If you carry a mix of credit-card balances, personal loans, auto loans, or other debts, the hardest part of getting out of debt is not willpower — it is knowing which numbers actually matter. This planner takes the figures printed on each statement (balance, interest rate, and required monthly payment), runs the same month-by-month arithmetic your lenders run, and answers the questions that matter: when will you be debt-free, how much interest will each strategy cost, and whether lowering a credit-card rate or consolidating your debts would genuinely save you money.
Each credit card, personal loan, auto loan, or other debt is simulated one month at a time. Every month, interest accrues on each balance at one-twelfth of its annual percentage rate, required payments are applied, and your extra payment goes to a single target debt — the highest-rate debt under the avalanche strategy, or the smallest balance under the snowball strategy. When a debt is paid off, its entire payment rolls into the next target. The balance transfer scenario applies only to the highest-rate eligible credit card; personal and auto loans keep their existing rates. The consolidation scenario replaces all entered debts with one fixed-term loan at the rate you enter.
Suppose you owe 4,500 dollars on a credit card at 22 percent, 8,000 dollars on a personal loan at 11 percent, and 15,000 dollars on an auto loan at 7 percent. The planner includes all three in the snowball and avalanche comparisons. Under the avalanche, extra money attacks the credit card first because it has the highest rate, then rolls to the personal loan, and finally the auto loan. A balance transfer comparison moves only the eligible credit-card balance; it never pretends that the personal or auto loan can be transferred to a promotional card.
Is the avalanche method always cheaper than the snowball?
Mathematically, yes — paying the highest rate first always minimizes total interest. But the gap is often smaller than people expect when rates are similar. The planner shows both orderings side by side so you can weigh the dollar difference against the motivational value of quick wins.
Where do I find the exact numbers to enter?
For credit cards, use the current balance, purchase APR, and minimum payment from the statement or app. For a personal or auto loan, use the current payoff balance, annual percentage rate, and required monthly payment from your lender account.
Can I include personal loans and auto loans?
Yes. Choose the matching debt type, then enter the current balance, rate, and required payment. Both snowball and avalanche include those loans. Only the balance-transfer comparison is limited to credit cards.
Why does the planner say my debt would never be paid off?
If your combined payments are smaller than the monthly interest your balances generate, the debt grows instead of shrinking. This is common with minimum-only payments on high-rate cards. Adding even a modest extra payment usually fixes it — and the balance transfer and consolidation scenarios can help when the budget is genuinely tight.
Does the balance transfer scenario include the fee?
Yes. The fee you enter (typically 3 to 5 percent) is added to the transferred balance before the simulation runs, and the comparison reports the fee alongside the interest so nothing is hidden.
Are my numbers sent to a server?
No. All calculations run in your browser. The balances, rates, and payments you type never leave your device, and there is no account or email required.
Is this financial advice?
No. The planner is an educational estimate based on standard amortization arithmetic and the numbers you provide. Real card terms vary — daily compounding, changing minimum payment formulas, promotional terms — so treat the output as a close planning estimate, not a quote.
This page is for general educational information only. It is not financial, tax, legal, or medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this tool.