When you look at your credit card statement, is the only number that interests you the minimum payment due? Do you tell yourself that as long as you can afford the minimum payment, you are doing alright?

Looking at the big picture – the amount of interest you will eventually pay, and the amount of time it would take to pay the debt off making only minimum payments – is all you need to help give you incentive to control credit card spending and pay more than the minimum as often as possible.

Here’s a handy tool to help you figure how much you will pay and how long it will take if you make only minimum payments on your credit card balance.

Minimum Payment Credit-Card Interest Calculator