders see this as a red flag. It suggests you are reliant on credit, even if you are not.
• Multiple applications: applying for several cards in quick succession can temporarily dent your score. Spread applications out by 3-6 months if you plan to use multiple cards.
• Affordability checks: if you apply for a mortgage or loan while carrying a large credit card balance (even at 0%), lenders may reduce what they are willing to lend you.
• The flip side: making every payment on time and eventually clearing the balance demonstrates good credit management, which helps your credit history in the long run.

If you have a mortgage application or remortgage coming up in the next 6-12 months, pause the stoozing, clear the cards, and let your file settle. Once the mortgage is sorted, you can pick it back up.

The Catches: What You Need To Know

Stoozing is genuinely low-risk when done properly. But there are catches you need to understand before you start.

1. The Interest Rate After 0% Is Brutal

When the 0% period ends, the rate jumps to around 25% APR. On a £5,000 balance, that is roughly £104 in interest per month. One month of forgetting to clear the card eats a quarter of your annual profit. Set calendar reminders. Better yet, set two.

2. Minimum Payments Slowly Reduce Your Stooze Balance

You have to pay the minimum each month (usually 2% to 2.5% of the balance). This money comes out of your current account, not your stooze pot, so it slightly reduces how much you can save. But it also reduces the card balance you will eventually need to clear, so it roughly evens out.

3. Savings Rates Can Drop

If the Bank of England cuts the base rate, easy-access savings rates will follow. Your 4.5% account might become a 3.5% account. You still make a profit, just a smaller one. The 0% debt costs you nothing regardless, so any positive savings rate is a win.

4. Credit Limits Are Unpredictable

You might apply for a card expecting a £5,000 limit and get offered £1,500. There is no way to know in advance. This is why using an eligibility checker first is important. It does not guarantee a high limit, but it tells you which cards you are likely to be accepted for.

5. Balance Transfer Fees Eat Into Profit

If you extend your stooze by balance-transferring at the end, a typical 2.9% fee on £5,000 costs £145. That wipes out a big chunk of your savings interest. Look for fee-free or low-fee balance transfer cards. Even a 1% fee (£50 on £5,000) is much more palatable.

Where Does The Name 'Stoozing' Come From?

A bit of personal finance history. Martin Lewis started talking about this technique on his email newsletter (and later on TV) in the early 2000s. 0% credit cards were new, savings rates were 5% to 6%, and the maths was obvious.

The term 'stoozing' was coined a couple of years later on the discussion forums of The Motley Fool website. A prolific forum contributor there went by the username Stooz, and the community started calling the technique 'stoozing' after him. The name stuck.

At its peak, some hardcore stoozers were running £80,000+ stooze pots and making over £5,000 a year in interest. We are not quite back to those days, but with 4.5%+ savings and 26-month 0% cards, stoozing is worth taking seriously again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Stoozing is one of those rare personal finance techniques where the maths is clean and the risk is low, as long as you follow the rules. Get a 0% card, spend normally, save the difference, clear before interest kicks in. That is it.

The current combination of 4.5%+ savings rates and 22-26 month 0% cards makes this worth a few hundred quid a year for most people. Not life-changing, but a nice bonus for about 30 minutes of setup and a few calendar reminders.

Just remember: this is not a reason to spend more, skip a payment, or get complacent about the end date. Done right, it is free money. Done wrong, it is expensive debt. The choice is yours.