Paying off the debt on the card with the highest interest rate first is one method to reduce credit card debt. This is the “debt avalanche method.” While some advocate for paying off your smallest debt first because it seems easier, you may save more on interest over time by chipping away at high-interest debt.
When it comes to paying off debts and building up savings at the same time, it is generally advisable to prioritize paying off high interest debts first. Paying off high interest debts first will help you save money in the long run, since you will be paying less interest over time.
With the debt avalanche method, you order your debts by interest rate, with the highest interest rate first. You pay minimum payments on everything while attacking the debt with the highest interest rate. Once that debt is paid off, you move to the one with the next-highest interest rate . . .
As you roll the money used from the smallest balance to the next on your list, the amount “snowballs” and gets larger and larger and the rate of the debt that is reduced is accelerated.
High-interest loans -- which could include payday loans or unsecured personal loans -- can be considered bad debt, as the high interest payments can be difficult for the borrower to pay back, often putting them in a worse financial situation.
They stay away from debt.
Car payments, student loans, same-as-cash financing plans—these just aren't part of their vocabulary. That's why they win with money. They don't owe anything to the bank, so every dollar they earn stays with them to spend, save and give! Debt is the biggest obstacle to building wealth.
Pay Off High-Interest Loans First
With this approach, you pay off your loans from the highest interest rate to the lowest. You make the minimum payments on each balance except the highest-rate loan. You also make an extra monthly payment based on how much you can put toward the debt.
And you're not alone if you wonder just how much income should be allocated toward paying off credit cards, car loans, student loans and/or your mortgage each month. Generally, a good overarching rule to follow is to pay as much as you can each month in excess of the minimum payment.
Payment history is the most important factor in maintaining a higher credit score as it accounts for 35% of your FICO Score. FICO considers your payment history as the leading predictor of whether you'll pay future debt on time.
You may take the deduction only in the year the debt becomes worthless. You don't have to wait until a debt is due to determine that it's worthless.
Using more than 30% of your available credit on your cards can hurt your credit score. The lower you can get your balance relative to your limit, the better for your score. (It's best to pay it off every month if you can.)
Avalanche method: pay highest APR card first
Paying off your credit card with the highest APR first, and then moving on to the one with the next highest APR, allows you to reduce the amount of interest you will pay throughout the life of your credit cards.
With the debt snowball method, you pay your smallest debt in full first, then roll the amount that was going toward that bill into paying off your next-smallest one. The amount you're paying on your focus debt keeps growing — much like rolling a snowball down a hill.
Others will object to taxing the wealthy unless they actually use their gains, but many of the wealthiest actually do use their gains through the borrowing loophole: They get rich, borrow against those gains, consume the borrowing, and do not pay any tax.
Paying off your debt as fast as possible may seem like the responsible thing to do, but not having an adequate emergency fund or saving for your future could leave your finances at a permanent disadvantage down the road.
The people who have all the money often go by unnoticed, dressing well, but without flash, driving used cars and living in the first house they bought in a modest neighbourhood. The authors called them the quiet millionaires. They often work in, or own, unglamourous businesses that spin off steady streams of cash.
Defining a Debt Trap
A debt trap is when you spend more than you earn and borrow against your credit to facilitate that spending.
Option 1: The “high-interest first” strategy
Paying off high-interest debt first is commonly referred to as the avalanche method. This involves making the minimum monthly payments on all of your credit cards and loans, but putting every extra penny you can toward the card or loan with the highest interest rate.
The best approach to debt repayment depends on your balances, interest rates and financial goals. Prioritizing high-interest debt should save you the most money—but in some cases, it might make more sense to pay off your highest balance first.
Consider the snowball method of paying off debt.
This involves starting with your smallest balance first, paying that off and then rolling that same payment towards the next smallest balance as you work your way up to the largest balance. This method can help you build momentum as each balance is paid off.
Building up your savings each month as you pay down debt ensures you'll have funds on hand to cover unplanned expenses that would otherwise put you deeper into debt. For many, the best solution is to strike a balance between saving money and paying off debt.