Debt Payoff Planner (Snowball vs. Avalanche)
List every balance, pick a strategy, and get the order to attack them, your debt-free date, and exactly what each method costs.
Updated October 2026
| # | Debt | Paid off | Interest paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Store card | Feb 2027 | $48 |
| 2 | Visa | Feb 2028 | $863 |
| 3 | Car loan | Jan 2029 | $1,175 |
| 4 | Student loan | Jun 2030 | $2,655 |
Average APR across your debts: 9.04% (weighted by balance).
Snowball vs. avalanche: which is better?
Avalanche puts every extra dollar toward the debt with the highest interest rate. Mathematically it always costs the least and usually finishes first. Snowball targets the smallest balance first regardless of rate, so you close accounts sooner and get quick wins. Research on real borrowers finds people using the snowball are more likely to stick with it, and the difference in interest is often smaller than you'd expect. The calculator shows both numbers side by side; if the gap is under a few hundred dollars, pick the one you'll actually follow.
In both methods you pay the minimum on everything and send the extra to one target. When that debt is gone, its minimum payment rolls into the next target, which is why the payoff accelerates over time.
How to use the planner
- Enter each debt's current balance, APR, and minimum payment from your latest statements. Include credit cards, personal loans, car loans, student loans, and medical bills, but leave out your mortgage unless you're specifically trying to prepay it.
- Enter the extra amount you can commit each month on top of the minimums. Even $50 changes the picture.
- Toggle the strategy and compare total interest and the debt-free date.
- Your list is saved in your browser. Come back each month, update the balances, and watch the date move closer.
Finding extra money for debt
The fastest wins are usually recurring: cancel unused subscriptions, call to lower insurance and phone bills, and pause retirement contributions above the employer match only while attacking debt above ~10% APR. One-time money (tax refund, bonus, selling things) should go straight to the current target debt. The 50/30/20 budget calculator shows how much of your take-home pay is reasonable to send toward debt.
When consolidation makes sense
If most of your debt is on cards above 20%, a consolidation loan at 8%–14% or a 0% balance-transfer card can cut interest substantially. Enter the new loan as a single debt here and compare the debt-free date. Be careful: consolidation only works if the freed-up cards stay at zero.
Frequently asked questions
What is the debt snowball method?+
Pay minimums on all debts and put every extra dollar toward the smallest balance. When it's paid off, roll its payment into the next smallest. It builds momentum with quick wins.
What is the debt avalanche method?+
Same structure, but the extra goes to the highest-APR debt first. It minimizes total interest and usually finishes fastest.
Should I include my mortgage or student loans?+
Include student loans if you want them gone; they're usually low-rate, so avalanche will schedule them last. Most people exclude the mortgage and treat it separately with the mortgage calculator's extra-payment feature.
Is my data stored anywhere?+
Only in your own browser's local storage. Nothing is sent to a server. Clearing your browser data will erase the list, so use Save or the Share link to keep a copy.