You are doing the responsible thing. You pay $240 every month and the balance barely moves. That is not a character flaw. It is a structural trap. At an average rate of about 22% in 2026, a $5,000 balance paid at the minimum can cost you $13,000 in interest and take close to 30 years. The lender designed it to feel affordable and to stay alive.
Get Your Credit Cards to Zero gives you the alternative: a plan that attacks the interest first so every extra $1 goes to principal. Justin Cooper lays out the complete payoff stack, from the audit to the automation that carries you through the slow middle.
You will start by building a debt audit that shows the real cost per month, then freeze new charges so the balance can actually fall. You will build a 1 page budget where the extra payment is decided before spending gets a vote, and you will see why a $50 extra payment can shave years off a $5,000 balance.
Inside, you will discover:
• Why daily compounding and minimum math keep you stuck, and how to time payments twice a month to cut average daily balance
• Avalanche vs Snowball: when saving $900 in interest beats a quick win, and when quick wins beat math
• The call script that got 84% of requesters a 6 point rate cut in 2026, and hardship options that slash fees
• The 0% balance transfer window: the 3% to 5% fee vs $1,100 in yearly interest, and the monthly number that clears $6,240 in 18 months
• Consolidation loans, debt management plans, and the credit counseling filter that spots scams
• A 30 day action calendar: audit on days 1 to 5, budget by day 10, first extra payment by day 18, review on day 30
A $7,000 balance left on minimums can stay with you for more than 20 years and add $12,000 in interest. The same balance with an extra $200 per month is gone in about 3 years with roughly $2,000 in interest. That $10,000 difference is yours to keep. Start with the next payment.