Debt Payoff Calculator

Debt Avalanche: Pay minimums on all debts, throw extra money at the debt with the highest interest rate. Mathematically optimal — saves the most interest and money over time.

Debt Snowflake: Pay minimums on all debts, throw extra money at the debt with the smallest balance. Faster early wins create psychological momentum, but costs more in total interest.

• Avalanche wins on math: typically saves hundreds to thousands in interest
• Snowflake wins on motivation: you see a debt eliminated faster, which keeps you going
• If you need behavioral reinforcement, choose snowflake. If you're disciplined, choose avalanche.

• Use windfalls: tax refunds, bonuses, gifts — put even half toward debt
• Side income: even $100/month extra shaves months off your payoff timeline
• Debt consolidation: if you have high-rate credit cards, a lower-rate personal loan saves interest
• Automate payments: set up auto-pay to avoid missed payments and negotiate lower rates