How paying off debt one at a time works

Underneath, both methods work the same way. You keep paying the minimum on every debt, then send every spare dollar at one chosen debt until it’s gone. The moment it clears, that whole payment rolls onto the next debt — so your progress speeds up as you go.

That rolling, growing payment is the “snowball.” The only real question is which debt you point it at first.

Snowball means putting any extra money toward your smallest balance first. When it’s gone, you roll that payment onto the next one. It’s great for quick wins and momentum.

Because the smallest balance clears quickest, you get a real win early — and that early momentum is what keeps a lot of people going. It can cost a little more in interest than the alternative, but motivation counts for a lot when you’re paying off debt.

Avalanche means putting any extra money toward your highest-rate debt first. It usually costs the least over time, because you’re fighting the most expensive interest first.

Shutting down your most expensive debt soonest usually saves the most money over time. The trade-off is patience: if your highest-rate debt is also a big one, your first win can take longer to arrive.

Honestly, the best method is the one you’ll actually stick with. Avalanche saves more on paper; snowball keeps more people motivated in practice. Neither is wrong.

That’s why the tool shows you both, side by side, using your own numbers — so you can see the real difference for your situation and choose what fits. We’ll never nudge you toward one.

We keep your minimum payments fixed in every projection. Real-world minimums usually shrink as your balance drops, which stretches payoff out a bit. So treat the exact dates as a hopeful, slightly optimistic guide — the shape of the comparison stays true even if the precise dates move.