Why a date beats a dollar amount
Most people pick an extra payment they “can afford” and hope. A target date flips the question: what extra is required to finish by June 2028? That number is either feasible this month or it is not. If it is not, you add a snowflake (bonus, tax refund) or you move the date.
How the solver works
The calculator binary-searches the smallest extra monthly payment that finishes on or before your chosen month, using the same snowball or avalanche engine as the main plan. Minimums stay in place. One-time snowflakes still count in the months you schedule them.
- 0% worked example: $1,000 balance, $100 minimum. Finishing in 5 months requires $100 extra. That is a known answer, not a guess.
- If minimums already beat the date, extra needed is $0.
- Apply the solved extra to the live slider in one tap and watch the hero date move.
Pick a date you will still believe in
Aggressive dates create shareable “I need $240 more” moments. Impossible dates create bounce. A useful rule: start 18–24 months out, solve, then tighten one year if the extra is under 10% of take-home.