Listen, I was skeptical when I read the title of this article from Semi Retire Plan as well. The Debt Snowball Method… that’s for people who don’t know about math!
Math helped me find the best credit card and maximize my rewards.
For those of you who don’t know what the debt snowball method is, quickly:
The debt snowball method essentially is paying off your smallest debts first and moving on from there, regardless of if your smallest debt has an interest rate of 2% or 25%.
The theory is that as you get small debts paid back, the momentum starts to pick up and it gets easier to pay the bigger debts back.
While I do not support this method (I think paying off your highest interest rate debts first is a no brainer), there are some really interesting phycological implications behind the debt snowball method that can be applied broadly across your life.
Learn more about these great lessons below.
This post was written in partnership with Semi Retire Plan and The Money Mix.
Have you heard us personal finance bloggers mention a guy named Dave Ramsey? If so, your mental image is probably of a bald man cutting up credit cards and shouting about a snowball system, baby steps, and the Financial Peace University program. While we would all agree that it’s preferable to not be in debt, the specifics are controversial, including the debt snowball payoff method.Why would pay off debt early?
Aggressively getting out of debt early has several advantages. You will:- Reduce your total amount of interest paid over the life of the loan by effectively shortening the loan term
- Have extra cash leftover each paycheck after you finish paying off each loan
- Increase your net worth with certainty – without the volatility that accompanies more traditional investments
How the debt snowball works
Using this method, you order your debts from smallest to largest. You can exclude your primary residence’s mortgage if you have one. Then, pay the minimum payment on each debt plus extra (the most you can afford) on the one with the smallest balance. Once the smallest debt is paid off, you pay extra on the next lowest. Repeat until you’re debt-free, then stay out of debt! In this debt payment plan, the type of debt is not relevant. For example, the snowball system does not consider if the debt is a car payment, a mortgage on a second home, or an unsecured debt (which typically have higher interest rates). The advantage of using this debt strategy is that you’ll reduce your monthly payments (each time you pay off a debt) and you’ll save money on future monthly interest by not paying for the full term of your loans. Then, you can use your extra money each month to invest or even pay off your mortgage!Problems with the debt snowball method
The controversial element to this is that the debt snowball does not consider the interest rates of your debts when prioritizing. Mathematically, you would benefit most by paying off your highest interest debts first. There’s a name for this approach – the “debt avalanche.” Furthermore, should you necessarily try to pay off your debts early if they have a low-interest rate? In theory, you might be better off investing your money than paying extra towards the debt with a low rate. Why would you accept a 4% “return” from paying off your student loan early (and avoiding future interest), when you could make 7-10% invested in index funds? More traditional debt management techniques include transferring your balance to a home equity loan or debt consolidation loan to shift to lower interest rates quickly. Ultimately, which approach is right for you is mainly dependent on your own goals and risk tolerance. Notably, though, people using the debt snowball method have a reputation for being ultra-focused and passionate about their progress. Why? What makes paying off small debts more exciting than paying off debts that are costing you more in interest? Basically, because of chemicals in the brain and gut! And although debt repayment brought us to this topic, there are practical applications for you below, no matter what financial stage you’re in.Dopamine
Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit between neurons or nerve cells. Dopamine, the “feel good” neurotransmitter, helps us focus and makes us feel happy when we meet our goals. The debt snowball method is structured to help you achieve wins as quickly as possible since you’re paying extra on your smallest debts first. By completing the initial goals rapidly, you are getting dopamine spikes more often. This makes you feel good, which makes you want to repeat the behavior. It also keeps you focused on your plan. Visually tracking your debt journey, for example, can help you realize your progress and feel gratification. You can essentially “gamify” your finances to increase your happiness. Dr. Nora D. Volkow, the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse at the National Institutes of Health, shared a powerful visual about the power of dopamine. “[Mice can] die of starvation because they don’t have the motivation to engage in the behaviors to go and eat the food. You can rescue this animal by injecting dopamine into the areas of the brain that control this. But if you don’t do that, these animals will die of starvation. And that really epitomizes how extraordinary important dopamine is. It gives you that energy, the drive to do things.” Dopamine gives you the drive to do things!Endorphins
When you are exercising, stressed, or excited, endorphins are then released by the pituitary glands and the hypothalamus. They produce a feeling of relief and being pain-free. In addition to killing pain, endorphins can act as antidepressants, sleep enhancers, and even as self-esteem boosters. Debt is stressful. But by facing it head-on and pushing yourself to spend less and pay more against your debts, you will experience emotional pain relief from endorphins. A little extra sleep and self-esteem can always help too, right?Oxytocin
