I need to clear £15k in debt while building an online business!

Hey, I'm 32 and have around £15k of debt that I need to clear, while building an online business.

BACKGROUND
I had a well-paid corporate sales job in the tech sector, with a 'perfect' 999 credit rating, nice BMW, and a mortgage on a city-centre apartment by aged 28.

However, I was deeply depressed at my lifestyle - knowing all I wanted was to be surfing/snowboarding.

I became deeply depressed and sank from being athletic, to 30kg overweight, borderline alcoholic, addicted to online shopping - and I went on so many holidays to places I ACTUALLY wanted to be in, that I started building credit card debt.

I quit my job aged 30, rented my apartment out and took a year out in Australia.

I took a month off and started interviewing for six-figure sales jobs, but felt physically ill at the idea of being in an office again, so decided to join the 'digital nomad' scene and learn how to make money in digital marketing, from a laptop.

I quickly started losing weight, surfing every day and felt great. But with the combination of Sydney's insane property prices and being a beginner at digital marketing, I couldn't keep up credit card repayments.

And it was easy to forget about them, being on the other side of the world.

I've now relocated to Bali, which is fantastic.

It's cheaper than the UK and full of the sports and activities I enjoy. I now lead a very frugal life and am happy, fit and healthy, owning minimal clothing and eating very cheaply - weighing 30kg less than I did in my corporate job!

Without debt, I'd be happily paying my living expenses doing copywriting, while building several online businesses and investing significant time into learning useful technical and marketing skills. I'm surrounded by entrepreneurs and opportunities.

However, I've got spiralling monthly repayments that are are like a millstone around my neck.

CURRENT SITUATION
I've returned to the UK for the summer and am dealing with the reality of my debt, before I head back to Bali - so I can crack on and enjoy my life.

Currently my debts are

- Around £12k on two credit cards (one's with a collection agency).
- £1,500 in unpaid council tax.
- £385 to a water company.

I'm an SEO copywriter and work for between £35 and £55/hour - although haven't invested much time in building my client base, as I'm much more interested in building a scalable business.

For example, I've just started working with two eCommerce clients on a %-only basis that's not making much money yet - but has long-term potential.

However, I've decided to start promoting the hourly rate work for the short-term, even though I have other long-term ideas. It's a tricky balancing act - especially with debt thrown into the equation.

My apartment's gone up in value nicely and there's plenty in the monthly rent to pay the bills and a little more... I was just an idiot and spent some of the bills money when I got low.

Fortunately, I've ALWAYS paid my mortgage on-time.

Ideally I'll head back to Bali in September, with a clear and serviceable repayment plan.

However, if I have to spend a couple of months extra in the UK to build my monthly income up enough to comfortably meet my repayment plans AND living costs, then do be it.

I'm in the fortunate position of living rent-free at my mum's place - and yes, I'm grateful! She's very happy for me to be here, paying off my credit cards. And I'm refuting the many offers I've had for holidays abroad this summer, to focus on my credit cards.

I'm aware my tale might sound indulgent, but I'm vastly more frugal and sensible living in Bali, where everything I want is on my doorstep, than I was in a 'sensible' (soul destroying) corporate career.

My sums would look fine, IF I hadn't rung up this credit card debt. And that happened during my corporate career - NOT afterwards!
NEXT STEPS
I'm planning to call each of the credit card companies tomorrow.

- Is there anyone else I should be speaking to?
- I've heard consolidation loans are a bad idea?
- Can/should I get a credit card for on-balance transfers, considering my (now) poor rating?

It's tricky as I don't have a fixed income, but respond well to goals.

I'm thinking if I can get my repayments under £1,000/month, that would match the cost of living (comfortably) in Bali, so - with tax - I'd be looking at a sub-£40k income to get back to Bali.

Hitting that within several month seems manageable.

I am very confident in my long-term prospects, but this debt is a weight I need to lose ASAP!

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!