If you have several cards, the order you pay them off matters. Two popular strategies both work — the best one is the one you'll actually stick to.
The avalanche method
Pay minimums on everything, then throw every extra dollar at the card with the highest APR. This saves the most money in interest and is mathematically optimal.
The snowball method
Pay minimums on everything, then attack the card with the smallest balance first. You clear individual cards quickly, which is motivating and helps many people keep going.
Which should you pick?
If you're disciplined and want to save the most, choose avalanche. If you need momentum and quick wins to stay motivated, choose snowball. Either way, the extra payments are what get you there — test them in the calculator.
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