Strategies to Pay Off Debt
Paying off debt effectively requires a plan. Using a Debt Payoff Calculator helps you visualize your timeline and see the impact of making extra payments.
The Debt Snowball vs. Debt Avalanche
If you have multiple debts, you might consider one of these popular approaches:
- Debt Snowball: Pay off debts from smallest balance to largest balance, regardless of interest rate. This builds momentum and psychological wins.
- Debt Avalanche: Pay off debts from highest interest rate to lowest interest rate. This saves you the most money mathematically over time.
Why Extra Payments Matter
Making just the minimum payment on a loan or credit card mostly covers the interest, meaning your principal balance shrinks very slowly. By making an extra payment each month, you attack the principal directly. This not only shortens the time it takes to become debt-free but also significantly reduces the total amount of interest you will pay over the life of the debt. Use this calculator to see exactly how much you could save!