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Minimum Payment Calculator (The Trap)

See why minimum payments keep you in debt for decades.

Card Details

$
%
$

Paying $100/mo

Debt-Free In

109months(9.1 years)
Total PrincipalTotal Interest
$5,000.00+$5,840.10

Total Cost of Debt

$10,840.10

You will pay $5,840.10 in interest fees.

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Analysis: 20% APR

Banks set minimum payments low (usually 2% of balance) on purpose. Use this tool to see how 2% keeps you paying interest forever.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long to pay off $5,000?

With a monthly payment of $100, it will take approximately 109 months to pay off $5,000 at 20% APR.

How much interest will I pay on $5,000?

At 20% APR, you are paying roughly $83 in interest alone every single month. To make progress, your payment must exceed this amount.

Is it better to pay minimum or extra?

Always pay extra. Paying only the minimum (~2%) typically extends your debt timeline to 15-20 years. Doubling the minimum often cuts that to 3-5 years.