The avalanche method is mathematically the fastest way to escape debt. You list every balance by APR, make minimum payments on all of them, then throw every spare dollar at the highest-rate account until it's gone. Then you attack the next-highest, and so on.
It saves the most money in interest — often thousands of dollars compared to other orders. The trade-off is psychological: early wins can feel slow if your highest-rate balance is also the largest.
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Talk to Auri →Frequently asked questions
Avalanche or snowball — which is better?
Avalanche saves more money; snowball delivers faster emotional wins. Pick the one you'll actually finish.
What if two debts have the same APR?
Pay off the smaller balance first — you'll free up a minimum payment sooner and accelerate progress on the rest.
Related terms
Snowball method
Paying off debts from smallest balance to largest, regardless of interest rate.
Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio
The percentage of gross monthly income spent servicing debt.
Minimum payment
The smallest amount you can pay on a credit card or loan without triggering a late fee.
APR (annual percentage rate)
The yearly cost of borrowing, including interest and most fees, expressed as a percentage.