Debt Snowball vs. Avalanche: The Pros, Cons, and When to Use Each

Both strategies can work. Snowball builds motivation by knocking out small balances; Avalanche saves more interest by prioritizing higher APR first.

Snowball method

Pay extra on the smallest balance first while paying minimums on others.

Avalanche method

Pay extra on the highest APR debt first. Mathematically optimal in most cases.

Which to pick?

Choose Avalanche if you’re disciplined; Snowball if you need quick wins to stay engaged.