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@shalane85 wrote:
The $500 includes the min payment. I have no idea what the capitol one rate will be.
Try to find out what Capital One's rate will be, so you don't get surprised by a 19.99% APR or more.
I would go for the highest interest rate first, but I could understand if you went for the 10K balance since there is only 3% difference on interest rate.
If you have the discipline, you best bet is to get every card to below 80% and see where your FICO score sits. If it is high enough, you basically get new cards with 0% BT offers and transfer the balances over. Otherwise, the snowball method involves paying any/all extra money to card with highest interest. Once that is paid off, take extra money and move on to next card. Snowball method is good for someone having problems managing their debt as it is simple to follow. However, I really believe in what I said above if you have the discipline/organization as it will minimize the interest you pay.
Also, you really do need to get cap one terms of 0%. I have seen where any balance at end of 0% get the new interest and interest being backdated to when you first got 0% offer. Hopefully Cap One isn't that way, but if it is, that is the first card you should concentrate on.
Finally, NFCU has a line of credit if I remember correctly. Not sure what that interest rate is. Also, you would need to look into this, but I find 401k loans not the worse deal in the world. You have to look into the conditions on yours, but essentially you basically borrow from yourself and pay yourself interest so real costs are basically some small handling fee. However the gotchas involve if you have problems paying or if you lose your job, or 401k growth (ie it is doing really well and you are basically reducing amount being invested and only getting the little bit of interest you pay to yourself).
Most likely the capone apr will be higher than the other 2 when the promotion ends. I'd try to pay that down to zero by the time you get your bonus, chances are pretty decent you may be able to get another 0% (with 3-4% fee) promotion from them as they seem to have alot. Then you can transfer part of the other balances over to capone.
sone advocate paying the lowest balance off first. Speaking anecdotally, it's emotionally satisfying to see the balances go to 0. Mathematically, paying off highest rate saves money. Whichever keeps you motivated will be the best method.
And sell stuff.
And get another part time job.
sacrifice
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If you would like to try the snowball method Dave Ramsey way....line up your debts smallest owed to largest. Pay minimums on all except for the lowest. Throw everything you can at that until its paid off....then move to the next one and so on and so on.