Snowball vs Avalanche

The avalanche method attacks the highest interest rate first, which saves the most money on paper. If your highest-rate debt is also your smallest balance, both methods agree — start there. But often the highest-rate debt is the largest, which means months or years before your first win.

The honest truth: the best method is the one you'll actually finish. If you're motivated by math, avalanche wins. If you need visible progress, snowball wins. The gap in total interest is often a few hundred dollars, but the gap in completion rates is much bigger.