Question 1

How do I pay off 3 credit cards with $20,000 total debt?

Accepted Answer

Start by making minimum payments on all 3 cards ($400/month combined), then choose a strategy for your extra payments. Avalanche targets your highest APR card (24.99%) first to minimize interest. Snowball targets your smallest balance first for quick wins. The calculator above compares both strategies and shows you exactly which card to attack first.

Question 2

Which credit card should I pay off first?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your strategy. The avalanche method says pay the card with the highest APR first (24.99% in your case) to save the most on interest. The snowball method says pay the smallest balance first ($4,000) for faster motivation. The calculator above shows the payment priority order for each strategy.

Question 3

How much should I pay per month to get out of $20,000 in debt?

Accepted Answer

Your combined minimum payments are $400/month. A good target is 1.5x to 2x that amount — $600 to $800/month. This puts you in the acceleration zone where you'll see meaningful progress without overextending your budget. Use the slider in the calculator to find your sweet spot.

Question 4

Does it matter which card I pay extra on?

Accepted Answer

Yes — significantly. With 3 cards at different APRs, the order you target them changes your total interest by hundreds or even thousands of dollars. That's why the calculator compares three strategies side by side. The payment priority section shows you exactly which card to attack first, second, and third under each method.

Pay Off 3 Credit Cards ($20,000 Total) — Free Calculator