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❄️ Debt Snowball vs Avalanche
Two competing strategies for paying off multiple debts. Snowball (Dave Ramsey): pay smallest balance first for psychological wins. Avalanche: pay highest interest first to minimize total cost. Enter your debts and we show both timelines side by side.
Examples
CC $5k @ 22%, car $15k @ 7%, student $30k @ 5%Snowball: 5.2 yrs, $9.2k interest. Avalanche: 4.8 yrs, $7.4k interest.Frequently asked questions
Which is better?
Avalanche saves more money. Snowball builds momentum from quick wins. Pick what you'll stick with.
What about debt consolidation?
A 0% balance transfer card (15-21 mo intro) can save thousands. Watch the 3-5% transfer fee.
Should I save while paying debt?
Keep $1-2k emergency first, then attack debt. Above 8% APR is "burning money" — kill before investing.
About this calculator
Debt Snowball vs Avalanche runs entirely in your browser using standard formulas. No data is sent to any server. We don't share your inputs with lenders, brokers, or anyone else — there's no funnel and no follow-up email.
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Why this calculator
vs typical free finance-calculator sites
| RichCalcs | Typical free site | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Signup required | No | Often (for full results) |
| Ads inside the calculator | No | Yes (banner + sidebar) |
| Lead capture (email / phone) | No | Yes — sold to lenders |
| Data sent to server | No (browser-only) | Yes (analytics + tracking) |
| Amortization schedule | Full table | Often summary only |
| Bookmarkable URL per calc | Yes | Mixed |
| Loads in under 1s | Yes (static) | Often slow (ad tracking) |
| Open source | Yes | No |