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Snowball vs avalanche method for tackling card debt

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(@milopoet)
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Interesting points raised here. Have you found that the hybrid approach works best when people have a very clear timeline or goal in mind?

I ask because a couple years ago, I helped a close friend who was drowning in credit card debt. Initially, we went full-on snowball method to get some quick wins. It worked great for morale at first, but like you said, the bigger debts started feeling overwhelming again after a while. Eventually, we switched gears and tackled the highest-interest balances instead. But what really turned things around wasn't just the method itself—it was when he set a specific goal of saving enough for a down payment on a condo.

Once he had that tangible goal, his spending habits shifted dramatically. Suddenly, every dollar spent felt like it was directly delaying his dream of homeownership. He even started tracking his spending meticulously (which he'd never done before). I think having that concrete objective made the sacrifices feel worthwhile, rather than just endlessly paying off debt with no clear endgame.

So, I'm curious—do you think the hybrid method is most effective when paired with a specific financial goal, or have you seen it work equally well without one? In my experience, people tend to lose steam unless they have something concrete they're working toward.

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kathy_seeker
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(@kathy_seeker)
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Interesting perspective—I definitely see how having a clear goal can boost motivation. But honestly, I've seen the hybrid method work pretty well even without a specific financial target. Sometimes, just the relief of seeing balances shrink and interest charges drop month by month is enough to keep people going.

I had a client once who didn't have any big dreams like homeownership or a fancy vacation. He just wanted to stop feeling stressed every time he opened his credit card statements. We started with snowball to build momentum, then switched to avalanche once he felt more confident. He didn't have a concrete goal beyond "less anxiety," but it still worked wonders for him.

So yeah, goals are great motivators, but I wouldn't underestimate the power of simply wanting peace of mind. Sometimes that's all the motivation someone needs...especially if they've been losing sleep over debt for years.

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boardgames_hannah
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Totally agree with this. Honestly, when I first started tackling my debt, I didn't have any grand plans either—just wanted to stop feeling like my paycheck was evaporating into thin air every month. I tried avalanche first because logically it made sense (yay math!), but man, it felt like watching paint dry. Switched to snowball and suddenly felt like a superhero knocking out those smaller balances.

Funny thing is, once I got some momentum going, the avalanche method didn't seem so daunting anymore. It was easier to stomach those bigger debts once I'd already tasted victory on the smaller ones. So yeah, hybrid definitely has its perks.

Also, peace of mind is seriously underrated. Like, being able to open your banking app without holding your breath? Priceless. Goals are awesome and all, but sometimes just wanting to sleep better at night is motivation enough...worked for me anyway.

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ray_green
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(@ray_green)
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"Switched to snowball and suddenly felt like a superhero knocking out those smaller balances."

Totally get the superhero feeling, it's definitely motivating. But just to offer another perspective—I've seen some folks get a bit too carried away with the snowball method, knocking off those small debts fast but then hitting a wall when it's time for the big ones. One of my clients did exactly that: she was pumped at first, but then got discouraged when progress slowed down dramatically.

I've found that sometimes focusing purely on motivation can neglect the reality of interest piling up on larger balances. Maybe balancing the emotional boost of snowballing with a clear plan for those higher-interest debts early on could be helpful? Like you said, hybrid has its perks, but having a rough roadmap upfront—even if it's flexible—can save headaches later.

Either way though, you're spot-on about peace of mind. Debt-free sleep is definitely underrated...

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charliehall686
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(@charliehall686)
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I definitely relate to that superhero feeling, especially when you finally see those balances drop to zero. When I first started paying off my cards, I went full snowball method because psychologically it just felt right. But yeah, after knocking out a couple of small ones, I remember staring down a big balance and feeling like I'd hit a brick wall. The motivation slowed way down, and suddenly it was all about discipline and patience.

What worked for me was tweaking things a bit—still snowballing mostly, but occasionally shifting extra payments toward higher-interest debts when I could. Having that flexibility helped me stay motivated without totally ignoring the math. Honestly though, whatever keeps you going is the right way... because you're absolutely right about that peace-of-mind factor. There's nothing like finally sleeping easy knowing you're debt-free.

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