What is the Best Way to Pay Down Debt?

While sometimes it can make sense to take it on, debt is a burden that can weigh down your finances and keep you from being able to move forward in life. Paying down debt can give you more margin and flexibility in your finances and career and also lower your stress levels. 

Many people want to pay down their debt. In fact, 22% of Americans named paying down debt as their primary financial objective for 2024. The challenge that most face is figuring out how to tackle the task. It can feel overwhelming and insurmountable, which is why many people don’t succeed. The key is to pick a strategy and go all in. Here we’ll look at the two most common debt repayment strategies, the avalanche and the snowball. 

What is an Avalanche Debt Repayment Strategy?

An avalanche debt repayment strategy is a slow-but-steady way to pay off your debt in which you set aside a debt repayment amount every month, make the minimum payments on all your debts, and then use the leftover money to pay off your higher-interest debt as quickly as possible.

For example, let’s say you have $5,000/month to devote to paying off debt and you have the following debts:

• $12,000 of credit card debt with a 19% APR.
• An $8,000 car loan with a 4% APR.
• $15,000 in student loans with a 3% APR.

With the avalanche repayment method, you would make the minimum payments on the car loan and the student loans and use the rest of the earmarked funds to pay off the credit card debt as soon as possible because it has the highest APR. 

With this method, you can potentially save on interest because you are paying off the most expensive loans first. 

What is a Snowball Debt Repayment Strategy?

A snowball debt repayment tackles one debt at a time, starting with the smallest loan so you can get it off your plate sooner. In the above scenario, you would pay off the car loan first since you owe the smallest amount, then tackle the rest of the debt. 

This strategy may seem appealing to individuals who want to see the results of their actions sooner, but you may end up paying more in interest because you may have the high-interest loans for longer. 

Avalanche vs Snowball Debt Repayment: Which is Better?

Both avalanche and snowball debt repayment options are great ways to pay off debt, and they both have their pros and cons. The strategy that’s right for you will depend on your own unique financial situation, your loans, and your personality and motivations. 

Pros & Cons of Avalanche Debt Repayment

Here are some of the benefits and considerations of the avalanche debt repayment method:

Pros

The main benefit of an avalanche debt repayment strategy is that you may save on interest. In the above example, you could potentially save thousands of dollars compared to the snowball debt repayment because you are ridding yourself of the high-interest loan as soon as possible with extra funds. 

Cons

The avalanche debt repayment strategy may be hard for individuals who are motivated by instant gratification. Because you are taking longer to pay off individual loans, it may feel like you aren’t making as substantial of progress. 

Pros & Cons of Snowball Debt Repayment

Here are some of the benefits and considerations of the snowball debt repayment method:

Pros

Paying off debt feels great. Because this strategy focuses on smaller amounts first, it can be a good motivator for individuals who enjoy seeing their hard work pay off sooner. 

Cons

Because this method focuses on smaller loans first, rather than loans that have the highest interest rates, it may end up costing more in the long run and extending the life of the loan because of the higher interest rates. For individuals who want to pay the least amount of interest possible, the snowball debt repayment method might not be the best option. 

Whether you use the avalanche or snowball debt repayment method (or a mix of the two), paying off debt is often a good idea. If paying off debt is one of your financial goals, we can help you develop a plan and understand the implications of your greater financial picture. Schedule a free introductory call today to learn more about our services. 

About Guide Financial Planning

Guide Financial Planning is led by founder Ben Wacek, who is a Christian fee-only Certified Financial Planner™ and Certified Kingdom Advisor®. He has a passion for helping people of all income levels make wise financial decisions and steward their resources from an eternal perspective using Biblical principles. Based in Minneapolis, MN, he works with clients both locally and virtually throughout the country and abroad. You can follow the links to learn more about Guide Financial Planning and our team and the services we offer.