The Minimum Payment Trap

Minimum payments keep you current, but they also keep you in debt longer and cost more interest.

Why it happens

Minimum payments are designed to keep your account current, not to eliminate debt quickly. When APR is high, much of your payment goes to interest, and the balance shrinks slowly.

How to break the cycle

Add a consistent extra payment, even if it is small. Then focus the extra on a single target debt while paying minimums on the rest.

See how extra payments change the timeline

Pick a method

Avalanche usually saves the most interest. Snowball can make the plan feel easier to stick with. Either method beats minimums-only.

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