Yeah, psychology definitely plays a role, but don't underestimate the math either. I've seen folks get a quick win with the snowball method, then lose steam when they realize they're paying more interest overall. Blending methods can work, just keep an eye on the numbers too...
"Blending methods can work, just keep an eye on the numbers too..."
True, mixing methods can help, but honestly, most folks I've worked with do better when they pick one clear strategy and stick to it. Numbers matter, but motivation matters more—whatever keeps you paying consistently wins in my book.
Fair points, but as someone just starting out with a mortgage looming, I'm skeptical about motivation alone. Numbers def matter—I'd rather grit my teeth through boring math if it saves me cash in the long run...but hey, whatever works, right?
"Numbers def matter—I'd rather grit my teeth through boring math if it saves me cash in the long run..."
Totally get that. Crunching numbers isn't fun, but you're right—long-term savings make the avalanche method worth the initial hassle. Once you see those balances dropping, motivation tends to follow naturally anyway...
"Crunching numbers isn't fun, but you're right—long-term savings make the avalanche method worth the initial hassle."
Yeah, I learned this the hard way when refinancing my house a few years back. At first, I dreaded all the spreadsheets and interest rate comparisons...felt like homework all over again. But once I saw how much I'd save over the life of the loan, it clicked. Still, motivation can be tricky—anyone else find it helpful to set smaller milestones along the way to keep momentum going?
