DebtCrushr Blog

When you're ready to get serious about paying off debt, you'll encounter two main strategies: the debt snowball and the debt avalanche. Both work. The right one depends on your personality, not just math.

The Debt Snowball Method (popularized by Dave Ramsey) has you list all debts from smallest balance to largest. Make minimum payments on everything, then throw every extra dollar at the smallest debt. Once it's paid off, roll that payment into the next smallest. The advantage: quick wins. Paying off that first $500 credit card in two months feels incredible and keeps you motivated.

The Debt Avalanche Method has you list debts from highest interest rate to lowest. Make minimums on everything, then attack the highest-rate debt first. The advantage: you pay less total interest. If you have a 24% APR credit card and a 6% car loan, the avalanche method saves you real money by eliminating the expensive debt first.

Which saves more money? The avalanche method, always. On $30,000 of mixed debt, the avalanche might save you $1,000-3,000+ in interest compared to the snowball. The exact amount depends on your specific balances and rates.

Which actually works better? Research from Northwestern University found that people using the snowball method were more likely to actually eliminate their debt. The psychological momentum of quick wins keeps people going. The "best" strategy is the one you stick with.

The hybrid approach: Some people start with snowball to build momentum (knock out 1-2 small debts), then switch to avalanche for the remaining larger debts. Best of both worlds.

Want to see exactly how each method would work for your debts? Try DebtCrushr free → — enter your debts and compare both strategies side-by-side with exact payoff dates and total interest.

Paying off $10,000 in one year is aggressive but absolutely doable. Here's the real math and a step-by-step plan to make it happen.

The basic math: $10,000 ÷ 12 months = $833/month before interest. If your average interest rate is 20% (typical for credit cards), you'll need closer to $925/month. That's roughly $230/week or $33/day.

Step 1: Know exactly what you owe. List every debt with its balance, interest rate, and minimum payment. Use DebtCrushr to organize this and see your total picture. Many people discover they owe more (or less) than they thought.

Step 2: Cut expenses ruthlessly (temporarily). This isn't forever — it's 12 months. Cancel subscriptions you don't use daily (SubKill can find hidden ones). Cook at home. Pause gym memberships and work out outside. Every $50/month you cut is $600/year toward debt.

Step 3: Increase income. The fastest way to accelerate debt payoff isn't cutting more — it's earning more. Freelancing, delivery driving, tutoring, selling unused items. Even an extra $500/month cuts your payoff time dramatically. Don't forget to set aside money for taxes on side hustle income (HustleTax can help with that).

Step 4: Automate payments. Set up automatic payments for the day after payday. Don't give yourself the chance to spend the money first. Pay yourself (your debt) first.

Step 5: Track progress visually. Print a thermometer chart, use a spreadsheet, or check your DebtCrushr dashboard weekly. Watching the number shrink is the fuel that keeps you going during hard months.

The hardest part is month 3-6 when the novelty wears off but the finish line isn't close yet. This is where having a visual tracker and a clear plan saves you. You've got this.

A good debt payoff calculator does more than math — it shows you a clear path forward and motivates you to stick with it. Here are the best free options in 2026.

DebtCrushr — A clean, modern web app that lets you enter multiple debts and instantly compare snowball vs. avalanche payoff strategies. Shows total interest paid, payoff timeline, and monthly payment schedule for each method. No signup required, works on any device.

undebt.it — A popular free debt tracker with multiple payoff strategies beyond just snowball and avalanche. Includes a debt snowflake feature for tracking extra payments. The free tier covers most needs, though the interface is dated.

Vertex42 Debt Reduction Spreadsheet — A downloadable Excel/Google Sheets template for people who prefer spreadsheets. Highly customizable but requires manual data entry and spreadsheet knowledge.

NerdWallet Debt Payoff Calculator — A simple online calculator for single debts. Good for quick "what if" scenarios but doesn't handle multiple debts or strategy comparison like DebtCrushr does.

What to look for in a debt calculator: Multiple debt support (most people have more than one debt), strategy comparison (snowball vs avalanche), extra payment modeling (what happens if you throw an extra $200/month at it), and a clear payoff timeline. Avoid calculators that require account signup just to see results — that's usually a sign they want to sell you something.

The best calculator is the one you actually use regularly. Pick one, enter your debts today, and check it monthly. Seeing your projected debt-free date get closer is one of the most motivating feelings in personal finance. Try DebtCrushr free →