© New Africa/stock.adobe.com, © diy13/stock.adobe.com; Photo illustration Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.By February, the holidays are long gone, but for many of us, the bill is still very much here.

　　The season that just wrapped up was a big one. According to the National Retail Federation, U.S. holiday retail sales topped $1 trillion for the first time, with consumers having spent about $890 per person on holiday-related purchases.

　　What follows the holidays is quieter—and familiar. Balances linger. Statements arrive. And at some point, the question stops being whether to pay down debt and becomes much more practical: Where do I start?

　　Snowball vs. avalanche: Two ways to start movingFirst things first: with any debt strategy, you keep making every required payment—mortgage, auto loan, student debt, and so on. Strategies such as the snowball or avalanche only apply to how you use the extra money.

　　$1,100, at 20% interest, on your department store credit card$2,300 at 26% interest, on a Mastercard rewards card (your main card for monthly purchases)$8,000 left on your auto loan, at 6%$400 that you borrowed, interest free, from your sister in order to buy giftsWith the snowball method, you put your extra money toward the smallest balance—the loan from your sister. (Interest saved? Zero. Family harmony? Priceless.) Once her debt is paid off, you roll that payment into the next-smallest balance—the department store card—and repeat until they’re all paid off. The snowball method isn’t about efficiency; it’s about momentum. One balance gone means fewer bills, fewer due dates, and visible progress early on.

　　The avalanche method flips that logic. You start with the highest interest rate debt—the Mastercard—despite its size. When the balance is paid off, you move to the department store card. From a math perspective, the avalanche will cost less over time, because you’re eliminating the most expensive debt first—the one with the 25%+ interest rate.

　　As for your sister, she’ll hopefully understand. She wants you to become debt free in the quickest and most efficient way, so you don’t have to go to the well again next year.

　　Share of consumers who expect it will take more than six months to pay off holiday spending on credit cards, according to a survey conducted for the AICPA.

　　The right strategy is the one you’ll stick withMultiple balances, multiple rates, and a payoff timeline that stretches far enough into the future can be paralyzing. When everything feels urgent, it’s easy to do nothing at all.

　　That’s where the snowball method earns its reputation. Paying off one balance—even a small one—shrinks the problem. The mental load is lighter. The process feels manageable. Four debt piles become three, then two, and next thing you know, you’re debt free.

　　If you’re like me, however, you’d rather tackle the most expensive debt first. Watching interest charges fall as quickly as possible can be a huge and empowering motivator. It’s the avalanche method for me.

　　But neither approach is more disciplined or more “correct.” They’re just different paths to peace of mind. The better choice is the one that helps you keep moving when winter makes everything feel slower and heavier.

　　Where to start this monthIf you want to turn intention into action, keep it simple:

　　List everything. Write down every balance, interest rate, and minimum payment. No estimates.Pick one. Smallest balance or highest rate—choose deliberately, not emotionally.Automate minimums. Take late payments and missed due dates off the table so you can focus on one balance at a time.Roll it forward. When one balance hits zero, redirect that payment immediately.Debt—like winter snow—rarely disappears all at once. It melts, slowly at first, then faster. Winter won’t last forever. But the progress you start now can carry well into spring.

　　More from Britannica MoneyDoug Ashburn