Your debts
3 debts · $42,100
On top of the $705/mo minimums — this is the lever that actually moves the payoff date.
Avalanche
Pay highest APR first. Lowest total interest.
Debt-free in
6y 6m
78 months total
Total interest
$8,751
Lifetime cost
Snowball
Smallest balance first. Fastest early wins.
Debt-free in
6y 6m
78 months total
Total interest
$8,751
Lifetime cost
Head-to-head
Total debt over time
Show the mathExpand →
We step through every month: accrue interest, apply each debt's minimum, then throw your extra payment at the target debt (highest APR for avalanche, smallest balance for snowball). When a debt clears, the payment rolls onto the next one — the classic "snowball" cascade.
interestmonth = balance · (APR / 12)
balance ← balance + interest − payment
Assumes rates are fixed, payments are on-time, no new charges on credit cards, and no windfalls. In the real world, extra cash and refinancing offers move the numbers further in your favor.
How this calculator runs the math
Full month-by-month simulation
We accrue interest monthly, apply every minimum, throw extras at the target debt, and cascade rolled-off payments onto the next one — the classic snowball effect, mathematically.
Avalanche vs. snowball, same inputs
Both strategies run against identical debts and identical extra payment. The only difference is which debt gets the extra cash first.
Finish-what-you-start matters
Avalanche always wins on paper. But if snowball's early-win dopamine is what keeps you on plan, that's the right answer — this calculator won't shame either pick.
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