Paying off student loans can feel overwhelming—but choosing the right repayment method can help you feel more in control. Two popular ways to tackle debt are the debt snowball and the debt avalanche. In this post, we’ll break down how each one works, share real stories from Reddit users, and help you decide which method makes the most sense for your situation.

Debt Snowball: Start Small, Build Momentum

How it works:

• List your student loans from the smallest balance to the largest, ignoring interest rates.
• Make minimum payments on all your loans.
• Focus all your extra money on the loan with the smallest balance.
• Once you pay it off, move on to the next smallest balance, and so on.

Why people like it: You get quick wins early on, which can help you stay motivated.

Real example: One Reddit user wrote that they paid off $70,000 in student loans while earning about $65,000 a year. They stuck with the snowball method because the satisfaction of eliminating small balances gave them the momentum to keep going.

Debt Avalanche: Pay Off the Most Expensive Debt First

How it works:

• List your student loans by interest rate, from highest to lowest.
• Make minimum payments on all loans.
• Put extra money toward the loan with the highest interest rate.
• After paying that off, move to the next-highest rate.

Why people like it: You’ll pay less total interest and get out of debt faster if you stay consistent.

Real example: Another Reddit user had a loan with an 8% interest rate. They focused on that one first using the avalanche method because they wanted to reduce how much interest they were paying overall.

Pros and Cons of Each Method

Snowball pros:

• Builds motivation through early wins
• Helps create momentum and emotional payoff

Snowball cons:

• You may pay more interest over time
• Less efficient if your smallest debts also have low interest rates

Avalanche pros:

• Saves money on interest
• Can be faster if you stick with it

Avalanche cons:

• Progress can feel slow at first
• May be harder to stay motivated

Research shows the avalanche method can save around 12–15% in total interest paid, but the snowball method may be better for people who are just starting out or need regular motivation.

Real Stories from Reddit

Several Gen Z users shared their experiences online:

• One person said they used a hybrid approach—starting with the snowball method for quick wins and switching to avalanche later for more savings.
• Another said they stuck with avalanche because their high-interest loans were costing them too much.
• A third user said the snowball method helped them stay consistent and eventually pay off $80,000 in student debt.

Which Strategy Is Best for You?

Here’s a simple way to decide:

Choose the snowball method if:

• You feel overwhelmed by your loans
• You need quick wins to stay motivated
• You want to build momentum with small successes

Choose the avalanche method if:

• You’re comfortable sticking with a long-term plan
• You want to save the most money overall
• You’re focused on efficiency

6. What You Can Do Today

• Make a list of all your loans, including balances and interest rates
• Pick the strategy that feels right for you
• Make minimum payments on all your loans
• Focus extra money on your target loan
• Revisit your plan every few months and adjust if needed

No matter which strategy you choose, consistency is key. You might even want to combine both methods—start with snowball to build confidence, then switch to avalanche to speed things up.

Final thoughts: There’s no one-size-fits-all way to pay off student loans. Both snowball and avalanche can work. What matters most is that you start, stay focused, and make progress.