Question 1

Which method should I pick?

Accepted Answer

Avalanche is mathematically cheaper — always. Look at the gap above. If avalanche saves a few hundred dollars and snowball clears your first debt a year earlier, take the motivation. If the gap is thousands, take the math.

Question 2

What about consolidating instead?

Accepted Answer

Consolidation only helps if the new rate is genuinely lower and you stop using the old credit. Run your consolidated balance through the loan calculator and compare the total interest to the avalanche number here.