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💳 Debt Payoff Simulator

Launch the App →

Compare Avalanche vs Snowball debt repayment strategies. No signup, no data stored.

"You could be debt-free 14 months sooner and save $2,847 in interest. But that requires discipline, which is how you got here."

CI Python Streamlit License


✨ Features

Feature Description
📊 Strategy Comparison Side-by-side Avalanche vs Snowball with interactive charts
🔄 Balance Transfer Analysis Model multiple transfers to low-APR cards
📈 Sensitivity Analysis Impact of paying $50–$500 more per month
📅 Bi-Weekly Payments Toggle to see how 13 annual payments saves interest
🏷️ Promo APR Support Model 0% intro rates with expiry dates
⚠️ Insufficient Payment Detection Warns when payments can't keep up with interest
💬 Plain English Summary What each strategy actually means for you
🎴 Customizable Summary Card Themed, with toggleable content and payment plan breakdown
📋 CSV Export Download your month-by-month payment plan

🚀 Try It

Use it live →

Or run locally:

git clone https://github.com/DrKenReid/Debt-Payoff-Simulator.git
cd Debt-Payoff-Simulator
pip install -r requirements.txt
streamlit run app.py

🧮 How the Math Works

The engine is deliberately simple and its assumptions are explicit:

  • Interest compounds monthly at APR ÷ 12, applied before each payment.
  • The simulator assumes everything left after expenses goes toward debt each month — minimum payments first, the remainder to the strategy's priority debt. "Extra Monthly Payment" adds on top of that budget.
  • Bi-weekly mode models the classic trick: 26 half-payments = 13 full payments per year, i.e. your monthly debt budget × 13/12.
  • Promo APRs apply until their end date, then revert to the standard APR. Balance transfers add the fee to the transferred balance and start a 0% promo window.
  • Simulations cap at 600 months; if total debt grows three months in a row, the plan is flagged as never paying off.

⚠️ For educational purposes only — this is a simplified model, not financial advice.

🧪 Testing

pip install -r requirements-dev.txt
pytest

🤝 Contributing

PRs welcome! See CONTRIBUTING.md.

📄 License

MIT

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Author

Ken Reid — Data Scientist, photographer, and avid reader.

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A runnable Python script in Google Colab for simulating various debt payoff strategies and analyzing financial data to help users make informed decisions regarding debt management.

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