We have two credit cards and our housing
Ask
We have two credit cards and our housing, utilities, food, and survival medicine are fully covered.
Our debt repayment budget is $320/month.
- Card A: $2,900 balance at 25.49% AP (minimum payment $85)
- Card B: $1,600 balance at 17.99% AP (minimum payment $45)
Can you run the objective mathematical comparison between the Debt Avalanche and Debt Snowball strategies, showing the exact months and total interest for each, without deciding which one we must pick?
Answer
Covered clause stands: housing, utilities, food, and survival medicine are fully covered, so this is a repayment comparison, not a crisis ladder.
Both routes take 17 months at the same $320/month budget. The difference is in total interest paid and which balance closes first.
| Strategy | Order | Months | Total interest |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Avalanche | Card A → Card B | 17 | $738.99 USD |
| Snowball | Card B → Card A | 17 | $846.23 USD |
Avalanche pays Card A (25.49% AP) first; total interest $738.99, saves $107.24 vs. snowball.
Snowball pays Card B ($1,600, smaller balance) first; Card B clears in month 8, total interest $846.23.
The choice is yours: "save interest" → Avalanche. "clear one balance first" → Snowball gives you a closed card in month 8. Source: this turn's `payoff.py` ok:true stdout; monthly compounding assumed, model not prediction.
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