10 Clever Tricks To Pay Off Debt Quickly Using The Debt Snowball Method
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1. List Every Debt You Owe From Smallest To Largest
Debt feels like that one noisy neighbor who just won’t stop blasting music at 2 a.m.
You try to ignore it, but deep down you know it’s always there.
So, step one? Put it all on paper (or better yet, a spreadsheet).
You’ll see every credit card, every loan, every sneaky store card you forgot you even had.
It might sting a little, but hey. Denial never paid a bill.
Think of this as your “hit list.” You’re lining up your enemies so you can take them out, one by one.
Writing Down Makes It Real
When you rank everything by balance, smallest to largest, you’re setting yourself up for quick wins.
And let’s be honest, nothing feels better than crossing out a bill that used to own your paycheck.
The smallest debts become warm-ups, giving you momentum for the bigger ones later.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Write all your debts in a Google Sheet, list the smallest balance first, and sort them in order. Apps like Undebt.it make this super easy to track.
2. Focus All Extra Cash On The Smallest Debt First
Here’s where the fun begins. You throw every extra penny at the little guy.
It’s like when you’re at the gym: you don’t start by deadlifting 400 pounds, you start small.
Knocking out the baby debt builds your confidence, and trust me, you’ll want that rush.
Keep paying minimums on everything else, but channel your extra money into that one target.
Even a small extra payment can shave months off the balance.
And when it’s finally gone? Oh man, that freedom hits different.
The Power Of Small Wins
You’ll notice something wild here.
As you clear that first balance, the money you used to pay it suddenly becomes free cash flow.
That’s momentum in action. It’s why the snowball method is so popular.
You’re basically creating a debt-destroying avalanche, starting with a snowball the size of a baseball.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Pay minimums on all debts, then take any extra income (like $50 from skipping takeout) and apply it directly to the smallest debt balance.
3. Cut Back On Expenses To Free Up Extra Cash
Alright, let’s address the elephant in the room. You can’t pay off debt fast if your money keeps vanishing on Uber Eats and random Amazon buys.
It’s harsh, but sometimes you have to be the bad cop with yourself.
Cutting expenses doesn’t mean you stop living. It just means you stop leaking cash.
Think of it like patching holes in your boat before rowing across Biscayne Bay.
A few quick changes can make a huge difference.
Cancel subscriptions you don’t even use.
Cook at home three nights a week instead of ordering in.
Swap out brand-name groceries for store brands.
These little tweaks pile up into serious money.
Saving Feels Like Found Money
When you redirect that “extra” money toward your debt snowball, it feels like free ammo.
Instead of wasting it, you’re giving yourself a shortcut to freedom.
And FYI, cutting expenses for a while doesn’t mean forever. It’s just a sprint until you’re debt-free.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Look through your last month’s bank statement, cancel one subscription you barely use, and redirect that saved $15–$20 directly toward your smallest debt balance. Use Rocket Money to do this on autopilot.
Bonus: Use A Simple Tool To Stay Organized
Cutting back on expenses frees up cash. But here’s the problem: managing all those payments and numbers can feel like juggling flaming torches.
You might start strong, then lose track halfway and wonder, “Wait, did I already pay that card?”
That’s where a simple debt-tracking tool comes in clutch.
You plug in your balances, and it keeps everything lined up in order, showing you exactly which debt gets hit next.
It’s like having a personal trainer for your money. No guesswork, just clear steps.
And here’s the kicker: thousands of people swear by this because it turns the snowball method into something visual and motivating.
You actually see your progress stacking up, which makes the journey way less overwhelming.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Sign up for a free account with Undebt.it, enter your debts once, and let the dashboard show you the next payment target so you never lose track.
4. Keep Making Minimum Payments On All Other Debts
Picture this: you’re at a fancy Miami buffet.
You can’t pile your plate with everything at once. You’d end up in a food coma before dessert.
Debt works the same way.
You focus on the smallest one, but you still gotta keep the others from piling up with late fees.
That’s where minimum payments come in.
It’s like damage control. You’re keeping the wolves at bay while you wipe out one debt at a time.
Consistency Keeps You Out Of Trouble
Making minimum payments is boring, sure, but it saves you from nasty surprises like penalty fees or credit score hits.
You’re not ignoring those debts. You’re just keeping them on life support while you finish the small one.
And when that first balance dies? Boom. You redirect all that money into the next one.
Think of it as “debt triage.” You’re keeping everything stable while you focus on the priority.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Set up auto-pay for minimums on every account using your bank app so nothing slips through the cracks while you attack the smallest debt with all your extra cash.
5. Set Up Automatic Payments To Stay On Track
You know how some people forget birthdays, anniversaries, or even their Netflix password?
Yeah. If you can forget those things, you can definitely forget to pay a bill.
And forgetting a payment? That’s like handing your lender a gift card for late fees.
Automation fixes that problem instantly.
Once your payments are automatic, you don’t even have to think about it.
It’s like putting your finances on autopilot while you chill.
Automation Builds Discipline Without Effort
Here’s the beauty of automation: it removes temptation.
