Snowball vs. avalanche — same debts, same $500 a month
Hypothetical example used across our guides: balances of $1,800, $2,500, $3,500 and $5,000, with minimums of $300 and $200 extra each month.
Order by balance, ignore rates. First debt gone in month 8 — debt-free in month 32, with about $3,178 of interest.
Order by rate. First debt gone in month 11 — debt-free in month 31, with about $2,669 of interest.
The avalanche saves about $509 and one month on these debts. Real money — but smaller than the cost of quitting either plan.
Every method works the same way underneath: minimums everywhere, all extra money on one target, and each freed payment rolled into the next debt.