To pay off $8,000 in credit card debt within 36 months, you will need to pay $290 per month, assuming an APR of 18%. You would incur $2,431 in interest charges during that time, but you could avoid much of this extra cost and pay off your debt faster by using a 0% APR balance transfer credit card.
The average length of a 0% APR balance transfer intro period is 13 months, according to WalletHub’s Credit Card Landscape Report, and the average balance transfer fee is 3.1% of the transferred amount. Below, you can see how much you could save while paying off $8,000 over different time frames, assuming a 12-month 0% APR period, a 3% balance transfer fee, and an 18% regular APR.
Paying Off $8,000 with a 0% APR Balance Transfer Card
| Months to Payoff | Monthly Payment | Total Interest Paid | Total Savings vs. Regular Card |
| 12 | $687 | $0 | $567 |
| 24 | $360 | $396 | $962 |
| 36 | $257 | $1,029 | $1,162 |
| 48 | $208 | $1,745 | $1,321 |
| 60 | $179 | $2,516 | $1,467 |
Of course, these aren’t the only timelines that you could commit to with $8,000 in debt. To price out more options, try WalletHub’s debt payoff calculator. This calculator can also help you decide if transferring the $8,000 in debt to a 0% APR balance transfer credit card would save you money.
Getting a 0% APR credit card isn’t the only way to pay off $8,000 in debt. In fact, there are many options to consider, each suited for slightly different situations.
Ways to Pay Off $8,000 in Credit Card Debt
- 0% APR Credit Card
- Personal Loan
- Debt Settlement
- Debt Management Plan
- Bankruptcy
0% APR Credit Card
0% APR credit cards allow you to avoid interest while paying down your debts. These cards can offer 0% introductory periods on new purchases or balance transfers for up to 21 months.
Keep in mind that you may have to pay a balance transfer fee, which is usually around 3% of the transferred amount. Also, if you decide to transfer your debt to one of these credit cards, do your best to pay it off before the 0% intro period ends and the typically-high regular interest rate kicks in.
Personal Loan
Personal loans can be used to pay off $8,000 in credit card debt, assuming you can qualify for a big enough loan with a lower interest rate than your current credit card interest rate. This depends heavily on your creditworthiness.
Debt Settlement
Debt settlement is when the debtor negotiates with the creditor to pay a lump-sum that covers less than the total amount of the debt. In return, the creditor will forgive part of the debt, as well as other outstanding fees. This option is good for people who have enough money to make a large payment all at once. When taking this route, just be careful not to overextend yourself financially, or you’ll likely just end up back in debt.
Debt Management Plan
Debt management plans allow the cardholder and the lender to amend the original payment agreement by lengthening the repayment term, lowering the interest rate, and perhaps even waiving fees. Each of these modifications is meant to make the repayment process more manageable for the cardholder. Keep in mind, though, that cardholders are still expected to pay the full $8,000 with these plans.
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy should only be used as a last resort. While declaring bankruptcy may help you clear your debt, it will also damage your credit score for years.
This answer was first published on 02/07/24. For the most current information about a financial product, you should always check and confirm accuracy with the offering financial institution. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company.
FAQs
To pay off $8,000 in credit card debt within 36 months, you will need to pay $290 per month, assuming an APR of 18%. You would incur $2,431 in interest charges during that time, but you could avoid much of this extra cost and pay off your debt faster by using a 0% APR balance transfer credit card.
How to pay off $6,000 in debt fast? ›
Pay off your debt and save on interest by paying more than the minimum every month. The key is to make extra payments consistently so you can pay off your loan more quickly. Some lenders allow you to make an extra payment each month specifying that each extra payment goes toward the principal.
How to clear credit card debt fast? ›
Strategies to help pay off credit card debt fast
- Review and revise your budget. ...
- Make more than the minimum payment each month. ...
- Target one debt at a time. ...
- Consolidate credit card debt. ...
- Contact your credit card provider.
7 ways to pay off $10,000 in credit card debt
- Opt for debt relief.
- Use the snowball or avalanche method.
- Find ways to increase your income.
- Cut unnecessary expenses.
- Seek credit counseling.
- Use financial windfalls.
