Ember Economy Starter Pack

Debt Payoff Decision Guide

Use this sheet to decide whether you need the avalanche method, the snowball method, or a hybrid. The right method is the one that survives contact with your real behavior.

Choose Avalanche if...

  • You reliably make extra payments every month.
  • Interest rates vary a lot across your debts.
  • You do not need quick psychological wins to stay engaged.
  • You want the mathematically cheapest path out.

Choose Snowball if...

  • You have started and stopped payoff plans before.
  • You feel overwhelmed by the number of open balances.
  • Small wins will keep you consistent for the next 6 to 12 months.
  • The behavior problem is bigger than the interest-rate problem.

Sanity Check

  • List every debt with balance, rate, minimum, and due date.
  • Pick one method and commit for 90 days. No mid-month style changes.
  • Automate minimums first. Then automate the extra payment.
  • Review progress once per week, not twelve times per day.

Weekly Action Block

This week I will send my extra payment to: ________________________________
The exact extra amount is: _______________________________________________
The one spending cut or income bump funding it is: _______________________