Debt Avalanche vs. Debt Snowball: What’s the Difference?

[00:54:14] Ramit: You spent more money than you made. And I would be willing to bet that you’re spending a comparable amount most months, even though Christmas was in December, there’s probably something that happens in July, etc, and sometimes there’s a big expense that blows up and we have to amortize or spread that out. So you’re probably spending around a 1,000 to 1,500 bucks extra per month than you even reflect here.

[00:54:43] Kenna: I could see that.

[00:54:44] Ramit: What do you think about that, Ryan? I see you just staring off into space right now.

[00:54:47] Ryan: I am not staring off into space. It’s just so annoying that we even allowed ourselves to get into this position.

[00:54:54] Ramit: Yeah.

[00:54:56] Ryan: It’s like we both, like– I think we both consider ourselves semi-intelligent people, and it’s like you can see yourself going down the path and you just don’t stop it. You just let it go and then, oh, whatever. We’ll deal with it at some point. I mean, I’ve even told her before. I’m like, well, we just make the minimum payments and then when we sell this house, we’ll just use the equity from this house to pay off the credit card debt, and then we’ll be at zero again. And then her next answer or next statement is, yeah, until we get another credit card and then do this whole thing over again. And then I go, no.

[00:55:29] Kenna: Which was why cutting the cards–

[00:55:30] Ryan: We don’t do this over again.

[00:55:32] Kenna: Which is why cutting the cards–

[00:55:34] Ryan: Dig ourselves out this time, and that’s it.

[00:55:36] Ramit: Okay.

[00:55:38] Ryan: And then instead of a $1,000 going towards our credit card debt, a $1,000, not even a 1,000, $700 could go to a retirement account and $300 a month can be for us to eat out. If we don’t– uh, just foolish in my younger years.

, Ramit Sethi