"consistency beats optimization every time"
Couldn't agree more with this. I remember obsessing over interest rates and spreadsheets at first, but honestly, the biggest wins came when I just stuck to something manageable. Keep at it—you're definitely on the right track.
"the biggest wins came when I just stuck to something manageable."
This resonates with my experience as well. Early on, I spent way too much time crunching numbers and debating snowball vs avalanche methods, only to find that the real key was simply picking one and sticking with it. That said, I do wonder if personality type plays a bigger role than we realize. For instance, some folks seem genuinely motivated by quick psychological wins (snowball), while others thrive on knowing they're mathematically optimizing their payoff (avalanche). Maybe it's less about what's objectively best and more about what aligns with your mindset?
Personally, I've always leaned toward the avalanche method because seeing those high-interest balances shrink quickly was motivating enough for me. But I've seen friends who swear by snowball because crossing off debts completely gave them momentum. Curious if anyone else has noticed their personality influencing their choice here...
Totally agree personality matters more than people think. I've noticed clients who love spreadsheets and numbers naturally gravitate toward avalanche, while others who get overwhelmed easily do better with snowball. It's all about what keeps you motivated long-term, not just what's mathematically ideal...
I lean analytical and love crunching numbers (spreadsheets are my jam, lol), so avalanche always seemed like the obvious choice for me at first. But weirdly enough, after a few months, I found myself losing steam because the bigger balances took forever to budge. Ended up switching to snowball just to get those quick wins and keep the momentum going. Sometimes even us spreadsheet nerds need that psychological boost, ya know? Whatever works to keep you from burning out...
Yeah, I get where you're coming from. Avalanche looks great on paper—lowest interest first means less money overall—but it's easy to underestimate how draining those slow-moving balances can be. I've seen plenty of folks start strong, only to lose momentum halfway through because they don't feel they're making progress.
One thing I'd add though is that it doesn't have to be strictly one or the other. Sometimes mixing methods can help keep motivation up: knock out a few smaller debts first for that psychological boost, then pivot back to avalanche once you're feeling more confident. Or even alternate approaches every few months if you find yourself hitting a wall again.
Bottom line... spreadsheets are helpful, but human psychology matters too. Glad you found something that's working better for you now.
