Simple, accurate calculators to help you understand your debt, build a payoff plan, and save thousands in interest.
See All CalculatorsPick the calculator that matches where you are in your debt payoff journey.
Enter your balance, interest rate, and monthly payment to see exactly when you'll be debt-free — and how much interest you'll pay in total. See the impact of paying a little extra each month.
Find out the shocking truth about making only minimum payments — and how many years it will actually take to pay off your balance.
Pay off your smallest debts first to build momentum. Enter all your debts and get an exact timeline showing when each one disappears.
Attack the highest interest rate debt first. The mathematically optimal method — see how much interest you save compared to the snowball.
Calculate your DTI ratio and see whether you'd qualify for a mortgage, auto loan, or personal loan — with a lender-by-lender breakdown.
Choose the tool that fits your situation — whether you have one debt or many.
Fill in your balance, interest rate, and payment details. Nothing is saved or shared.
See your payoff date, total interest, and tips to get out of debt faster.
If you're carrying debt on multiple cards or loans, two methods dominate: the debt snowball and the debt avalanche. Understanding the difference can save you hundreds — or thousands — of dollars.
The snowball method focuses on paying off your smallest balance first, regardless of interest rate. Once the smallest debt is gone, you roll that payment into the next smallest. The psychological wins of clearing debts quickly help many people stay motivated and stick to the plan.
The avalanche method targets your highest interest rate first. This is the mathematically optimal approach — you'll pay less total interest and often get out of debt faster. However, it can take longer to see your first debt fully paid off, which some people find discouraging.
If staying motivated is your biggest challenge, start with the snowball. If you're disciplined and want to minimize total interest paid, go with the avalanche. Either method beats making minimum payments — which can keep you in debt for decades.
Your DTI ratio is the percentage of your gross monthly income that goes toward debt payments. Lenders use it to decide whether to approve you for a mortgage or loan. Most conventional lenders want to see a DTI below 36%, and will rarely lend above 43%. If your DTI is high, paying down debt before applying for new credit will significantly improve your chances of approval.