You don’t get a chance to “accidentally” spend the money on a new pair of sneakers or a random night out.
The payment just happens.
And you feel like a genius because, well, you basically are.
Set it, forget it, and watch your balances shrink.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Log into your bank or credit card account and set up automatic minimum payments. Apps like Rocket Money can also handle reminders and help you avoid late fees.
6. Roll The Payment From The First Debt Into The Next One
Here’s where the snowball gets real.
You kill off your smallest debt, and suddenly that $100 a month you used to pay on it is free.
What do you do? Throw a party?
Nah, you load that money onto your next debt like a battering ram.
This is the heart of the snowball method: rolling payments forward.
Momentum Feels Addictive
Each time you eliminate a debt, your payments get bigger.
It’s like going from pushing a scooter to driving a Ferrari.
At first, it feels slow. But once your snowball picks up speed, debts start falling like dominoes.
And the crazy part? Your confidence snowballs, too.
The progress gets addictive. In a good way.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: When you wipe out your first debt, take the old payment and add it to the minimum on your next debt. For example, if you paid $75 on a card, stack it on top of the $50 minimum for the next one, so you’re paying $125 monthly.
7. Track Your Progress Every Month
Imagine working out at the gym but never stepping on the scale.
You’d never know if all those squats and burpees were paying off.
Debt is no different. You gotta track your progress.
Otherwise, you risk burning out because you “feel” like nothing’s changing.
Spoiler: things are changing. You just need proof.
Progress Keeps You Fired Up
When you track your balances every month, you actually see the numbers falling.
That’s the kind of motivation money can’t buy.
Even small drops matter.
Paying off $100 here, $200 there. It adds up, and it’s proof that your snowball is rolling.
Some people love apps like Rocket Money to track progress.
Others just use a spreadsheet with big red lines crossing out debts (super satisfying, btw).
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Open a spreadsheet and update your debt balances on the first of every month (Apps like Rocket Money will do the tracking automatically if you prefer less work)
8. Use Every Bonus Or Extra Income To Pay Faster
Here’s the part nobody likes to hear: your tax refund isn’t “fun money.”
Neither is that random work bonus or grandma’s birthday check.
If you really want to crush debt fast, you gotta feed your snowball every bit of extra cash you can.
It’s not glamorous, but it works.
That extra $200? Throw it at the debt.
Got a side hustle check? Add it in.
Birthday money? Yep, debt. (Sorry, not sorry.)
Extra Income Is Rocket Fuel
Every unexpected dollar you throw into the snowball speeds it up.
Think of it like hitting turbo in a video game. You’re suddenly flying past obstacles.
It may sting at first to give up those “fun splurges.”
But the faster you pay off your debts, the sooner you get your actual fun money back.
And once that happens, you can spend guilt-free. Because you earned it.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Any time you get a bonus, refund, or gift money, deposit it directly into your checking account and immediately make a payment on your smallest debt before you’re tempted to spend it.
9. Celebrate Each Small Victory To Build Momentum
Paying off debt can feel like running a marathon. You need water stations along the way.
That’s why celebrating small wins is crucial.
Kill off your first debt? Celebrate.
Knock out another? Celebrate again.
Don’t go crazy and blow $500 on a trip, but do something that makes the moment stick.
Rewards Keep You Motivated
Celebration creates positive feedback.
It makes your brain say, “Hey, this feels good. Let’s keep going.”
Your win might be something small: a nice dinner, a beach day with friends, or even just bragging about your zero balance on social media (trust me, people will cheer you on).
Debt payoff is a long journey.
Without little victories, it can feel like a slog.
So reward yourself. You earned it.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Each time you pay off a debt, treat yourself to a low-cost reward like a $20 dinner, a beach day, or posting your progress in a finance community for extra accountability and encouragement.
10. Get A Side Hustle And Use All The Earnings To Speed Up Your Debt Payoff Plan
Let’s be real. Sometimes cutting lattes and skipping Netflix isn’t enough.
You can only stretch your paycheck so far before it snaps.
That’s when a side hustle becomes your secret weapon.
You don’t need to build the next Amazon or become a TikTok star overnight.
All you need is some extra cash flow, and trust me, there are plenty of ways to get it.
You could deliver food, walk dogs, freelance online, or flip thrift store finds.
Pick something that doesn’t drain your soul but still brings in a little extra cash.
Side Hustle Cash Feels Different
Here’s the trick: pretend that money never even existed for fun spending.
Every dollar goes straight into your snowball.
That’s what makes it powerful.
It’s like having a bonus round in a video game where every point goes to leveling up.
The faster you stack up those extra payments, the faster you break free.
And here’s the kicker. You’ll probably keep that hustle even after your debts are gone because you’ll realize how nice it feels to have extra money coming in.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Pick one easy side hustle (like Fiverr gigs, DoorDash, or flipping items on Facebook Marketplace), funnel 100% of the earnings into your smallest debt, and watch your snowball double in speed.
Hi! I’m the founder of Money Vice and a passionate personal finance enthusiast. I started this site to help people across America save more with the least difficulty, get rid of debt, and to start putting their money to work (in the easiest way possible).
