Debt Snowball & Avalanche
🦉 OwlCents

What this calculator does — and why it matters

How to use this tool
  1. Add your debts (name, balance, APR, minimum).
  2. Choose Snowball (smallest balance first) or Avalanche (highest APR first).
  3. Set your Monthly Extra Payment (optional).
  4. Click Calculate to generate the plan.
  5. If a minimum is below first-month interest, increase it (we flag this).
  6. Re-run with different extras — even +$25/mo helps.
  7. Pick the method you’ll stick with (motivation beats perfection).

Note: This planner is educational and not financial advice.

Your debts
Educational only. This is not financial advice.
Name Balance APR (%) Min Payment
Payoff (months)
Total Interest (plan)
Interest Saved vs Minimums
First Debt Paid
Snowball — Months
Snowball — Interest
Avalanche — Months
Avalanche — Interest
Rollover schedule
Month Available Budget Breakdown Debts Paid This Month Next Target

Budget = monthly extra you entered + minimums from debts already paid off (these persist every month).

Milestones
Methodology
Each month: accrue interest; pay minimums on all open debts; then apply your extra payment (plus any freed minimums) to the highest-priority debt (Snowball = smallest balance first; Avalanche = highest APR first). When a debt hits zero, its minimum rolls to the next month’s available amount.
  • We flag negative amortization if a minimum is below first-month interest.
  • The Rollover schedule shows how freed minimums compound momentum.
  • Tie-breakers: Snowball orders by current balance; Avalanche by APR.

Debt payoff, made doable: pick a method, get momentum, stay the course

Example: $24,700 across 3 debts — Snowball vs Avalanche