Which loan group should I pay off first?
Which Debt Should You Pay Off First? Let's cut straight to it: If you've got multiple debts, pay off the smallest debt first. That's right—forget about the interest rate and focus on the smallest debt first. This is called the
High-interest debt can cost you more the longer you have it, so it makes perfect sense to pay off the loan with the highest interest rate first. The nickname for this tactic is the “avalanche method.”
Prioritizing debt by interest rate.
First, you'll pay off your balance with the highest interest rate, followed by your next-highest interest rate and so on. As you work your way down the list, be sure to continue making the required minimum payments on all accounts.
Paying off high-interest debt first is commonly referred to as the avalanche method. Keep making the minimum monthly payments on all of your credit cards and loans, but put every extra penny you can toward the card or loan with the highest interest rate.
Because of this, it may be smart to pay off your private student loans first. If you have federal student loans, they may be either subsidized or unsubsidized loans. It's typically best to focus on your unsubsidized loans first since they accrue interest during school and your grace period.
The quicker you're able to pay down the principal of your loan – or the amount of money you're borrowing – the less interest you'll have to pay.
If you're motivated by saving as much money as possible down to the last penny, you'll probably prefer the “avalanche” method. On the other hand, if getting a quick win right off the bat encourages you to keep moving forward, then the “snowball” method will likely motivate you the most.
The "snowball method," simply put, means paying off the smallest of all your loans as quickly as possible. Once that debt is paid, you take the money you were putting toward that payment and roll it onto the next-smallest debt owed. Ideally, this process would continue until all accounts are paid off.
The debt snowball method: paying your smallest debts first
Then, pay the minimum amount each month on all debts, but focus the majority of your efforts on that smallest account. Once your smallest debt has been repaid, move on to the next smallest debt and repeat the process.
Consider the snowball method of paying off debt.
This involves starting with your smallest balance first, paying that off and then rolling that same payment towards the next smallest balance as you work your way up to the largest balance. This method can help you build momentum as each balance is paid off.
What is the fastest way to pay off a personal loan early?
You can pay off a personal loan faster by putting a lump sum of extra money toward the principal, paying extra each month, or making biweekly payments instead of monthly payments, among other strategies.
In general, it's best to pay off credit card debt first, then loan debt, since credit cards often have the highest interest rates. When you prioritize paying off credit card debt, you'll not only save money on interest, but you'll potentially improve your credit too.
- Make bi-weekly payments. Instead of making monthly payments toward your loan, submit half-payments every two weeks. ...
- Round up your monthly payments. ...
- Make one extra payment each year. ...
- Refinance. ...
- Boost your income and put all extra money toward the loan.
Use a debt consolidation loan
With a debt consolidation loan, you borrow money from a lender and roll all of those debts into one loan with a single interest rate. This allows you to make one monthly payment rather than paying multiple creditors.
Paying off the debt on the card with the highest interest rate first is one method to reduce credit card debt. This is called the “debt avalanche method.” While some advocate for paying off your smallest debt first because it seems easier, you may save more on interest over time by chipping away at high-interest debt.
It's a good idea to start paying back unsubsidized student loans first, since you're more likely to have a higher balance that accrues interest much faster.
Pay off small loans first
You'll pay off the smallest student loan first, rather than the one with the highest interest rate. You can also opt for a combination method. Rank your loans by interest rate, and if several have the same or similar rates, pay off the smallest one first.
If you decide to use the debt avalanche method, follow these steps: Pay extra on the loan with the highest interest rate while continuing to make minimum payments on your other loans. When the first loan is paid off, move on to the loan with the next-highest interest rate.
- Pay extra each month.
- Bi-weekly payments instead of monthly payments.
- Making one additional monthly payment each year.
- Refinance with a shorter-term mortgage.
- Recast your mortgage.
- Loan modification.
- Pay off other debts.
- Downsize.
- Refinance your mortgage. ...
- Make extra mortgage payments. ...
- Make one extra mortgage payment each year. ...
- Round up your mortgage payments. ...
- Try the dollar-a-month plan. ...
- Use unexpected income. ...
