Credit cards have many perks, but you need to be careful about how you use them. Because they only require small minimum payments every month, it's easy to spend more than you can afford. If you end up with credit card debt, it can be difficult to repay. It's also expensive, as the average credit card interest rate is now over 20%.
As you'd expect, it gets even more difficult (and more expensive), the higher your balance is. To show just how costly credit card debt can be, here's a look at how much a $10,000 balance could cost you. And if you're currently in this situation, we'll also look at the best ways to get out of credit card debt.
How much a $10,000 credit card balance could cost you
The amount a credit card balance costs you depends on the interest rate and how much you pay toward it. For this example, we'll use an interest rate of 20%, just under the current average.
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You're only obligated to make your credit card's minimum payment. Each card issuer has its method for calculating minimum payment amounts, but many set the minimum as interest charges plus 1% of the balance, so we'll use that. 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. But if you kept paying the same $267 until your debt was paid off, you'd do it in 60 months and pay $5,810.26 in interest.
If you paid more than the minimum, you'd save even more. Here's how the amount of interest and the payoff timeline change based on how much you pay:
| Monthly credit card payment | Total interest | Payoff timeline |
|---|
| $300 | $4,718.19 | 50 months |
| $400 | $3,044.21 | 33 months |
| $500 | $2,266.07 | 25 months |
| $750 | $1,404.14 | 16 months |
| $1,000 | $1,030.45 | 12 months |
Data source: Author's calculations.
How to get out of credit card debt
The most important part of getting out of credit card debt is paying more than the minimum. As you just saw, there's a massive difference in how much interest costs you when you pay the minimum compared to when you pay more. And the more you can pay, the better.
Even if you're dealing with a large amount of debt, every little bit helps. Just look at how paying off a $10,000 balance changes if you go from paying $300 per month to $400. You pay off your balance 17 months earlier this way and save nearly $1,700.
So, if you can work overtime or cut your spending to have more money to apply to your credit card debt, it's absolutely worth it. The amount you pay has the biggest impact on how quickly you pay off debt -- and how much it costs you.
There are also ways to refinance your credit card debt. The best options require a good credit score, meaning a score of 670 or higher. Here are two of the most popular options:
- Balance transfer credit cards: These have a 0% intro APR on balance transfers, and some have introductory periods that last 15 months or longer. During the intro period, you can pay down your credit card debt interest-free.
- Debt consolidation loans: These are personal loans designed for paying off debt. They generally have lower interest rates than credit cards. You'll also be able to pay back your loan on a set timeline with fixed monthly payments.
Financial tools like these can help you pay back credit card debt. That being said, the key is still to pay as much as you can. It's ultimately your payment habits that make the difference in getting rid of credit card debt.
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FAQs
A $10,000 credit card balance could cost you $16,056.59 in interest and take 346 months to pay off if you make minimum payments. By paying more than the minimum, you can pay off credit card debt much faster and cheaper. Tools to refinance debt, such as balance transfer cards and debt consolidation loans, can also help.
What is the minimum payment on a $10,000 credit card balance? ›
On some cards, issuers use a flat percentage — typically 2% — of your statement balance to determine your minimum. If your balance (including interest and fees) were $10,000, for example, you'd owe a minimum of $200.
Is $10,000 credit card debt bad? ›
Having any credit card debt can be stressful, but $10,000 in credit card debt is a different level of stress. 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.
How to pay off $10 000 in credit card debt? ›
7 ways to pay off $10,000 in credit card debt
- Opt for debt relief. One powerful approach to managing and reducing your credit card debt is with the help of debt relief companies. ...
- Use the snowball or avalanche method. ...
- Find ways to increase your income. ...
- Cut unnecessary expenses. ...
- Seek credit counseling. ...
- Use financial windfalls.
1% of the balance plus interest: It would take 29.5 years or 354 months to pay off $10,000 in credit card debt making only minimum payments. You would pay a total of $19,332.21 in interest over that period.
What is 30% of $10,000 credit limit? ›
You can work backwards through the equation to figure out how much debt you can accrue before going over the 30% threshold. Suppose you have a total credit limit of $10,000. In that case, you'd multiply 10,000 by 0.3, giving you $3,000.
How much would a $5000 loan cost per month? ›
Based on the OneMain personal loan calculator, a $5,000 loan with a 25% APR and a 60-month term length would be $147 per month. The loan terms you receive will depend on your credit profile, including credit history, income, debts and if you secure it with collateral like a car or truck.
How much is a monthly payment on a $10,000 credit card? ›
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.
Is 10k credit limit a lot? ›
Yes, $10,000 is a high credit card limit. Generally, a high credit card limit is considered to be $5,000 or more, and you will likely need good or excellent credit, along with a solid income, to get a limit of $10,000 or higher.
How many people have $50,000 in credit card debt? ›
Running up $50,000 in credit card debt is not impossible. About two million Americans do it every year.
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a government-sponsored program for credit card debt relief.
How to clear 10k debt? ›
Ways to clear your debt
- Informally negotiated arrangement.
- Free debt management plan (DMP )
- Individual voluntary arrangement (IVA)
- Bankruptcy.
- Debt relief order (DRO)
- Administration order.
- Debt consolidation and credit.
- Full and final settlement offer.
Option Two: File a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The “upside” of proceeding in this fashion is that your Chapter 7 Trustee will not be able to reach your assets either, and the stress associated with harassing phone calls and other collection activities will stop immediately upon the filing of your bankruptcy petition.
How to pay off 10k in debt in 12 months? ›
The simplest way to make this calculation is to divide $10,000 by 12. This would mean you need to pay $833 per month to have contributed your goal amount to your debt pay-off plan. This number, though, doesn't factor in the interest on your debt.
How to pay off $5000 quickly? ›
Debt avalanche: Make minimum payments on all but your credit card with the highest interest rate. Send all excess payments to that card account. Once you pay that account off, send all excess payments to your next highest rate. Repeat until all of your debts are paid off.
Is $5,000 dollars a lot of credit card debt? ›
$5,000 in credit card debt can be quite costly in the long run. That's especially the case if you only make minimum payments each month. However, you don't have to accept decades of credit card debt.
How much to pay off $10,000? ›
Examples of How Long It Will Take to Pay Off $10,000 in Debt
| Debt | Monthly Payment | Payoff Time |
|---|
| $10,000 | $300 | 45 months |
| $10,000 | $400 | 31 months |
| $10,000 | $500 | 24 months |
| $10,000 | $1,000 | 11 months |
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 $20000 credit card? ›
Let's say you have a balance of $20,000, and your credit card's APR is 20%, which is near the current average. If your card issuer uses the interest plus 1% calculation method, your minimum payment will be $533.33. That's quite a bit of money to pay for your credit card bill every month.
What is the minimum payment on a $5000 credit card balance? ›
Apply the percentage to your current credit card balance and then add your fees and past-due amounts. First, you'll owe 2% on the balance of $5,000, then you'll add $120 past due and $80 in late fees. That would make your minimum payment $300.
