Answer
Getting Out of Credit Card Debt
A worked sequence for clearing card balances: stop the growth, know the real numbers, pick an order, and consider whether cheaper credit is available.
Updated August 25, 2026 · 3 min read
Debt (US)
What debt actually costs, and the orders of repayment that cost least.
The largest free lever in debt repayment is not which debt you attack first — it is holding your total monthly payment steady as balances fall. Minimum payments shrink with the balance, so a payment that shrinks with them stretches a payoff over years. Fix the total, and every cleared debt frees its payment for the next one.
What this section covers
- What a carried balance really costs
- Avalanche and snowball, compared on real figures
- When cheaper credit is worth moving to
- Where to get free help, and what to avoid paying for
Written for the United States. Terminology, protection limits and regulators differ between markets, so a guide from another country will not transfer cleanly.
US debt guides
Answer
Debt Snowball vs Avalanche: Which Should You Use?
One method costs less. The other is easier to stick to. Here is how to work out which difference is bigger in your situation.
Updated August 25, 2026 · 3 min read
Calculators
Tools for debt
Run the numbers on your own situation.
Debt payoff calculator
What order should I pay my debts off in?