- Benefits of paying mortgage off early.
How to pay off a 250k mortgage in 5 years?
Increasing your monthly payments, making bi-weekly payments, and making extra principal payments can help accelerate mortgage payoff. Cutting expenses, increasing income, and using windfalls to make lump sum payments can help pay off the mortgage faster.
- Take advantage of debt relief programs.
- Use a home equity loan to cut the cost of interest.
- Use a 401k loan.
- Take advantage of balance transfer credit cards with promotional interest rates.
- The snowball method. Pay the smallest debt as fast as possible. Pay minimums on all other debt. Then pay that extra toward the next largest debt. ...
- Debt avalanche. Pay the largest or highest interest rate debt as fast as possible. Pay minimums on all other debt. ...
- Debt consolidation.
- Try Paying With Cash or Debit. ...
- Consider a Credit Card Balance Transfer. ...
- Pay More Than the Minimum Amount Due. ...
- Lower Your Expenses. ...
- Increase Your Income. ...
- Pause or Cancel Subscriptions. ...
- Ask for Lower Interest Rates. ...
- Pay Off the Card With the Highest Interest Rate First.
With debt stacking, you line up your debt, most effectively from highest interest rate to lowest, then target one account to pay off, while still making payments on the others. Once the targeted account's balance is zero, you target the next one. Repeat the process until you are debt free.
References
- https://wallethub.com/answers/pl/30000-personal-loan-monthly-payment-1000450-2140762727/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/RandomQuestion/comments/1aie8lt/do_i_pay_off_my_unsubsidized_or_my_subsidized/
- https://www.equifax.com/personal/education/debt-management/articles/-/learn/prioritize-debt-payments/
- https://finaid.org/about/contact/collegeloanbeforegraduation/
- https://www.bankrate.com/loans/student-loans/pay-more-than-minimum-payment/
- https://studentaid.gov/complete-aid-process/accept-aid
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/111615/are-personal-loans-bad-your-credit-score.asp
- https://www.bankrate.com/loans/personal-loans/pros-cons-of-personal-loans/
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-fastest-ways-to-pay-off-debt/
- https://wallethub.com/answers/pl/what-should-you-not-use-a-loan-to-purchase-2140858185/
- https://www.incharge.org/debt-relief/credit-counseling/success-stories/how-i-paid-off-30000-in-credit-card-debt/
- https://www.wellsfargo.com/goals-credit/smarter-credit/manage-your-debt/snowball-vs-avalanche-paydown/
- https://www.cnbc.com/select/debt-snowball-vs-debt-avalanche/
- https://www.investopedia.com/which-student-loan-should-you-pay-off-first-7371714
- https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/education/credit-score/900-credit-score
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/loans/personal-loans/average-personal-loan-rates
- https://www.upstart.com/answers/can-you-have-3-personal-loans-at-once/
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-you-should-make-bi-weekly-mortgage-payments/
- https://www.bankrate.com/loans/personal-loans/get-a-2nd-personal-loan/
- https://www.bankrate.com/loans/personal-loans/personal-loan-mistakes/
- https://www.equifax.com/personal/education/debt-management/articles/-/learn/paying-off-debt-strategies/
- https://www.lendingtree.com/personal/personal-loan-calculator/
- https://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/credit-score/lowest-credit-score/
- https://www.cnbc.com/select/can-you-pay-off-a-personal-loan-early/
- https://fortune.com/recommends/loans/subsidized-vs-unsubsidized-student-loans/
- https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/can-i-pay-off-my-student-loan-in-full-at-any-time-en-609/
- https://wallethub.com/answers/pl/how-much-can-i-borrow-with-a-700-credit-score-1000508-2140806873/
- https://loanoptions.ai/is-it-a-good-idea-to-get-a-loan-to-pay-off-another-loan
- https://www.bankrate.com/loans/personal-loans/refinance-personal-loan/
- https://www.bankrate.com/loans/student-loans/repay-college-loans-fast/
- https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/personal-loans/take-out-a-loan-do-not-use/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/loans/personal-loans/personal-loan-affect-credit-score
