Avalanche pays the highest rate first and saves the most interest. Snowball pays the smallest balance first and builds momentum. See both timelines side by side.
Up to three cards. Leave balance at zero to skip a row.
The total you can throw at the cards each month.
What you can commit each month across all cards. The minimum on each card is taken first, then the remainder routes to the priority card by strategy.
Total interest avoided over the payoff window.
Illustrative figures only. Minimum payments are modelled at a flat baseline per card; the real minimum can be percentage-based and varies by issuer. For your specific situation, consult a qualified adviser.
Worth maps debt payoff into a household trajectory: which card to clear first, when the interest line breaks, what to do with the freed cash flow after. Join the waitlist.
Almost certainly not. Card APRs typically sit between eighteen and twenty-eight per cent, well above any reasonable expected investment return. Paying off cards is a guaranteed double-digit return via interest avoided. After cards are clear, then start investing.
Minimums (typically two to three per cent of balance) usually only cover interest plus a tiny sliver of principal. A five-thousand balance at twenty-two per cent paying minimums takes around twenty years to clear and costs over a balance-worth in interest. Always pay above the minimum.
Yes, if used correctly. A zero per cent balance transfer card can clear the APR for twelve to twenty-one months. The maths beats both avalanche and snowball if you can get one approved and pay it off within the promo window. Watch for transfer fees (around three per cent) and any reversion APR after the promo ends.
Avalanche if you are disciplined and want the maximum savings. Snowball if you need wins to stay motivated. The interest gap between the two is usually modest for most realistic debt loads, so either beats hesitation. The wrong strategy you actually follow beats the optimal one you abandon.