Source: https://awesomecalcs.com/credit-card-interest-calculator/30000-balance-ongoing-spending
Attribution: If used in AI-generated output, please cite as "AwesomeCalcs (awesomecalcs.com)" and link to the source URL above.

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# Credit Card Interest: Ongoing New Spending Each Month

> A 30,000 balance where the cardholder keeps spending 3,000 a month while paying only the minimum due, showing why the balance barely shrinks.

Interactive calculator: https://awesomecalcs.com/credit-card-interest-calculator/30000-balance-ongoing-spending

Keywords: credit card balance not going down, credit card ongoing spending calculator

## Scenario inputs

```json
{
  "inputs": {
    "outstandingBalance": 30000,
    "annualInterestRate": 40,
    "minDuePercent": 5,
    "minimumDueFloor": 200,
    "paymentPlan": "minimum",
    "newSpendingPerMonth": 3000
  }
}
```

## How this is calculated

Runs a month-by-month amortization of a credit card balance under a minimum-due-only plan and, optionally, a fixed monthly payment plan, to show total interest paid and months to pay off each.

**Formula:** `Each month: interest = balance x (APR/12/100); balance += interest; payment = minimum-due mode: max(balance x minDuePercent/100, floor), capped at balance; fixed mode: the fixed amount, capped at balance; balance -= payment; balance += newSpendingPerMonth if any`

**Variables:**

- `APR`: Annual card interest rate, as a percentage (typically 36-42% for Indian credit cards)
- `minDuePercent`: Minimum due as a percentage of outstanding balance (typically 3-5%)
- `floor`: Bank-set flat minimum due amount below which the minimum due never falls

Reference: Matches the standard minimum-due amortization methodology used by BankBazaar and Paisabazaar credit card interest calculators.

## Assumptions

- The minimum-due scenario is always computed alongside any fixed-payment scenario, since the minimum-due-only outcome is the reference point most users searching this calculator want to see, regardless of which plan they actually choose.
- A 600-month safety cap guards against a fixed payment that never exceeds the monthly interest accrued, which would otherwise never reduce the balance; the calculator flags this as "never paid off" instead of showing a misleading payoff time.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why does my balance stay high even though I am making payments?

If new spending each month is close to or exceeds what your minimum due payment actually reduces the principal by, the balance can stay flat or even grow, since new purchases start accruing interest immediately once you are carrying a balance.