Debt calculators and guides
Compare payoff and consolidation strategies using total cost, interest, and time—not monthly payment alone. For federal student loans, IDR, refinancing tradeoffs, and PSLF, start at the student loans hub.
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Calculators
Debt Payoff
Preview payoff timelines using balance, APR, and monthly payment.
Inputs
- Debts
- Rates
- Extra Payment
Pay Off Debt vs. Invest
Compare paying off debt early versus investing extra money using your loan rate, expected return, and time horizon.
Inputs
- Extra payment
- Debt balance
- Interest rate
- Return
Debt Snowball
Create a payoff plan that targets the smallest balances first.
Inputs
- Debts
- Minimums
- Extra Payment
Credit Card Payoff
Estimate when a single credit card balance could be paid off and how much interest you may pay.
Inputs
- Balance
- APR
- Payment
Balance Transfer Payoff
Compare paying off a credit card at your current APR versus transferring the balance with a promotional rate.
Inputs
- Balance
- Current APR
- Promo APR
- Payment
Debt Consolidation
Compare current debt payoff with a consolidation loan including interest, term, and fees.
Inputs
- Balance
- Current APR
- New APR
- Term
Personal Loan
Estimate personal loan payments, total interest, fees, and payoff timing.
Inputs
- Amount
- APR
- Term
Student Loan
Estimate student loan payments, grace-period impact, payoff date, and interest from extra payments.
Inputs
- Balance
- Rate
- Term
HELOC
Estimate home equity line of credit draw-period and repayment-period payments.
Inputs
- Credit line
- Borrowed
- Rate
Loan Comparison
Compare two loan offers using payment, interest, fees, and total cost.
Inputs
- Amount
- APR
- Term
- Fees
Car Affordability Calculator
Estimate how much car you can afford using the 15% take-home rule and 20/4/10 guideline.
Inputs
- Income
- Down payment
- APR
- Term
Car Lease vs. Buy
Compare the estimated net cost of leasing versus buying a vehicle over a chosen comparison period.
Inputs
- Vehicle price
- Lease payment
- Buy rate
- Horizon
Guides
How to Pay Off Debt: Strategies That Actually Work
Learn proven strategies to pay off credit card debt, personal loans, and other balances faster — including the snowball method, avalanche method, and balance transfers.
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Debt Payoff Basics
Learn how snowball and avalanche strategies work, why minimum payments cost more, and how extra payments change payoff time.
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The Credit Card Minimum Payment Trap
See why paying only the minimum keeps balances alive for years, how interest compounds, and what it takes to break the cycle.
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Personal Loan vs. Credit Card
Compare personal loans and credit cards by interest cost, repayment structure, and when each borrowing option makes sense.
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Debt Consolidation: When It Helps and When It Does Not
Compare consolidation loans with debt payoff, balance transfers, and other strategies using total cost and risk.
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How to Compare Loan Offers
Compare APR, payment, term, fees, proceeds, and total repayment across competing loan offers.
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Balance Transfer vs. Avalanche Payoff
Compare using a 0% balance transfer card against the avalanche debt payoff method — when each saves the most interest and what to watch out for.
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Auto Loan Payment Explained
Learn how car loan payments are calculated, what affects total borrowing cost, and how to compare dealer financing before you sign.
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Car Lease vs. Buy: What the Numbers Actually Show
Compare the true cost of leasing vs. buying a car — monthly payment, total outlay, mileage, equity, and when each option makes financial sense.
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Student Loan Repayment Plans Explained
A plain-English breakdown of every federal student loan repayment plan — Standard, Graduated, Extended, and all income-driven options — so you can choose the right one.
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