With the debt snowball, you list all your debts from smallest to largest, and tackle them one at a time. When the smallest debt is paid, you roll the amount you were paying on that debt (minimums + extra) to the next on the list. Keep on going until all your debts are paid.
It will take 47 months to pay off $20,000 with payments of $600 per month, assuming the average credit card APR of around 18%. The time it takes to repay a balance depends on how often you make payments, how big your payments are and what the interest rate charged by the lender is.
Debt snowball example
Here's how this method could look in real life: If you have a hospital bill for $1,200 that the hospital is allowing you to pay interest-free, and two credit card bills for $5,000 (at 22.9% interest) and $3,000 (at 15.9%), you'd pay more than the minimum on the hospital bill first.
The quickest method to get out of debt is to create a debt repayment plan and stick to it. This involves setting a budget, prioritizing debt repayment, and making consistent, high payments to creditors.
The best debt payoff option depends on your personal debt payoff goals. The debt snowball method can help you pay off your smallest balances faster, which can be motivating. But the debt avalanche method could save you more money overall.
If you can afford to pay off your debt during the promotional APR period, a balance transfer card may be your best bet. For example, with $5,000 of debt, a six-month intro APR balance transfer card would allow you to pay off your debt interest-free with $833.33/month payments.
Do Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps Work? They can, but they might not be for everyone. Ramsey's steps are sound and logical, but they rely on some best-case scenarios. Not everyone makes enough money to save 15% for retirement while also saving for college and paying the mortgage early.
The "snowball method," simply put, means paying off the smallest of all your loans as quickly as possible. Once that debt is paid, you take the money you were putting toward that payment and roll it onto the next-smallest debt owed. Ideally, this process would continue until all accounts are paid off.
If you're carrying a significant balance, like $20,000 in credit card debt, a rate like that could have even more of a detrimental impact on your finances. The longer the balance goes unpaid, the more the interest charges compound, turning what could have been a manageable debt into a hefty financial burden.
How much is 26.99 APR on $3,000? An APR of 26.99% on a $3,000 balance would cost $67.26 in monthly interest charges.
It's a good idea to pay off your credit card balance in full whenever you're able. Carrying a monthly credit card balance can cost you in interest and increase your credit utilization rate, which is one factor used to calculate your credit scores.
If you only make the minimum payment each month, it will take about 460 months, or about 38 years, to pay off that $30,000 balance.
Pros and cons of the snowball approach
Con: Waiting to pay larger debt balances — which may have compounding interest rates — could result in larger interest payments. Larger interest payments could then extend the length of time you'll be paying your debt off and increase your overall payoff amount.
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.
That's how much you should have in your bridge account so you can live comfortably until you're able to access your retirement accounts without penalty. For example, let's say you want to retire early at age 55. That means you need to have enough money in your bridge account to last about 4 1/2 years.
Those will become part of your budget. The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.
You divide 72 by the rate of return you get on an investment. That number is about how many years it will take for your investments to double in value. There are a few problems with this. First, numbers and averages aren't the same things.
For some, a combination of strategies may be most effective, like creating a strict budget and using a balance transfer card or debt consolidation loan to accelerate progress. Others may find that a more structured approach, like a debt management program, provides the support and accountability needed to succeed.
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Start chipping away at your highest-interest debt first.
Every dollar counts. Once you pay off that credit card or other high-interest debt, put the money you were paying on your highest interest debt—the minimum plus the little extra—towards the debt with the next highest interest rate.
A successful debt management plan requires you to make regular, timely payments, and can take 48 months or more to complete.