Should I pay off the smallest debt first?
People overwhelmed by multiple loans struggle to weigh whether to target the smallest balance or compare interest rates mathematically. This confusion leaves them stuck, unable to figure out how to piece out differences in amounts or build a concrete payoff order.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- Most of it landed at once — the busiest month was September 2026, with 7 people.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Focusing on mathematical optimization by paying down the highest interest rate debt first while making minimum payments on the restDid this help you?
- 2Paying off the smallest debts first to build psychological momentum and confidenceDid this help you?
- 3investing the cash in retirement accounts, HSAs, or taxable brokerages instead of paying off low-interest debtDid this help you?
- 4waiting to blend mortgages together at the refinancing markDid this help you?
- 5Evaluating whether to liquidate company stockDid this help you?
- 6Comparing interest rates between car loan and mortgageDid this help you?
- 7Attempting to pitch financial decisions to a spouseDid this help you?
- 8Following community wiki flowcharts or prime directivesDid this help you?
- 9Using debt avalanche method based on interest ratesDid this help you?
- 10Using debt snowball methodDid this help you?
- 11Building a small initial emergency fund before aggressively tackling debtDid this help you?
- 12putting paychecks into alternative banking apps to build creditDid this help you?
- 13making monthly payments on the largest medical billDid this help you?
- 14Focusing payments entirely on the highest interest rate card first instead of complex balance transfer schemes.Did this help you?
- 15Focusing on the highest interest rate debt firstDid this help you?
- 16Paying off a car loan to eliminate a monthly payment and secure a titleDid this help you?
- 17Recasting a mortgage to lower monthly housing paymentsDid this help you?
- 18Paying the highest interest rate debt firstDid this help you?
- 19Paying only the minimums on all accountsDid this help you?
- 20Prioritizing paying back personal friends over banksDid this help you?
- 21Calling lenders to ask for a hardship programDid this help you?
- 22Paying the minimum on all loans and directing all extra money to the debt with the highest interest rate firstDid this help you?
- 23Delaying major new purchases like a car and using ride-shares insteadDid this help you?
- 24Cutting out all discretionary spending (cafes, trips) to free up cash for debt repaymentDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I find finances very hard to deal with, numbers are not my strong suit so im just hoping for some guidance on what people have done or would do.”source ↗
“I don’t know whether to tackle the smallest first ? Or all of them equally.”source ↗
“Trying to prepare and lower one monthly payment either home or car (no other debts, no CC, other car is paid off, no student loans) household income is $220K.”source ↗
“Should I cash out some company stock and pay off the car ($730 payment at 6%) or recast our mortgage to drop $500 (4.5% interest with 26 years left).”source ↗
“I don’t know how to pitch it to my husband. Never done anything like this.”source ↗
“these big big ones are looming over me :(”source ↗
“Which to oay off first?”source ↗
“Is the instinct to pay down the smaller mortgage wrong? I was hoping to just blend them together at the 2 year refinancing mark for the original mortgage.”source ↗
“I just dont know the formula to piece out the differences in amounts.”source ↗
“Im mid move and my brain is toast. I appreciate any guidance you can offer. 🙏🏻”source ↗
“Trying to help my boyfriend (28m) get his affairs in order but wanted advice on the order of importance - he has about 30k in student debt, 10k in credit card debt on which he makes minimum payments, and zero emergency fund.”source ↗
“I know you’re supposed to focus on paying down high interest debts first- CC or student loans first? And should he build a small emergency fund in tandem, and then wait to expand it until those are paid off?”source ↗
“Should I get my first credit card, or pay more payments on medical/hospital debt?”source ↗
“is paying back on my smaller debt bills + attempting to pay larger amounts to my one large bill more important right now?”source ↗
“If there are any tips for how to more easily pay off medical debt with a low salary, please let me know that as well.”source ↗
“So I have a 5800 card at 14% and a 4000 card at 27%. Mathematically is it better to knock out the 14% one then balance transfer the 27% one to that card?”source ↗
“I generally pay about 1200 a month to a card so trying to knock these out as fast as possible.”source ↗
“I have the option to recast my mortgage of $2500 to 2400 5.87%, pay a big chunk of student loan of 67k to 57k 7%, or pay off my car loan of 11k 5%. What is the best option?”source ↗
“i'm going through a rough time financially speaking, after 4 months with no salary, and have even more debt”source ↗
“i'm considering to prioritize the personal loan, so i'm in good standing with them if i need another loan.”source ↗
“is that dumb? i'd love suggestions on how to tackle that, thanks”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 10Should I use my savings to pay off student loans?
- 5Should I pay off debt or build an emergency fund first?
- 79Should I pay off debt or start investing and saving?
- 56Why minimum payments don't lower high-interest credit card debt
- 6How to pay off multiple small short-term debts and loans efficiently
- 2Which car should I sell to pay off debt?