Pay Down My Debt or Save Money: What to Consider

By Rebecca Lake. June 28, 2024 · 7 minute read

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Pay Down My Debt or Save Money: What to Consider

Should I save or pay off debt? It’s a tough financial choice. Prioritizing debt repayment can help you pay off what you owe faster, freeing up more money in your budget for saving. It can also help you spend less on interest charges. But that approach can also backfire. If you delay saving and get hit with an unplanned expense, you can end up with even more high-interest debt.

Whether it makes sense to pay off debt or save depends largely on the specifics of your financial situation. The right decision might actually be to try to do both.

When You Should Consider Paying Down Debt First

In certain situations, it makes sense to prioritize paying off debt over putting money into savings. This could be the best path forward if:

•   You have high-interest debts. High-interest debt, such as credit card debt, can quickly accumulate and become overwhelming. The longer it takes to pay off, the more interest you’ll accrue, making it harder to escape the debt cycle.

•   Your debt is causing you significant stress or anxiety. If having debt hanging over you keeps you up at night and you want to clear your balances as quickly as possible, putting debt repayment ahead of saving might make sense, provided you have at least some money in the bank for emergencies.

•   A large portion of your income is going toward monthly debt payments. Having a high debt-to-income ratio (DTI) not only limits your financial flexibility, but can also negatively impact your credit score. A lower score could make it hard to secure loans at low interest rates or even rent an apartment in the future.

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Strategies to Pay Down Debt

Once you commit to paying down your debt, you’ll want to come up with a plan for how to do it. Here are some strategies to consider.

•   Avalanche method: With this approach, you list your debts in order of interest rate. You then funnel any extra money toward the balance with the highest rate, while paying the minimums on the other debts. Once the highest-interest debt is paid off, you move to the next highest, and so on. This strategy minimizes the amount of interest you pay over time.

•   Snowball method: With the snowball method, you list your debts in order of size, ignoring the interest rate. You then funnel extra money towards the smallest debt, while paying the minimum on the rest. When the smallest balance is paid off, you move on the next-smallest debt, and so on. This can provide psychological benefits by giving you quick wins and motivating you to continue.

•   Debt consolidation loan: A debt consolidation loan is a type of unsecured personal loan with fixed interest rates and repayment terms. If you have multiple debts, consolidating them into a single loan with a lower interest rate can simplify payments and reduce the total interest paid.

•   Balance transfer: For credit card debt, a balance transfer to a card with a low or 0% introductory rate can help you save money on interest and pay off your debt faster. Just be sure that you’ll be able to pay off the balance before the promotional rate ends. If not, you could end up paying more in interest than you are now. Also be aware of transfer fees.

•   Automate your debt payments: Setting up automatic payments ensures you never miss a payment, which helps avoid late fees and keeps you on track with your debt repayment plan.

When You Should Consider Saving First

Aggressively paying off debt isn’t always the best first choice, however. You may want to prioritize saving money over paying down debt if:

•   You have little to no emergency savings. Without a cushion of savings in the bank, an unplanned expense or loss of income could result in racking up even more debt, putting you further in the hole.

•   You have low-interest debts. If you have debts with relatively low annual percentage rates (APRs) and don’t feel unduly burdened by them, it’s fine to focus on saving, while paying off your loans according to schedule.

•   Your employer offers a 401(k) match. If your employer offers a retirement savings plan along with a company match, it’s a good idea to try to contribute at least enough to get the maximum employer match. This is essentially free money you could be missing out on.

Recommended: 10 Ways to Save Money Fast

Determining How Much to Save

How much you should be saving will depend on your age and situation, but here are some general guidelines to keep in mind.

•   Emergency fund: Experts recommend building an emergency fund of three to six months’ worth of expenses and stashing it in a high-yield savings account. If you’re self-employed or work seasonally, you may want to aim closer to eight or even 12 months’ worth of expenses.

•   Retirement savings: If your employer offers a 401(k) match, you’ll want to contribute at least enough to get the full match, then build from there. One rule of thumb is to work up to saving at least 15% of your pretax income each year, including employer contributions.

•   Other savings goals: For other savings goals, such as a vacation, large purchase, or down payment for a house, you’ll want to set a timeline and break down the total amount into manageable monthly savings targets. For savings goals that are five-plus years away, like paying for a child’s education, consider contributing to investment accounts that can potentially yield higher returns over time.

Recommended: How to Set and Reach Your Savings Goals

Tips on Balancing Paying Debt and Saving

If you have high-interest debt under control and already have some cash in the bank to cover a minor emergency (like a car or home repair), consider saving and paying down debt at the same time. Here are some tips to help you manage both.

•   Create a budget: A basic budget can help you track your income, expenses, and savings. The key is to allocate specific amounts for debt repayment and savings to ensure both are addressed every month.

•   Automate saving: Once you have target monthly savings amounts, it’s a good idea to set up automatic transfers to your savings accounts. This ensures consistent saving without the temptation to spend the money.

•   Increase income: You might want to explore ways to boost your income, such as taking on a side gig, freelancing, or asking for a raise. You can then use the additional income to pay down debt faster and/or boost your savings.

•   Cut unnecessary expenses: Review your expenses and identify areas where you can cut back. Redirect these funds toward debt repayment and saving.

•   Use windfalls wisely: If you receive a bonus, tax refund, or any unexpected sum of money, consider using it to pay down debt or boost your savings rather than going on a shopping spree.

The Takeaway

Saving and paying down debt is a balancing act. Which is more important? There’s no one-size-fits all answer. Generally speaking, you’ll want to fund your emergency savings account and take advantage of an employer match on retirement savings before you aggressively focus on debt payoff. After that, you can focus on saving and knocking down debt at the same time.

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FAQ

Is it better to pay off debt or have money saved?

You may want to prioritize saving over debt payoff if you don’t have an emergency fund, aren’t taking advantage of an employer’s 401(k) match, and/or have low-interest debts. If, on the other hand, you have a solid emergency savings fund, high-interest debts (like credit card debt), and no employer retirement match, you may be better off focusing your efforts on paying down debt over saving.

How much money should I save before paying down debt?

Before aggressively paying down debt, it’s a good idea to save three to six months’ worth of living expenses in an emergency fund in a high-yield savings account. If you don’t have any savings to draw on to cover an unexpected expense or event, you may have to rely on high-interest credit cards to get by, which would compound your debt.

What bills should I pay down first?

You generally want to prioritize paying down high-interest debt first, such as credit card balances and payday loans, as they accrue interest rapidly. Next, focus on any other unsecured debts, like personal loans, followed by secured debts (like car loans and mortgages), which tend to have lower interest rates.


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