When you owe on several things at once, the hard part is not finding the will to pay — it is knowing where to aim your extra money. Two methods dominate the advice, and the calculator lets you see exactly what each one costs and how long it takes for your debts.
TL;DR — List your debts, add any extra you can pay, and pick a method in the debt payoff calculator to see your debt-free date and total interest.
The avalanche method
Avalanche targets the debt with the highest interest rate first, while paying minimums on the rest. Mathematically, this is the cheapest route — you kill the most expensive interest first, so you pay the least overall. If you are motivated by saving money and can stay patient, avalanche wins on the numbers.
The snowball method
Snowball targets the smallest balance first, regardless of rate. You clear individual debts quickly, which feels good and builds momentum. It usually costs a little more interest than avalanche, but for many people the psychological wins are what keep them going — and a plan you actually finish beats a cheaper one you quit.
The rollover effect
Both methods share a powerful trick. When one debt is cleared, its minimum payment does not disappear — it rolls onto the next debt, on top of your extra payment. The pool of money attacking your debt grows each time a balance falls, so the payoff speeds up toward the end. This is why the last debts vanish faster than the first.
Build your plan
Enter your real debts in the debt payoff calculator, try both methods, and adjust the extra payment. Even a small, steady extra amount can cut months — sometimes years — off your timeline and save a meaningful amount of interest.