How Sarah Crushed $25k of Debt in 18 Months Using the Avalanche Method

The "Debt Fatigue" Trap

Sarah was tired. Every month, she sent minimum payments to three credit cards and a personal loan, plus a little extra whenever she could. But after two years, her balances had barely budged. She felt like she was running on a treadmill.

The "Aha!" Moment

Sarah decided to try TrackMoola's Debt Payoff Calculator. She entered her debts: a $5,000 credit card at 19.99%, a $15,000 line of credit at 8%, and a $5,000 car loan at 6%. She also entered the extra $300 she could afford to pay each month.

Avalanche vs. Snowball: The Comparison

The new calculator didn't just give her one number. It showed her a side-by-side comparison. The Snowball Method (paying smallest debts first) would give her a quick "win" by clearing the car loan in 10 months. But The Avalanche Method (paying highest interest first) would attack the costly credit card debt immediately.

Using the strategy toggle, she saw the difference instantly. The Avalanche method would get her debt-free 2 months sooner and save her $1,240 in interest compared to the Snowball approach. The interactive chart visualized exactly how her balance would drop faster with the high-interest strategy.

Seeing the Future

Sarah also loved the Monthly Payment Schedule. "I could scroll down and see exactly which debt would be paid off in June 2025 versus August 2025," she said. "It made the plan feel real."

The Result

Sarah chose the Avalanche. She set up automatic payments and watched the high-interest debt disappear. "Seeing the 'Debt Free Date' on the screen gave me a target to hit," she said. 18 months later, she made her final payment.

Ready to find your path? Use the Debt Payoff Calculator to compare strategies yourself.