Personal Finance
Debt Payoff Tracker
Snowball or avalanche — see which one actually costs you less
- Snowball vs avalanche, both ways
- Interest saved, in dollars
- Works in free Google Sheets
What it does
Inside the workbook.
See which plan costs less, and what one extra payment actually buys you.
WHAT YOU GET
- A 4-tab workbook: START HERE · MY DEBTS · THE PLAN · FAQ
- A dashboard that updates itself as you type
- Realistic example figures already filled in, so you can watch it work before you replace them
- A plain-English START HERE guide built into the file, plus a 9-question FAQ
WHY THIS ONE
- Works in FREE Google Sheets. Also opens in Excel. No add-ons.
- One-time purchase. No subscription, no account, no upsell.
- Nothing connects to your bank or your accounting software. You type the numbers in yourself.
- Input cells are unlocked and formulas are protected so a stray paste cannot break the math — and there is NO password, so you can unlock and change anything.
- Every formula was opened in a calculation engine, fully rebuilt, and checked against values worked out independently of the file. If one disagreed, it would not be on sale.
HOW IT WORKS
1. Download and open the file. Nothing to unzip.
2. Read the START HERE tab — about two minutes.
3. Type your numbers over the examples in the blue cells.
GOOGLE SHEETS
File > Import > Upload > choose the file > Replace spreadsheet. Every formula was written to work in Google Sheets as well as Excel — no XLOOKUP, no LAMBDA, nothing that breaks on import.
INSTANT DOWNLOAD
Available immediately after purchase under Purchases and Reviews. Nothing ships.
REFUNDS AND SUPPORT
Instant digital downloads cannot be returned automatically through Etsy. Message me — if something is broken or not what you expected, I will fix it or refund you.
AI DISCLOSURE
This workbook was built with AI assistance. Every formula in it was then opened in a calculation engine and tested against independently calculated values before it was listed. The math is checked, not assumed.
This is a digital file only. No physical item will be shipped.
The proof
Every figure, worked out twice.
Before this workbook was listed it was opened in a calculation engine, rebuilt, and every headline figure was compared to a value computed independently in code from the same seed inputs. This is an excerpt of that ledger.
- BuildGenerated from a written spec, opened in a calculation engine, fully rebuilt.
- RecomputeEach figure worked out again in code — never read back from the sheet.
- CompareCell by cell, to a stated tolerance. One disagreement and it does not go on sale.
| Sheet | Cell | Expected | Calculated | Figure | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE PLAN | F5 | 4 | 4 | ✓ | Number of debts |
| THE PLAN | F6 | 38,450 | 38,450 | ✓ | TOTAL DEBT |
| THE PLAN | F7 | 745 | 745 | ✓ | Total minimums |
| THE PLAN | F8 | 0.08 | 0.08 | ✓ | alance-weighted APR |
| THE PLAN | F9 | 270.31 | 270.31 | ✓ | Interest this month |
| THE PLAN | F12 | 64.34 | 64.34 | ✓ | Months at minimums |
| THE PLAN | F14 | 9,481.71 | 9,481.71 | ✓ | Interest at minimums |
| THE PLAN | F17 | 945 | 945 | ✓ | New monthly payment |
Questions
Before you buy.
Snowball or avalanche — which should I pick?
Avalanche (highest interest rate first) always costs less. Snowball (smallest balance first) clears whole debts sooner, which keeps some people motivated enough to finish. Both orders are calculated for you on MY DEBTS. The cheaper plan is worth nothing if you abandon it in month four.
Why does one of my debts say 'never'?
Because the minimum payment is smaller than the monthly interest, so the balance grows no matter what you pay. That debt needs more than the minimum, immediately. It is doing the most damage of anything on your list.
Is the months-to-debt-free number exact?
It is a close estimate. It treats all your debts as one loan at your balance-weighted average rate, which lands within a month or two for most people. A true payoff schedule would model every debt separately month by month — the ordering that matters is exact, the total is an estimate, and it is labelled as one.
Does this work in free Google Sheets?
Yes. File > Import > Upload > choose the file > Replace spreadsheet. No XLOOKUP, no LAMBDA, no add-ons — everything works in Sheets and in Excel.
How many debts can I add?
Forty rows are set up. Add more by unprotecting the sheet and inserting rows inside the block — the totals are written to survive an inserted row.
Does it work in free Google Sheets?
Yes. Every workbook is built with an older, universal formula vocabulary so it imports into free Google Sheets without add-ons, and it opens in Excel as well. You get both in one purchase.
How was it tested?
The workbook was opened in a calculation engine, fully rebuilt, and 13 figures were compared to values worked out independently in code from the same seed inputs. One disagreement would have stopped the release. An excerpt of that ledger is on this page.
Get it
Debt Payoff Tracker — $12.99
Instant download on Etsy. Google Sheets and Excel versions in the same purchase. No subscription, ever.
Educational estimates only. These calculators and workbooks do the arithmetic on the figures you enter; they are general-purpose tools, not financial, investment, tax, legal, lending, insurance or construction advice, and no result is a quote, an offer, or a guarantee of any outcome. Results depend entirely on your inputs and assumptions. Verify anything you intend to rely on with a licensed professional — a CPA, attorney, lender, licensed contractor, or your own agent. WorkbookBarn and Marcos Gil accept no liability for decisions made using these tools. Marcos Gil is a licensed Kentucky real estate agent (License No. 296259) and is not a lender, CPA or attorney.