Safety First

Do you have at least $500–$1,000 saved for emergencies?

A starter cushion — enough to cover a tire, a copay, or a busted phone without reaching for a credit card.

High Risk flaggedNo buffer means one emergency sends you straight back to credit. Your plan will start with a $500 micro-buffer — keep going, we'll build it in.

Motivation Style

What matters more to you right now?

Be honest — the best plan is the one you'll actually stick to for months, not the one that looks best on paper.

APR Severity

Are any of your debts high-interest — over 20% APR?

Most credit cards, store cards, and payday-style loans live up here. Check a statement if you're not sure — the APR is printed on it.

Income Stability

Is your income steady, or does it swing with shifts and overtime?

An aggressive fixed payoff amount works great on a steady check — and falls apart the first slow week on a variable one.

Your personalized plan

Why this fits your answers

How it works

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Debt Payoff Calculator Free debt payoff calculator. Debt Snowball vs Avalanche Calculator Compare the debt snowball and avalanche side by side with your own numbers. Debt Snowball Calculator Stack your debts, throw a small extra amount at the smallest one, and watch each payoff roll into the next. The 30-Day Paycheck Reset One 3-minute money move a day. Free, and it saves your progress in this browser.

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Quick answers

Snowball vs. avalanche — what's the actual difference?

Both methods pay minimums on everything and throw every extra dollar at one target debt. They only differ in how you pick the target.

Snowball: smallest balance first, regardless of interest rate. You clear whole debts faster, which keeps motivation high — but you may pay more interest overall.

Avalanche: highest APR first, regardless of balance. It's the mathematically cheapest route and usually the fastest in total dollars — but the first win can take longer if that balance is big.

Neither is "wrong." The one that wins is the one still running in month six.

What is a hybrid plan?

A hybrid plan mixes strategies instead of marrying one. The version recommended here for variable income is minimums plus buffer: every debt gets its minimum every month, any leftover builds (or refills) your cash cushion, and extra payoff payments happen only in strong weeks — aimed at your highest-APR debt first.

You can also hybrid the payoff order itself: snowball one or two tiny balances for momentum, then switch to avalanche for the expensive debt. The structure bends so a lean month doesn't break the whole plan.

When should I switch strategies?

Switch when your situation changes, not when you get bored. Good reasons: your income stabilizes (variable → steady means you can commit to aggressive fixed payments), a new high-APR debt appears (that jumps the queue under any plan), or a 0% promo is about to expire.

Also switch if you're stalling: three months of missed extra payments on an avalanche plan is a signal to grab a snowball quick win and rebuild momentum. Retake this selector whenever your answers change — the right plan at $400/month of OT is not the right plan without it.