Avalanche or Snowball

I was pretty proud of myself with this post I created for Social Media this week. Naturally, I’ve gotten zero likes or interaction anywhere, lol, but I still thought it was clever. Decided to share here.

“Avalanche or snowball — which one are you?

In personal finance there are two popular ways to pay down debt.

The "avalanche method" attacks the highest interest rate first. You throw everything at that one card, then roll that payment into the next highest rate, and so on until everything's gone. Mathematically it's the smartest way to do it.

The "snowball method" goes after the smallest balance first. The interest rate isn't the point. The point is the win. Paying something off completely gives you momentum, and that momentum carries you to the next one.

I started thinking about this outside of debt too.

When you sit down at your desk with a pile of tasks, what do you do first? Do you go after the big thing, the one that's going to move the needle the most? Or do you knock out the quick, easy one just to get it off your plate and build some momentum?

In business we sometimes say 'work the money first' — meaning go after whatever is going to pay you fastest, even if it takes more effort. That's avalanche thinking. But sometimes clearing the small stuff off your desk, even something that could wait, is what gets you moving. That's snowball thinking.

Neither one is wrong. They just work differently depending on the person and the moment.

So I'm curious. When you look at your to-do list, your debt, even your goals in life. Are you an avalanche person or a snowball person?”