How Does The Debt Snowball Explained by Dave Ramsey (Proven By Millions) Work?

The debt snowball is a fun way to pay off your debts faster by starting with the smallest one.

Imagine you have three toy boxes: one has 10 blocks, another has 20, and the last has 30. You want to empty them all, but you start with the box that has just 10 blocks because it’s the easiest to finish first. Once that’s done, you take the money you saved from paying off the small box and use it to pay off the next one, the one with 20 blocks. Now you’re moving faster! When you finish that one, you have even more power to knock out the biggest box with 30 blocks. That’s how the debt snowball works, you start small, and as you go, you get bigger and stronger, like a growing snowball rolling down a hill.

Why It Works

It's like playing a game where every time you win a round, you get more power for the next one. You feel proud after each debt you pay off, which makes it easier to keep going. And just like stacking blocks one by one until your tower is complete, paying off debts little by little helps you reach your goal, no big magic needed!

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Examples

  1. A person pays off a $100 credit card first, then uses that money to pay off a $200 credit card next.
  2. Imagine stacking blocks, once the small one is gone, you move on to the bigger ones.
  3. Starting with smaller debts gives quick wins and motivation.

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