- https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/loans-avoid-consider-financial-advisors-2023-5
- https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/should-i-pay-off-credit-card-or-loan-debt-first/
- https://studentaid.gov/articles/subsidized-vs-unsubsidized-loans/
- https://www.elfi.com/pros-and-cons-of-paying-off-student-loans-early/
- https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/is-it-better-to-pay-off-the-interest-or-principal-on-my-auto-loan-en-845/
- https://www.wellsfargo.com/goals-credit/smarter-credit/manage-your-debt/pay-off-debt-faster/
- https://www.edvisors.com/student-loans/repay-student-loans/common-mistakes/
- https://www.lendingtree.com/student/subsidized-vs-unsubsidized-student-loans/
- https://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/personal-loans/pay-off-personal-loan-early/
- https://www.credible.com/personal-loan/high-risk-loans
- https://www.bankrate.com/loans/student-loans/which-student-loan-pay-off-first/
- https://www.bankrate.com/loans/personal-loans/using-personal-loan-to-pay-off-debt/
- https://www.ratecity.com.au/personal-loans/articles/soon-paying-off-last-personal-loan
- https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/how-to-pay-off-high-interest-credit-cards/
- https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/what-debt-do-i-pay-off-first
- https://www.marketwatch.com/guides/personal-loans/best-personal-loans/
- https://www.lendingtree.com/student/principal-only-payments/
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/mortgages-real-estate/10/5-risky-mortgage-loans.asp
- https://www.marketwatch.com/guides/personal-loans/paying-a-loan-off-early/
- https://ownyourfuture.vanguard.com/content/en/learn/financial-planning/how-should-i-prioritize-paying-off-my-debt.html
- https://www.credible.com/refinance-student-loans/pay-off-first
- https://www.debt.org/real-estate/mortgages/how-to-pay-30-year-mortgage-in-15-years/
- https://www.principal.com/individuals/build-your-knowledge/3-ways-pay-your-debt
- https://studentaid.psu.edu/types-of-aid/loans/federal-direct-loans/federal-direct-subsidized-and-unsubsidized-loans/repayment
- https://www.marketwatch.com/guides/personal-loans/how-many-loans-can-you-take-out/
- https://www.sofi.com/learn/content/tips-to-pay-off-mortgage-in-5-years/
- https://www.bankrate.com/personal-finance/debt/which-accounts-pay-first/
- https://www.credible.com/personal-loan/30k-loan
- https://www.credit.com/blog/can-i-use-a-loan-for-one-debt-to-pay-off-another-158402/
- https://www.mirrorreview.com/loans-what-to-choose/
- https://smartasset.com/personal-loans/the-dos-and-donts-of-borrowing-money
- https://www.fbfs.com/learning-center/which-student-loans-should-i-pay-off-first
- https://www.bankrate.com/loans/personal-loans/personal-loan-versus-a-credit-card/
- https://www.marketwatch.com/guides/personal-loans/personal-loan-statistics/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/loans/student-loans/which-student-loan-to-pay-off-first
- https://www.discover.com/credit-cards/card-smarts/paying-multiple-credit-card-debts/
- https://www.horizonfcu.org/5-ways-to-pay-off-a-loan-early/
- https://www.lendingtree.com/student/which-student-loans-pay-off-first/
- https://www.nationwide.com/lc/resources/home/articles/pay-off-mortgage-faster
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-to-pay-off-15000-in-credit-card-debt/
- https://www.unfcu.org/financial-wellness/50-30-20-rule/
- https://www.bankrate.com/loans/student-loans/subsidized-vs-unsubsidized-student-loans/
- https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/article/when-do-i-pay-back-direct-subsidized-or-direct-unsubsidized-loan
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/great-ways-to-pay-off-20000-in-credit-card-debt/
- https://www.investopedia.com/pay-off-personal-loan-faster-8412361
- https://www.rocketloans.com/learn/financial-smarts/which-loan-to-pay-off-first
- https://www.incharge.org/understanding-debt/credit-card/debt-stacking/
- https://www.lendingtree.com/personal/how-many-personal-loans-can-you-have-at-once/