WHY MINIMUM PAYMENTS KEEP YOU STUCK
A common card minimum is about 1% of your balance plus that month’s interest. As your balance drops, the minimum drops too, so paying only the minimum stretches the debt out for years. In the example above, three cards totaling $11,450 take 22 years and 3 months to pay off on minimums alone, and cost $21,859 in interest. Put $600 a month toward them instead and they’re gone in 25 months, for $3,398 in interest.
HOW TO PAY OFF MULTIPLE CREDIT CARDS
Pick an order and stick to it. Avalanche pays the highest APR first and costs the least. Snowball pays the smallest balance first and gets you a win sooner. Every card still gets its minimum. The extra money goes to one card at a time, and when that card hits zero, its payment rolls to the next one.
HOW TO USE THIS CALCULATOR
- Add each card with its balance, APR and the minimum payment from your latest statement.
- Enter what you can put toward your cards each month.
- Compare avalanche and snowball, then follow the kill order.
FAQ
- Should I pay off the highest interest card first?
- That’s the avalanche method, and it usually costs the least. In the example above, avalanche costs $3,398 in interest and snowball costs $3,605, and avalanche finishes a month sooner.
- Where do I find my APR and minimum payment?
- On your latest statement or in your card’s app. Use the rate you’re paying now.
- What if I have a 0% promo rate?
- This calculator uses one rate per card. If a promo rate ends soon, enter the rate it will jump to, so your plan isn’t too optimistic.
- Do I have to stop using my cards?
- The plan assumes no new charges. Every new purchase pushes your debt-free date back.
- Is my information saved or shared?
- No. Everything runs in your browser. We never see, store or sell your numbers.