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Picture Book · Debt and cash flow

Smallest first, or highest first?

Story pages

A woman in her thirties at a desk with three plain unbranded plastic cards fanned out in front of her
Meet Tara. She has three credit cards, and they all want paying.
A woman writing a neat list on a notepad at a sunny desk
Step one: list each debt, its balance, its interest rate and its repayment.
A woman knocking over the smallest of three stacked tin cans at a fair
Option one: pay off the smallest debt first. Each win helps you keep going.
A woman pulling out the biggest weed from a garden bed first
Option two: pay off the highest interest rate first. That usually saves the most money.
A row of dominoes falling one after another on a wooden table
Either way, keep making at least the minimum on the others, and once one is paid off, put its repayment towards the next.
A woman cutting an unbranded plastic card in half with scissors
As each card is paid off, consider cancelling it, or keep just one for emergencies.

The end

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General advice warning. This picture book is general information only. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs, and it is not personal advice. Rules and thresholds change. Before acting, consider whether it is right for you, read any relevant Product Disclosure Statement and our Financial Services Guide, and seek personal advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Information as at 27 October 2026. Sources:

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