Snowball vs. avalanche, plainly
Both methods pay the minimum on every debt and put every spare dollar toward one target debt at a time. They differ only in which debt is the target. Avalanche targets the highest interest rate, so it always costs the least. Snowball targets the smallest balance, so you clear entire debts sooner and feel the progress.
The maths favours avalanche every time. Human behaviour often favours snowball, because a debt fully paid off is a visible, motivating win — and a plan you stick with beats an optimal plan you abandon. The gap between the two is usually smaller than people expect, which is exactly why the calculator above shows you the real number for your situation rather than arguing in the abstract.
The one lever that matters most
Whichever method you choose, the single biggest factor is how much you put toward debt each month above the minimums. Minimum payments are designed to keep you in debt for years while interest compounds. Every extra dollar goes straight at the principal — try nudging the monthly amount up and watch the timeline collapse.
