DebtBeginner 5 min read
Debt avalanche vs. debt snowball
One saves the most money. One keeps you motivated. Both beat paying minimums forever.
Avalanche: highest interest rate first
Pay minimums on everything, then throw every extra dollar at the debt with the highest APR. Mathematically this costs you the least in interest.
Snowball: smallest balance first
Pay minimums on everything, then attack the smallest balance. You clear accounts faster, which feels good and keeps people going.
Which should you pick?
If the interest-rate gap between your debts is large (say a 24% card versus a 5% loan), avalanche wins clearly. If your balances are similar, snowball's momentum usually wins in practice.
The part that matters more than the method
- Always cover minimums first — late fees and credit damage undo any strategy.
- Stop adding to the balance while you pay it down.
- Roll each freed-up payment into the next debt instead of absorbing it into spending.
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