If you can pay $100 a month, it might take you 25 months to pay off the debt. If the card has the same APR but an annual fee of $100, it might take 29 months. And if you can pay $300 a month for a 20% APR card with a $100 annual fee, it might take you 8 months to pay off $2,000.
How to pay off $9,000 in debt fast? ›
To pay off $9,000 in credit card debt within 36 months, you will need to pay $326 per month, assuming an APR of 18%. You would incur $2,735 in interest charges during that time, but you could avoid much of this extra cost and pay off your debt faster by using a 0% APR balance transfer credit card.
How to pay off credit card debt when you have no money? ›
How to pay off credit card debt
- Try the avalanche method.
- Test the snowball method.
- Consider a balance transfer card.
- Get your spending under control.
- Grow your emergency fund.
- Switch to cash.
- Explore debt consolidation loans.
Credit card refinancing can help you pay off $5,000 in credit card debt much faster because a personal loan comes with a predetermined end date. You can even look into fast personal loans if you're in need of money as soon as possible. Debt consolidation loans allow you to combine multiple debts into one loan.
How can I legally get rid of credit card debt? ›
The good news is there are legal ways to reduce and even eliminate your credit card debt – including debt management plans, bankruptcy, and in some cases, debt settlement. Whichever approach you choose, know that there are also drawbacks, ranging from legal fees to credit score damage.
How do I pay off my credit card debt aggressively? ›
Paying off high-interest debt first
If you have debt across multiple cards, it's a good idea to use the avalanche method — where you pay off the balance on the card with the highest interest rate first, then work your way through the rest from highest to lowest APR.
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a government-sponsored program for credit card debt relief.
Is $10K in credit card debt bad? ›
The average credit card interest rate is over 20%, so interest charges alone will take up a large chunk of your payments. On $10,000 in balances, you could end up paying over $2,000 per year in interest. It can feel disheartening, especially when you're not sure what you can do to make real progress.
What is the minimum payment on a credit card for $10,000? ›
If you only make minimum payments, a $10,000 credit card balance will cost you $16,056.59 in interest and take 346 months to pay off. Minimum payments on a $10,000 balance would start at $267 and decrease as you paid down what you owe.
How long will it take to pay off $7000? ›
It will take 21 months to pay off $7,000 with payments of $400 per month, assuming the average credit card APR of around 18%. The time it takes to repay a balance depends on how often you make payments, how big your payments are and what the interest rate charged by the lender is.
How long to pay off $5,000 credit card with minimum payment? ›
During that time, you'll pay a total of $9,332.25 in interest for a total payoff cost of $14,332.25. 2.5% of the balance (inclusive of interest): It would take 505 months to get rid of your $5,000 credit card balance making just minimum payments at 2.5% of your balance. That's over four decades of payments.
What is the minimum payment on a $3,000 credit card? ›
The minimum payment on a $3,000 credit card balance is at least $30, plus any fees, interest, and past-due amounts, if applicable. If you were late making a payment for the previous billing period, the credit card company may also add a late fee on top of your standard minimum payment.
How to get out of $5,000 debt? ›
Take a strategic approach
- Debt snowball: With the debt snowball method, you make minimum payments to all your credit card lenders with the exception of your lowest balance. Send all of the extra money to this account. ...
- Debt avalanche: Make minimum payments on all but your credit card with the highest interest rate.
Tips for Getting Out of Debt When You're Living Paycheck to Paycheck
- Tip #1: Don't wait. ...
- Tip #2: Pay close attention to your budget. ...
- Tip #3: Increase your income. ...
- Tip #4: Start an emergency fund – even if it's just pennies. ...
- Tip #5: Be patient.
Pay the largest or highest interest rate debt as fast as possible. Pay minimums on all other debt. Then pay that extra toward the next smallest debt. Paying off a big debt can boost a feeling of control and gets rid of big interest, too.
Which method is best to pay off debt the fastest? ›
The "snowball method," simply put, means paying off the smallest of all your loans as quickly as possible. Once that debt is paid, you take the money you were putting toward that payment and roll it onto the next-smallest debt owed. Ideally, this process would continue until all accounts are paid off.
