Frequently Asked Questions

You enter your debts — balance, interest rate, and minimum payment — plus any extra monthly payment you can afford. Our calculator runs all four major payoff strategies simultaneously and shows you your debt-free date, total interest, and a month-by-month payment schedule. All calculations happen in your browser instantly.

Yes. All calculations run entirely in your browser — your debt amounts, interest rates, and payment details are never sent to our servers. We never see your financial data. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

Yes. The calculator and your debt-free date are always free. We charge a one-time $7 fee for the full 7-page personalized PDF report, which includes your complete payment schedule, all four strategy comparisons, what-if scenarios, and a printable milestone tracker.

Our calculations use standard compound interest formulas with monthly compounding — the same method used by most lenders. Results are accurate based on your inputs. Actual results may vary if your interest rate changes, you make extra payments, or you miss payments. The tool assumes fixed rates and consistent monthly payments.

The Avalanche method means paying the minimum on all debts, then putting every extra dollar toward the debt with the highest interest rate. When that debt is paid off, you roll that payment to the next highest rate. This is mathematically optimal — it minimizes total interest paid and gets you debt-free fastest in most scenarios.

The Snowball method targets your smallest balance first, regardless of interest rate. When paid off, you roll that payment to the next smallest. You pay more in total interest compared to Avalanche, but the psychological benefit of quick wins can help you stay motivated and stick to your plan.

Choose Avalanche if you're motivated by saving money and are disciplined enough to stick to a plan even if it takes a while to pay off the first debt. Choose Snowball if you need quick wins to stay motivated — the difference in total interest is often small enough that staying on track matters more than optimizing the math.

The consolidation scenario shows what would happen if you combined all your debts into a single loan at 10% APR — a common rate for personal consolidation loans. This is a simplified estimate. Actual consolidation loans have varying rates depending on your credit score and lender. Always compare the actual rate you'd qualify for against your current weighted average rate.

The 7-page PDF includes: (1) a cover page with your key stats and debt summary, (2) a comparison of all four payoff methods with charts, (3) your complete month-by-month payment schedule, (4) five what-if scenarios showing how extra payments affect your timeline, (5) a strategy guide explaining each method, and (6) an action plan with a printable milestone tracker and FAQ.

All sales are final due to the digital nature of the product. If you experience a technical issue preventing you from downloading your PDF, contact us at support@clearmydebt.us within 48 hours and we'll make it right.

Payments are processed securely by Stripe. We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover). Your card details are handled entirely by Stripe and are never stored by Weelco Inc.

Build a starter emergency fund of $1,000 first, then attack your debt aggressively. Without a small buffer, unexpected expenses (car repairs, medical bills) force you to take on new debt, undoing your progress. Once your high-interest debt is paid off, build your emergency fund to 3-6 months of expenses.

A common rule of thumb: if your debt interest rate is above 7%, prioritize paying it off before investing (except for employer 401k matching — always take free money). Below 7%, investing in diversified index funds has historically outperformed debt payoff. This is a general guideline — consult a financial advisor for personalized advice.

Apply windfalls directly to your priority debt as a lump-sum payment. A one-time $1,000 payment on a credit card with 20% APR can shorten your payoff by several months and save hundreds in interest. Recalculate your plan after any large payment to update your timeline.