Guides
Plain-English money guides.
Start with the most useful guide, then browse by situation. Every guide ends with a calculator that runs the math on your numbers.
9 guides · 77 minutes of practical reading · 3 topic clusters
How to Pay Off Credit Card Debt: Calculator, Methods, and Plan
Start here for credit card debt payoff: get the numbers visible, run the calculator, pick the right method, and avoid the moves that only make the payment look smaller.
Topic cluster
Getting started
Start here when you need to choose a payoff method and build a plan that survives contact with real life.
Pay off credit card debt
Start here for credit card debt payoff: get the numbers visible, run the calculator, pick the right method, and avoid the moves that only make the payment look smaller.
Read the guide →8 min readPay off multiple cards
Multiple cards are one debt stack. Pay minimums everywhere, aim extra money at one target, and roll each finished payment into the next card.
Read the guide →9 min readSnowball vs avalanche
The math says one is faster. The behavior data says one is more likely to finish. Here is how to decide between them with your real balances.
Read the guide →7 min readSurviving a bad month
Most plans fail in month four, not month one. The fix is simpler than it sounds — and it's mostly about what you do before the bad month, not after.
Read the guide →Topic cluster
Real numbers
Use these when you need to see what a balance, payment, APR, or minimum-payment habit actually costs.
Pay off $10,000
$10,000 at credit-card rates can take 20+ years on minimum payments — or under three years with a real plan. Enter your actual cards, minimums, APRs, and extra payment to see the path.
Read the guide →7 min readMinimum vs fixed payment
The minimum keeps you current. A fixed payment gets you out. Here is why that small behavior change can cut years off credit card debt.
Read the guide →8 min readThe minimum payment trap
The minimum payment looks fair on the statement and ruinous in the spreadsheet. Here is exactly what "just the minimum" costs you — and the small change that gets you out.
Read the guide →Topic cluster
Big decisions
Read these before changing the structure of your debt or accepting a solution that looks better than it really is.
Is consolidation worth it?
A consolidation loan looks great on the surface and ugly underneath about half the time. The four-number test tells you which one you're getting in under five minutes.
Read the guide →8 min readBalance transfer vs loan
A balance transfer is a temporary interest holiday. A consolidation loan is a new fixed debt. The better choice depends on your payoff window and total cost.
Read the guide →Full list
Every guide, one place.
The clusters above are the primary browsing path. This is the full list for scanning.
Pay off credit card debt
Start here for credit card debt payoff: get the numbers visible, run the calculator, pick the right method, and avoid the moves that only make the payment look smaller.
Read the guide →9 min readSnowball vs avalanche
The math says one is faster. The behavior data says one is more likely to finish. Here is how to decide between them with your real balances.
Read the guide →10 min readPay off $10,000
$10,000 at credit-card rates can take 20+ years on minimum payments — or under three years with a real plan. Enter your actual cards, minimums, APRs, and extra payment to see the path.
Read the guide →7 min readMinimum vs fixed payment
The minimum keeps you current. A fixed payment gets you out. Here is why that small behavior change can cut years off credit card debt.
Read the guide →8 min readPay off multiple cards
Multiple cards are one debt stack. Pay minimums everywhere, aim extra money at one target, and roll each finished payment into the next card.
Read the guide →11 min readIs consolidation worth it?
A consolidation loan looks great on the surface and ugly underneath about half the time. The four-number test tells you which one you're getting in under five minutes.
Read the guide →8 min readBalance transfer vs loan
A balance transfer is a temporary interest holiday. A consolidation loan is a new fixed debt. The better choice depends on your payoff window and total cost.
Read the guide →8 min readThe minimum payment trap
The minimum payment looks fair on the statement and ruinous in the spreadsheet. Here is exactly what "just the minimum" costs you — and the small change that gets you out.
Read the guide →7 min readSurviving a bad month
Most plans fail in month four, not month one. The fix is simpler than it sounds — and it's mostly about what you do before the bad month, not after.
Read the guide →Next up
Want the calculator instead?
If you already know your situation, jump straight into the debt payoff calculators and model your numbers.