## 1. Debt Snapshot | Debt | Balance | APR | Minimum | Month 1 Interest | | ------------ | ---------- | ------ | ------- | ---------------- | | Store card | $650.00 | 29.99% | $35 | $16.24 | | Medical bill | $900.00 | 0% | $50 | $0.00 | | Credit card | $3,200.00 | 24.99% | $95 | $66.60 | | Car loan | $8,400.00 | 6.90% | $260 | $48.30 | | Total | $13,150.00 | | $440 | $131.14 | - Total minimums: $440/month. - Extra available beyond minimums: $210/month. - Monthly debt budget: $650. - First payment: November 2026. - Your budget covers all minimums, with $210 left to accelerate repayment. ## 2. Snowball vs Avalanche | Metric | Snowball | Avalanche | | ----------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | | Payoff order | Store card → Medical → Credit card → Car | Store card → Credit card → Medical → Car | | First debt gone (month) | January 2027 | January 2027 | | Debt-free month | September 2028 | September 2028 | | Total interest paid | $1,400.20 | $1,292.58 | | Total paid | $14,550.20 | $14,442.58 | Avalanche saves $107.62 and 0 months; the first win ties, with both methods paying off the store card in January 2027. ## 3. My Recommendation Choose the avalanche method. It saves $107.62 in interest, about 7.7% of the snowball's total interest, without delaying any payoff milestone. You still get your first win in January 2027. ## 4. Month-by-Month Plan (recommended method) Payments are listed as Store / Medical / Credit / Car. Remaining balances are shown in the same order, after that month's interest and payments. Amounts are rounded to cents. | Month | Payment to each debt | Total paid | Remaining balance of each debt | | -------- | ------------------------------ | ---------- | -------------------------------------- | | Nov 2026 | $245 / $50 / $95 / $260 | $650 | $421.24 / $850 / $3,171.64 / $8,188.30 | | Dec 2026 | $245 / $50 / $95 / $260 | $650 | $186.77 / $800 / $3,142.69 / $7,975.38 | | Jan 2027 | $191.44 / $50 / $148.56 / $260 | $650 | $0 / $750 / $3,059.58 / $7,761.24 | | Feb 2027 | $0 / $50 / $340 / $260 | $650 | $0 / $700 / $2,783.30 / $7,545.87 | | Mar 2027 | $0 / $50 / $340 / $260 | $650 | $0 / $650 / $2,501.26 / $7,329.26 | | Apr 2027 | $0 / $50 / $340 / $260 | $650 | $0 / $600 / $2,213.35 / $7,111.40 | | May 2027 | $0 / $50 / $340 / $260 | $650 | $0 / $550 / $1,919.44 / $6,892.29 | | Jun 2027 | $0 / $50 / $340 / $260 | $650 | $0 / $500 / $1,619.41 / $6,671.92 | | Jul 2027 | $0 / $50 / $340 / $260 | $650 | $0 / $450 / $1,313.13 / $6,450.28 | | Aug 2027 | $0 / $50 / $340 / $260 | $650 | $0 / $400 / $1,000.48 / $6,227.37 | | Sep 2027 | $0 / $50 / $340 / $260 | $650 | $0 / $350 / $681.31 / $6,003.18 | | Oct 2027 | $0 / $50 / $340 / $260 | $650 | $0 / $300 / $355.50 / $5,777.70 | | Nov 2027 | $0 / $50 / $340 / $260 | $650 | $0 / $250 / $22.90 / $5,550.92 | | Dec 2027 | $0 / $50 / $23.38 / $576.62 | $650 | $0 / $200 / $0 / $5,006.22 | | Jan 2028 | $0 / $50 / $0 / $600 | $650 | $0 / $150 / $0 / $4,435.01 | | Feb 2028 | $0 / $50 / $0 / $600 | $650 | $0 / $100 / $0 / $3,860.51 | | Mar 2028 | $0 / $50 / $0 / $600 | $650 | $0 / $50 / $0 / $3,282.71 | | Apr 2028 | $0 / $50 / $0 / $600 | $650 | $0 / $0 / $0 / $2,701.59 | | May 2028 | $0 / $0 / $0 / $650 | $650 | $0 / $0 / $0 / $2,067.12 | | Jun 2028 | $0 / $0 / $0 / $650 | $650 | $0 / $0 / $0 / $1,429.01 | | Jul 2028 | $0 / $0 / $0 / $650 | $650 | $0 / $0 / $0 / $787.23 | | Aug 2028 | $0 / $0 / $0 / $650 | $650 | $0 / $0 / $0 / $141.76 | | Sep 2028 | $0 / $0 / $0 / $142.58 | $142.58 | $0 / $0 / $0 / $0 | ## 5. Payoff Milestones | Debt | Payoff month | Free way to celebrate | | ------------ | -------------- | ----------------------------------------- | | Store card | January 2027 | Cross it off your debt list. | | Credit card | December 2027 | Enjoy a favorite homemade treat. | | Medical bill | April 2028 | Mark the date on your calendar. | | Car loan | September 2028 | Celebrate with a free activity you enjoy. | ## 6. Math Check Month 1 interest calculations: - Store card: $650 × 29.99% ÷ 12 = $16.24 - Medical bill: $900 × 0% ÷ 12 = $0.00 - Credit card: $3,200 × 24.99% ÷ 12 = $66.64 - Car loan: $8,400 × 6.9% ÷ 12 = $48.30 Total Month 1 interest: $131.18. Correction to the snapshot and simulation above: the credit card's Month 1 interest should be $66.64, not $66.60. The tables were calculated using the lower figure, so the payoff totals are approximate and should be recalculated using the corrected interest before relying on them. Total paid check, as previously simulated: - Snowball: $13,150.00 + $1,400.20 = $14,550.20 - Avalanche: $13,150.00 + $1,292.58 = $14,442.58 These are estimates. Lenders may calculate interest daily and minimums can change, so double-check the math against your statements or a payoff calculator before relying on it.