How fast can I realistically become debt-free?

Your timeline depends on three things: how much you owe, your interest rates, and how much you can pay each month above the minimums. The single biggest lever is the extra payment. For example, $15,000 in card debt at 22% APR paid at $400 a month takes years and costs a fortune in interest; bump that to $700 a month and you can finish in roughly two to three years with far less interest. To accelerate, free up cash by trimming the budget, add income, and lower your rates through a balance transfer or consolidation loan so more goes to principal. Apply windfalls directly to the balance. Set a target payoff date and reverse-engineer the monthly payment needed to hit it. Seeing the date makes the plan concrete and motivating. Estimate your own finish line at wealthserene.com/tools/debt-payoff.