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How the Debt Snowball Method Works

The debt snowball method is one of the most popular debt payoff strategies, popularised by Dave Ramsey. The concept is simple: you line up all your debts from smallest balance to largest, pay minimums on everything except the smallest, and throw every spare penny at that smallest debt until it's gone.

Once the smallest debt is paid off, you take its entire payment and add it to the minimum payment of the next-smallest debt. This creates a “snowball” effect — your payment to each successive debt gets larger and larger, accelerating your progress.

Step-by-Step: Using the Snowball Method

1. List all your debts — credit cards, car loans, student loans, medical bills, personal loans.
2. Sort by balance, smallest to largest. Ignore interest rates.
3. Pay minimums on every debt except the smallest.
4. Put all extra money toward the smallest debt.
5. When it's gone, roll that payment into the next debt.
6. Repeat until you're debt-free.

Why the Snowball Method Works

Research from the Harvard Business Review shows that people who focus on small, achievable wins are significantly more likely to stick with their debt payoff plan. The snowball method leverages this psychology — every time you eliminate a debt, you get a motivational boost that keeps you going.

While the avalanche method saves more on interest mathematically, the snowball method has a higher real-world success rate because people actually follow through.

Snowball vs Avalanche: Which Should You Choose?

The debt avalanche methodtargets the highest interest rate first, saving you the most money. The snowball targets the smallest balance first, giving you the fastest wins. If motivation is your challenge, go snowball. If you're disciplined and want to minimise interest, go avalanche.

Not sure? Try the Payoff app — it includes a 60-second strategy quiz that recommends the best method for your personality and debt profile.