🔎 Disclosure: WE DON’T SELL ANY COURSES. Money Vice is reader-supported. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The ideas presented on this site are opinions and are presented for entertainment purposes only. We’re not licensed financial advisors. The information presented should not be construed as financial or legal advice. Always do your own due diligence.
1. Paying Debts in the Wrong Order
You’ve probably heard that the Debt Avalanche is the “smartest” way to crush debt because it saves you the most on interest.
But here’s the catch. If you mix up the order, you might as well be throwing cash out your car window on I-95.
The avalanche only works when you pay the highest-interest debt first, not the one that annoys you the most.
A lot of people start paying the smallest balance first because it feels easier, but feelings don’t pay interest, my friend.
So if you’re paying off your 3% car loan before your 20% credit card, yeah. You’re doing the financial equivalent of swimming against the current.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Use a free calculator like Undebt.it to list all your debts, sort them by interest rate, and start from the top every month.
📌 SAVE IT FOR LATER! 📌
2. Forgetting to Set Up Automatic Payments
You know that moment when you realize you forgot a bill. Then your stomach drops faster than your Wi-Fi signal during a Zoom call?
Yeah, that’s what happens when you don’t automate your payments.
The Debt Avalanche thrives on consistency, and missing a single due date can wreck your progress faster than a bad night in South Beach.
Automation makes sure every payment hits on time so you can stay focused on living your life. Do not refresh your credit score in panic.
Set it, forget it, and let the system do the heavy lifting for you.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Log into your bank or credit card portal, set recurring payments for each debt, and use apps like Rocket Money to track all your auto-pays in one place.
3. Giving Up When Progress Feels Too Slow
At first, the Debt Avalanche feels like watching paint dry. Slow, boring, and kinda painful.
You don’t see much change in the beginning, and that’s where most people tap out.
But here’s the truth: the real magic happens when those big, high-interest debts start dropping off like dominoes.
The first few months are a grind, but later? You’ll blink, and your interest will be melting faster than ice in the Miami sun.
So don’t let boredom trick you into quitting before the fun part starts.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Use an app like Rocket money to track every payment and visually see how much interest you’ve saved. It keeps you motivated when the numbers move slowly.
Bonus Tip: Keep Track So You Don’t Lose Steam
You know that moment when you’re halfway through your debt plan and can’t remember how far you’ve come?
That’s when motivation starts fading faster than a tan after summer in Miami.
Tracking your progress isn’t just about numbers. It’s about seeing proof that your effort is actually working, which fuels you to keep going.
That’s why tools like Undebt.it are a total game-changer. They show you your exact payoff date, total interest saved, and even throw you a little digital “high-five” when you crush a milestone.
Thousands of people swear it keeps them on track because it turns your avalanche into something visual, almost like watching your own money story unfold in real time.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Head to Undebt.it, plug in all your debts, choose the avalanche option, and check your progress weekly. It’ll feel like getting closer to your debt-free finish line with every click.
4. Taking on New Debt During the Process
You can’t put out a fire while pouring gasoline on it, right?
Yet somehow, people still swipe their cards while trying to “avalanche” their way out of debt.
Every new balance you add just buries your progress deeper under interest charges.
Think of it like climbing a mountain with a backpack full of bricks. Don’t add another one halfway up.
Keep your eyes on the goal: zero debt, not “just one more purchase.”
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Freeze your credit cards (literally. Some folks put them in ice), and use a debit card or cash while paying down existing debt to stay disciplined.
5. Paying Off Too Much and Burning Out
You ever sprinted the first mile of a marathon and then realized… You still had 25 to go?
That’s what happens when you throw every spare dollar at your debt without leaving any breathing room.
You get burned out, frustrated, and way too tempted to quit.
Debt payoff isn’t about punishment. It’s about balance, so don’t forget to budget a little fun money too.
Because honestly, what’s the point of financial freedom if you’re miserable the whole way there?
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Set a realistic monthly payment goal using a 70/20/10 budget rule (70% needs, 20% debt/savings, 10% fun) and track it with Rocket Money for balance.
📌 SAVE IT FOR LATER! 📌
And that’s it!
Never forget it…
🍔 A Bigger Bank Account Is Waiting For You!
😉 Dale!
