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How the Debt Snowball Method Works

debt snowball

Key Takeaways

  • The debt snowball method uses the snowball effect to build momentum by paying off debts from smallest to largest.
  • Each time you pay off a debt, you roll that payment into the next one, speeding up your progress.
  • The debt snowball method creates behavior change through motivation and consistency, helping you stay focused as you eliminate debt.

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If you’re looking for a way to get out of debt for good, let me introduce you to your new DFBFF (debt freedom best friend forever): the debt snowball.

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The debt snowball method is the fastest way to pay off your debt. It’s how I paid off $40,000 of consumer debt in just 18 months! And if it worked for me, it’ll work for you too.

If you’re following Dave Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps, you know that Baby Step 2 is to pay off all debt (except your house) using the debt snowball. So, once you’re current on all your bills and have $1,000 saved for your starter emergency fund, it’s time to get that snowball rolling!

How Does the Debt Snowball Method Work?

The debt snowball method is a debt-reduction strategy where you pay off debt in order of smallest balance to largest balance, gaining momentum as you knock out each balance. When the smallest debt is paid in full, you roll the minimum payment you were making on that debt into the next-smallest debt payment.

Here’s how the debt snowball works:

Step 1: List your debts from smallest to largest (regardless of interest rate).

Step 2: Make minimum payments on all your debts except the smallest debt.

Step 3: Throw as much extra money as you can on your smallest debt until it’s gone.

Step 4: Take what you were paying on your smallest debt and add that to your payment on the next-smallest debt until it’s gone too.

Step 5: Repeat until each debt is paid in full and you’re completely debt-free!

As you knock out your debts one by one, the amount of money you have to throw at the rest of your debt grows—kind of like a snowball rolling down a hill (hence the name). And the excitement you get from paying off your smallest debt super quick will motivate you to keep plowing through your debt, all the way to that debt-free finish line!

debt snowball

Why Does the Debt Snowball Method Work?

The debt snowball works because it’s all about changing your behavior. Trust me, you don’t need to have a finance degree or be a mathlete to beat debt. Your mindset has more to do with this equation than math ever will. In fact, personal finance is 80% behavior and only 20% head knowledge.

The quick wins you get with the debt snowball help you believe you can actually pay off your debt. And if you believe it, you’ll start behaving like it. That’s why it worked for me. Once I saw my smallest credit card debt get knocked out, I did a little happy dance (internally—you don’t want to see me dance externally). And my brain was like, That was awesome! Let’s do it again! That’s the power of psychology—and the debt snowball.

What About the Interest Rates?

Maybe you’ve heard of the debt avalanche method, where you pay your debts in order from highest to lowest interest rate. But here’s the deal: If you start paying on your debt with the highest interest rate first (which is usually also your biggest balance), it could be a while before you see any progress.

Pretty soon, you’ll lose steam and maybe give up altogether. Why? Because it’s taking forever to gain traction! You’ve started with the hardest debt, instead of the easiest. Plus, you’ll still have all your other small, annoying debts hanging around that you also have to keep paying on.

But when you knock out the smallest debt first, you get a win much faster! That debt is out of your life forever. The second debt will soon follow and then the next and the next. Suddenly, you’re throwing a monster snowball of a payment at your last debts—instead of chipping away with bite-sized minimum payments.

When you see your debt snowball actually working, you’re more likely to stick with it. And the next thing you know, you’ll be screaming, “I’m debt-free!”

An Example of the Debt Snowball

Now, let’s see an example of how this method works in real life. In this scenario, you’ve got four different debts:

  1. $500 medical bill—$50 payment
  2. $2,500 credit card debt—$63 payment
  3. $7,000 car loan—$135 payment
  4. $10,000 student loan—$96 payment

Using the debt snowball method, you’d make minimum payments on everything except the $500 medical bill—that’s the one you attack with a vengeance. And let’s say you’re super focused on your goal, so you get a side hustle, bringing in an extra $500 each month that you add to your snowball.

Since you’re paying $550 a month on the medical bill (the $50 minimum payment plus the extra $500), that debt is completely gone in one month. Boom! Now you can take the freed-up $550 and put it toward your credit card debt, paying a total of $613 ($550 plus the $63 minimum payment). In about four months, you’ll be kissing that credit card debt goodbye.

Next, you’ll punch that car loan in the face to the tune of $748 a month ($613 plus $135). In less than nine months, you’ll be driving off into the sunset in a vehicle you actually own.

By the time you reach your last (and biggest) debt, you’ve gotten serious and decided to cut your spending even more, giving you an extra $100 a month. So, now you can put $944 a month toward that dreaded student loan! With a hefty payment like that, you’ll be sending Sallie Mae packing her bags just nine months later.

Do you see now why the debt snowball is the best debt payoff method out there? Paying off your debt in the right order, throwing extra money into your snowball, and staying focused on your goal—that’s how you pay off $20,000 in less than 24 months. And chances are, you’ll probably get so fired up along the way that you pay off your debt even faster!

When Should I Pause the Debt Snowball?

Now, don’t get me wrong . . . there are times when you’re going to need to pause (not stop!) your debt snowball. Unexpected (and sometimes expensive) stuff happens in life, and it’s far more important to focus on those for a short time until you can turn the gazelle intensity back on with a vengeance.

These are the circumstances where you’ll want to pause your debt snowball:

  • Having a baby
  • Losing your job unexpectedly
  • A health crisis for you or your family
  • Going through a major life change, like a divorce
  • An outstanding IRS bill

How to Stay Motivated Working the Debt Snowball

The debt snowball method works. But I’ll be honest, it’s not a cakewalk or a walk in the park. In fact, there’s no cake or walking involved here. It’s going to take hard work, sacrifice, budgeting—and constantly telling yourself, We have food at home. There will be lots of questions, slipups at the beginning, and challenges along the way, but it’s all worth it. And hey . . . if I can do it, you can too!

Something that will make the debt-free journey a little easier is the EveryDollar app. It’s not only a budgeting app that tracks all your monthly expenses and keeps your budget from going haywire, but it’s also designed for long-term goals. EveryDollar can keep help you set up and keep track of your debt snowball, cheering you on along the way as you get closer to financial peace.

So, what are you waiting for? Just like the snowball gaining speed on its way down the hill, you can power through paying off debt. And when you no longer have debt holding you back, you’re free to save for your future and build the life you really want.

You’ve got this. Download EveryDollar today!

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George Kamel

About the author

George Kamel

George Kamel is the #1 national bestselling author of Breaking Free From Broke, a personal finance expert, a certified financial coach through Ramsey Financial Coach Master Training, and a nationally syndicated columnist. He’s the host of the George Kamel YouTube channel and co-host of Smart Money Happy Hour and The Ramsey Show, the second-largest talk radio show in America. George has served at Ramsey Solutions since 2013, where he speaks, writes and teaches on personal finance, investing, budgeting, insurance and how to avoid consumer traps. He’s been featured on Fox News, Fox Business and The Iced Coffee Hour, among others. Learn More.