The debt snowball and debt avalanche are the two most popular structured methods for paying off multiple debts. Both involve paying the minimum on all debts while throwing every spare pound at one chosen debt — they differ only in which debt you target first.
You target the smallest balance first, regardless of interest rate. Once it's cleared, you roll its payment onto the next-smallest, and so on — the payments 'snowball'. The advantage is psychological: clearing a whole debt quickly gives a motivating win that helps you keep going. Popularised by Dave Ramsey.
You target the highest interest rate first. This is mathematically optimal — it minimises the total interest you pay and clears the debt fastest overall. The downside is that if your highest-interest debt also has a large balance, it can take a while to see a debt fully disappear, which some find demotivating.
If you're motivated by numbers and discipline, the avalanche saves the most money. If you need visible quick wins to stay motivated, the snowball is often more successful in practice — a method you stick with beats a 'better' one you abandon. The best choice is the one you'll actually follow. Our free debt-free tracker works with either. This is general information, not financial advice.