Oxytocin spikes during emotional moments, and it makes you feel high. It’s primarily associated with moments of feeling unity and trust, and it strengthens personal connections. When people are paying off debt with intensity, it feels like they’re a part of a movement that is greater than themselves. They’re a part of a community, all pursuing freedom. Dave Ramsey, who popularized the debt snowball, invites listeners to do a “debt-free scream” on the radio show each day — these are clear high moments after stressful fights for financial freedom. Even if you choose a different debt repayment approach or if you’re already debt-free, there are several takeaways you can use in your own life.How to use this knowledge
Conditioning
Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov, whose studies are now synonymous with his name, researched appetite, and involuntary responses. His famous work with dogs actually shows how our behavior changes when we start to achieve our goals. In Pavlov’s study, he rang a bell or played the metronome while dogs were eating. After repeating these conditions, the dogs eventually would salivate at the sound of the bell even if the food was not present. This is called classical conditioning. When you achieve your goals, neurotransmitters help you feel good. If you do this frequently, you will condition yourself to feel good about goals. This will make you even more motivated for your next pursuit. Unlike the dogs, though, you can choose to ring your own “bell” in life! Here are the 3 ways you can proactively set yourself up for success.Practical takeaways
Set small, quickly achievable goals that ladder up to your big plans
The debt snowball benefits from having pre-set small goals in place. Each debt you pay off is a goal you are achieving. But, if debt freedom isn’t your current focus, then identify what’s most important to you in life. Next, break your long-term financial goals into concrete, smaller steps. You may already be familiar with SMART goals. This acronym is popular in corporate settings and stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound. Well, I would add on “And Fast” – you need to set goals that you can reach in a brief period to maximize the gratification benefit. For example, rather than phrasing your goal as “I want to retire early in 10 years,” make a smaller goal of “invest $1,000 this month” or “make $100 this week from my side hustle.” Honestly, even these goals can be broken down into more detail! Maybe your focus for day 1 can be “don’t order a pizza tonight” – cook at home instead! Permit yourself to lower the stakes for success and failure for your goals. If you want to be a professor as your long-term career goal, that may require a master’s degree. It’s not possible to complete the master’s degree by midnight tonight, but you can look for a new job that offers tuition reimbursement for your master’s program. If you shift your definition of success to be an outcome you can actually complete today, you will be successful more frequently. When you intentionally focus on smaller goals, you won’t be ignoring your long-term dream. But, you will feel happier and more focused at each step along the way.Do something stressful — it can be valuable and fulfilling
We often hear that chronic stress can be unhealthy. But, the right amount of “good stress” can help you feel motivated, resilient, and focused. You can even turn bad stress into good stress by thinking positively about the possible benefits of the situation. If you’re not deeply cutting your spending to pay off debt, consider pushing yourself a bit towards your other goals — especially if you’re early on in your wealth-building journey. Is there something you can give up in the short-term, even if it’s mildly stressful? If you’re trying to start a freelance writing business as a side hustle, don’t be afraid to sign up for a training course, even if it might be challenging or expensive in the short-term. If you’re considering retiring and your finances are in order, go for it! Perhaps it is intimidating at first, but the transition away from your career can yield greater fruits in a fulfilling new chapter of your life. You will be rewarded in the long-term, and also get relief from endorphins along the way as you push through each step towards your goals.Seek moments of unity and trust
Do you have family members or friends who are pursuing common financial goals with you? Working with others towards a common purpose isn’t just a pleasant idea. You’ll experience a real rush of oxytocin and gratification when you reach milestones along the way. Even a pat on the back or a supportive hug can send out oxytocin that helps to dissolve the short-term stress and pain. The good feelings can result in a real increase in productivity too. A 2014 Stanford study found that when people were treated as though they were working together, they persisted 48 to 64 percent longer on challenging tasks. Remember how these chemicals can act as antidepressants? Social support is also important for those fighting depression so that you will benefit on that front as well! Consider sharing your goals or struggles with your spouse or partner, or participating in online communities that have similar interests. This will hold you accountable, but it will also make the moments of celebration even more gratifying. The empowering conclusion here is that you’re not stuck with a fixed amount of these seemingly magic chemicals. Certainly, people can naturally have varying levels, but you can also set yourself up to experience motivation and gratification. Whatever your financial and personal ambitions are, I encourage you to set small goals often. Then pursue them, achieve them, and feel good!
One small goal you can achieve today if you are not already is to start investing! Getting started is easy and will set your future self up for success.
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