A 0% Credit Card Offer Lasts 18 Months — How Much Do You Need to Pay Every Month to Beat the Deadline?

An 18-month 0% APR offer requires more than the minimum payment if the goal is to eliminate the balance before the promotional rate expires – Shutterstock

An 18-month 0% APR credit card offer gives a balance a temporary vacation from interest. It does not, however, make the balance disappear.

That creates a simple piece of math that many cardholders skip: divide the amount that needs to disappear by the number of months available. The resulting payment gives a rough monthly target for reaching a zero balance before the promotional rate expires.