Plan A: brute force with a fixed payment
| Fixed payment | Time to zero | Total interest |
|---|---|---|
| $250/month | 6 yr 5 mo | $9,164 |
| $350/month | 3 yr 6 mo | $4,624 |
| $500/month | 2 yr 2 mo | $2,733 |
No applications, no approvals — just the fixed-payment fix applied hard. The step from $250 to $500 cuts interest by $6,431; find your own ladder in the payoff calculator.
Plan B: 0% balance transfer (credit ~670+)
Move the balance to a 0% card (12–21 months, 3–5% fee ≈ $400). The entire game is finishing inside the window: $578/month clears it in 18. Miss the window and deferred rates bite — set the payment on autopay on day one, and don't spend on the old card you just emptied.
Plan C: consolidation loan (predictability)
A personal loan at 11–14% swaps daily compounding for a fixed 36-month schedule — roughly $342/month with the fee financed. It saves less than a well-executed transfer but can't be fumbled. Verify any specific offer against your cards in the consolidation calculator — at the same monthly budget.
Plan D: the hybrid most people actually need
Transfer what fits the 0% limit, attack the remainder at the highest rate first (avalanche), and roll payments as pieces die. Two rules keep any plan alive: the cards stay at zero while you work, and windfalls (refunds, bonuses) go to the balance the day they land. $10,000 at 23% feels permanent; every row above is an exit with a date on it.