At 25% APR, a $200/month payment doesn't keep up with the interest on $10,000 — the balance grows instead of shrinking. Even a small fixed extra payment turns that around.
Minimum payments are kept small — around 2% of the balance — which is what stretches payoff over years: most of each early payment goes to interest, not principal. Paying a fixed amount above the minimum sends every extra dollar straight to principal, lowering the next month's interest and compounding in your favor. Holding that extra payment steady, even as the required minimum falls, is the single biggest lever on both the time and the total interest.
Compare nearby scenarios: $7,500 at 25% APR · $15,000 at 25% APR · $10,000 at 22% APR · $10,000 at 29% APR.
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Updated July 2026