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TrySnowball User Guide: The Master Plan

Complete step-by-step guide to using TrySnowball, from adding your first debt to celebrating your debt-free date.

By Richard Bate 10 min read Updated January 2026

The short version

011. Getting Started

You don't need a degree in finance to use TrySnowball. You need about 5 minutes and your latest statements.

Tip: TrySnowball syncs across devices. Start on your laptop to add debts, then use your phone for monthly check-ins.

022. Adding Your Debts (The Setup)

Click "Add Debt" on your dashboard. For each debt, enter:

• A recognizable name (e.g., "Amex", "Barclaycard")

• Current balance (exactly what you owe today)

• Minimum payment from your latest statement

• APR (your interest rate, or 0% for interest-free periods)

Bulk import: Instead of adding debts one by one, click "Yuki Chat" and paste your list like this:
Barclaycard, 2500, 75, 20.1
Halifax, 3000, 100, 0

Yuki will parse them and set up your dashboard.

033. Choosing Your Repayment Strategy

TrySnowball isn't a "one size fits all" app. Click your strategy name at any time to toggle between:

StrategyLogicBest for...
SnowballSmallest balance firstMomentum. The quick-win feeling keeps you going.
AvalancheHighest APR firstMaths. Saves you the most money in interest.
Custom order (Pro)Your own sequenceBoth: set the payoff order yourself, for example a quick win then the highest APR.

044. Your Monthly Action Plan

Each month, your action plan tells you exactly what to pay and where.

First, cover all the minimum payments to protect your credit score. Then put every extra penny toward your focus debt (the one at the top of your list). When you've made your payments, click "I Did It" to log them and update your progress charts.

055. The Monthly Batch Update

Once a month, your balances will shift.

1. Click "Update All Balances".

2. Review the "Expected" balance (what the app thinks you owe).

3. Adjust to match your statement.

APR Mismatch? If you're paying interest on a 0% card, Yuki will flag it and help you investigate.

066. AI Insights & Privacy

The AI insights on your dashboard analyze your data and flag things you might miss. For example, it might notice you're paying interest on a card you thought was at 0% (promo ended), or flag that you've been consistent for 6 months.

Privacy: Your data stays on the Cloudflare network. No third-party tracking, no selling your info to lenders.

07Common Questions

Q: My debt-free date isn't moving!

A: Check two things: 1. Are you updating your balances? 2. Are you reducing your payments? If you pay less as the bank asks for less, the "Snowball" stops. Stay fixed!

Q: Can I exclude my Mortgage?

A: Yes. Edit the debt and toggle "Include in Snowball" off. It will stay on your dashboard for your Net Worth, but won't mess up your payoff plan.

08Ready to level up?

The free tier covers up to 12 debts with full snowball and avalanche calculations. If you need more, Premium adds unlimited debts, custom strategy ordering, and historical progress tracking. See pricing for details.

No signup required

See your debt-free date

Enter your debts, pick snowball or avalanche, and the calculator shows your exact debt-free date in about two minutes.

Try the calculator →
Free. Nothing to install.

Worried your debts are unmanageable?

If your minimum payments alone are out of reach, free debt advice helps more than a calculator can. These UK charities offer free, confidential support. No fees, no obligation.