Can you show me a debt avalanche example with real numbers?
Sure. Say you have three debts: Card A at $4,000 and 26% APR, Card B at $6,000 and 19% APR, and a loan of $5,000 at 9%. The avalanche says pay minimums on B and the loan, then throw every extra dollar at Card A because its 26% rate is the most expensive. Suppose your minimums total $300 and you can pay $700 a month overall, leaving $400 extra for Card A. Once Card A is gone, you roll its entire payment – minimum plus the $400 – onto Card B, then onto the loan. By always targeting the highest rate, you minimize total interest paid versus any other order. The avalanche can save hundreds or thousands compared with paying smallest-first, especially when rate gaps are wide. Plug your actual balances and rates into wealthserene.com/tools/debt-payoff to see your interest savings.