Snowball method
Pay minimums on everything, then throw extra at the smallest balance. When it's gone, roll that payment into the next-smallest. Best for momentum.
Payoff strategy comparison
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Recommended strategy
Promo APR first — start with Card C
Card C's 0% promo window ends in 92 days. Paying it down before the snap-back rate kicks in saves the most interest.
Estimated impact of $150/mo extra: roughly $0 in interest avoided over a year on this card.
The methods
Four ways to attack credit card debt.
Avalanche method
Pay minimums on everything, then throw extra at the highest-APR card. When it's gone, roll that payment into the next-highest APR. Saves the most in interest.
Promo APR-first method
Prioritize any 0% promo card whose end date is approaching. Missing a promo deadline is usually more expensive than carrying a high-APR balance for a few more months.
Utilization-aware payoff
If you have an application coming up (mortgage, auto loan), reduce balances on cards with the highest individual utilization first — even if their APR is lower.
Which method Cardinate can help with
All of them. Cardinate models each strategy against your actual balances, APRs, and promo windows and recommends the right card to pay first this month.
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