無料キャッシュフロー指数計算機
月々のキャッシュフローを最速で改善。キャッシュフロー法は残高に対して最も多くの現金を消費する借金を優先。
あなたの借金
合計最低返済額を超える金額で、毎月ターゲットの借金に適用されます。
借金を追加して返済計画を確認
残高と最低返済額のある借金を少なくとも1件入力してください。
How the Cash Flow Index Method Works
The Cash Flow Index (CFI) is a debt payoff strategy that prioritises freeing up the most monthly cash flow as quickly as possible. Instead of focusing on the smallest balance (snowball) or the highest interest rate (avalanche), it targets debts where your payment-to-balance ratio is the highest.
The formula is simple: divide each debt's outstanding balance by its minimum monthly payment. The result is the Cash Flow Index. A lower CFImeans the debt is locking up a disproportionate amount of your monthly cash relative to its size — making it the best candidate for early payoff.
For example, a $3,000 credit card with a $150 minimum has a CFI of 20, while a $20,000 student loan with a $200 minimum has a CFI of 100. By paying off the credit card first, you free up $150/month for just $3,000 — a far better cash-flow return than the student loan.
Step-by-Step: Using the Cash Flow Method
- List all your debts with their balances and minimum monthly payments.
- Calculate each CFI by dividing the balance by the minimum payment.
- Sort from lowest to highest CFI — the lowest is your first target.
- Pay minimums on every debt except the one with the lowest CFI.
- Throw all extra money at the lowest-CFI debt until it's eliminated.
- Roll the freed-up payment into the next-lowest-CFI debt and repeat.
Why Choose Cash Flow Over Snowball or Avalanche?
If your budget is tight and you need breathing room fast, the cash flow method is often the best choice. The snowball method gives quick psychological wins, and the avalanche methodminimises total interest — but neither is optimised for freeing up the most monthly cash in the shortest time.
The CFI approach is especially powerful when you have debts with high minimum payments relative to their balance (like short-term personal loans or high-payment credit cards). Eliminating these first can free up hundreds of dollars per month that you can redirect to other debts, an emergency fund, or essential bills.
Cash Flow Index vs Other Methods
Each debt payoff method optimises for something different. The snowball method optimises for motivation (smallest debts first). The avalanche method optimises for total cost (highest rates first). The cash flow method optimises for monthly breathing room (best payment-to-balance ratio first).
Many financial planners recommend starting with the CFI method when you're feeling financially squeezed, then switching to avalanche once you have more margin. Not sure which is right for you? Try the Payoff app— it includes a 60-second strategy quiz that recommends the best method for your personality and debt profile.