Credit card debt compounds rapidly when borrowers only submit mandatory monthly minimums. Most credit card issuers set minimum payments as a percentage of the remaining balance (often 1% to 2% plus accrued monthly interest, or a flat minimum threshold such as $25). As the balance gradually ticks down, the required minimum payment shrinks in tandem, extending repayment over decades and dramatically maximizing interest collection for lenders.

This calculator models your exact debt amortization path under minimum payments and compares it against an accelerated plan with fixed monthly contributions. Adding even a modest extra recurring payment directly attacks principal, bypassing compounding interest charges and cutting years off your repayment timeline.

### Worked Numeric Example An individual carries an **$8,500 revolving credit card balance at 22.99% APR** with a fixed **$200 monthly minimum payment**: 1. **Standard Minimum Payments ($200/mo):** Requires **89 months (~7.4 years)** to eliminate the debt, accumulating **$9,240.09 in total interest charges** ($17,740.09 total repayment). 2. **Accelerated Plan (+$100/mo extra, $300/mo total):** Eliminates the entire balance in **42 months (~3.5 years)**, with cumulative interest dropping to **$3,873.48** ($12,373.48 total repayment). 3. **Net Benefit:** Adding $100 per month clears the card **47 months faster (~3.9 years)** and prevents **$5,366.61 in compounding finance charges**.

### Client-Side Privacy Note All interest calculations and amortization schedules execute strictly within your local browser runtime. Zero credit card numbers, balances, or financial details are transmitted across external network requests.