``In terms of saving money, a debt avalanche is better because it saves you money in interest by targeting your highest interest debt first. However, some people find the debt snowball method better because it can be more motivating to see a smaller debt paid off more quickly.''
Cons. Less interest savings: The debt snowball method doesn't consider interest rates; it focuses on each debt's balance.
Debt consolidation, the debt snowball method and the debt avalanche approach are all excellent ways to eliminate debt faster while maximizing your savings. The right one for you will depend on your financial situation and goals.
Prioritizing debt by interest rate.
This repayment strategy, sometimes called the avalanche method, prioritizes your debts from the highest interest rate to the lowest. First, you'll pay off your balance with the highest interest rate, followed by your next-highest interest rate and so on.
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.
If you do it right, debt consolidation might slightly decrease your score temporarily. The drop will come from a hard inquiry that appears on your credit reports every time you apply for credit. But, according to Experian, the decrease is normally less than 5 points and your score should rebound within a few months.
The debt snowball method is a debt-reduction strategy where you pay off debt in order of smallest balance to largest balance, gaining momentum as you knock out each balance. When the smallest debt is paid in full, you roll the minimum payment you were making on that debt into the next-smallest debt payment.
Debt avalanche: Focus on paying down the debt with the highest interest rate first (while paying minimums on the others), then move on to the account with the next highest rate and so on. This might help you get out of debt faster and save you money over the long run by wiping out the costliest debt first.
The advantage of the debt avalanche method is that it reduces the total interest you pay in the long term. Interest adds to your debts because most lenders use compound interest. The accrual rate depends on the frequency of compounding—the higher the number of compounding periods, the greater the compound interest.
May not save maximum interest: The debt snowball method is not necessarily the best choice for saving money on interest. Because you're prioritizing balances over interest rates and only making minimum payments on debts that are low on the list, you could end up paying considerably more in interest over time.
A successful debt management plan requires you to make regular, timely payments, and can take 48 months or more to complete.
The avalanche method focuses your repayment efforts on high-interest debt, while the snowball method targets your smallest debts first. Debt consolidation is another option to consider. Whichever repayment strategy you choose, it's important to keep up with your other financial goals while working to become debt-free.
The Snowball Method refers to paying the smallest debt first, then the next smallest – and on and on until you are living debt free. Ramsey suggests lining up debts “by balance, smallest to largest,” then paying as much of the smallest debt as possible while making minimum payments on the rest.
Yes, you can technically continue using your credit cards after debt consolidation as long as you keep the accounts open during the process. That said, whether you still have access to your credit card accounts post-consolidation may depend on a few different factors.
Debt consolidation might lower your monthly payments, make managing your monthly payments easier, decrease your interest rates and save you money overall. But there are also potential drawbacks, such as upfront fees and the risk of winding up deeper in debt.
When it comes to credit card debt relief, it's important to dispel a common misconception: There are no government-sponsored programs specifically designed to eliminate credit card debt. So, you should be wary of any offers claiming to represent such government initiatives, as they may be misleading or fraudulent.
Bank or credit union personal loan
Both banks and credit unions typically cater to those with good credit scores — a FICO score of 670 or higher. Since credit unions are not-for-profit, they usually offer the best rates, but if you aren't already a member, you may need to pay a fee to become one.
If you have federal student loans, they may be either subsidized or unsubsidized loans. It's typically best to focus on your unsubsidized loans first since they accrue interest during school and your grace period.
Because interest is calculated against the principal balance, paying down the principal in less time on your mortgage reduces the interest you'll pay. Even small additional principal payments can help.