The same piles and the same 8 coins a month, but different totals.
The big ideaSnowball pays the smallest debt first. Avalanche pays the costliest first.
How it works
In the made-up town of Pebble Mill, Lio owed twenty coins on a bike pile and ten on a games pile. The bike pile adds one extra coin for every full ten owed, and the games pile adds one for every full twenty.
Lio can pay eight coins a month: one coin goes to each pile and the rest to just one of them.
The snowball pays the smallest pile first. The avalanche pays the costliest pile first.
Both plans clear both piles. One pays a few coins less and one wins sooner, and which to pick is a personal call.
The two plans side by side.The avalanche's bike pile.
Example 1: Month one, each plan
Lio pays 8 coins. One coin goes to each pile, and 6 more go to just one.
Snowball: 7 coins go to the games pile and 1 to the bike pile.
Avalanche: 7 coins go to the bike pile and 1 to the games pile.
Either way Lio pays 7 + 1 = 8 coins.
Example 2: The avalanche's bike pile
The bike pile adds the most extra, so the avalanche pays it first.
After month one it is 15, after month two 9, after month three 2.
In month four it is gone, and the games pile is gone in month five.
Lio paid 33 coins in all.
Example 3: The snowball's bike pile
The snowball pays the smaller games pile first, and it is gone in month two.
The bike pile then goes 21, 18, 11 and 4.
Both piles are gone in month five.
Lio paid 36 coins in all.
Example 4: How many fewer?
The snowball pays 36 coins and the avalanche pays 33.
36 − 33 = 3 coins fewer for the avalanche.
The costliest pile gets less time to add more extra.
But the snowball's first win comes in month two, and the avalanche's in month four.
Words to know
snowball
Paying the smallest pile first.
avalanche
Paying the costliest pile first.
pile
Coins owed on one thing, like the bike pile.
extra
The coins a pile adds each month while it is owed.
win
A pile that is gone.
Watch out
The avalanche pays fewer coins, but its first win comes later.
The same piles and the same 8 coins a month can still give 36 against 33.
A quick win can feel good and keep a person going. That is why some people choose the snowball.
Neither plan is right for everyone. A grown-up can help weigh them.
Try it
Which plan pays the smallest pile first?
The snowball pays 36 and the avalanche 33. How many fewer does the avalanche pay?
Which plan gets its first win sooner?
Why does the avalanche pay fewer coins in all?
Answers: 1. The snowball · 2. 3 · 3. The snowball · 4. The costliest pile gets less time to add extra
Try at homeWith a grown-up, make two pretend piles of coins with different extras. Try the snowball and the avalanche on paper, and compare the totals.
For grown-upsTry both plans on paper with two pretend piles that have different extras, and compare the totals together. This is practice in ordering debts in a made-up town, not advice about any real debt.
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