Is It Better to Save or Pay Off Debt?

Debt vs. Savings

If you’re torn between paying off debt and adding to your savings, you’re not alone. A high-level comparison of the pros and cons reveals the gray areas of an either/or approach.

If you pay debt before saving

You’re decreasing your debt and the amount you’ll pay in interest over time, which is good. But, without savings, you’re likely to turn to your credit card to cover unexpected expenses, adding to your debt. Also, by not saving, you’re missing out on compounding interest for retirement.

If you save without paying off debt

Saving money for the future is good, but ignoring debt altogether is not. Over time, you’ll end pay much more in credit card interest charges than you’d make in interest from your savings.

The best approach? Do both.

We recommend a blend of saving and paying off debt. You’ll still be putting money toward debt, but prioritizing emergency savings first. Having financial resilience puts you in a better position to pay off debt later.

Make savings a priority

Many experts advise putting money towards critical savings before paying down debt. Critical savings include an emergency fund and taking advantage of employee matching.

Start an emergency fund

Unexpected medical bills, home repairs, and job losses happen every day. Without a small safety net, many people turn to credit cards. Others miss important payments, like their rent or mortgage. Delinquency increases debt and impacts credit scores. A good rule of thumb is to have enough in savings to cover 3-6 months of expenses. If that seems out of reach, start at $1,000.

Here are some easy ways to get started:

• Create a budget: Track monthly spending using a spreadsheet (or this free template from the Federal Trade Commission). Note any non-essential spending you can redirect towards savings.
• Pay yourself first: Use direct deposit to divert part of your paycheck to your savings account. Some banks let you schedule automatic transfers between accounts for free.
• Make your savings work for you: Transfer savings to a high-yield savings account. These generally have no minimum balance requirements.

Learn the best strategies for building and saving emergency funds.

Get employer match money

If your employer offers a 401(k) match, don’t miss it. Contribute enough to meet their maximum match, so you don’t leave any free money on the table. You can’t take advantage of this offer retroactively. If you’re early in your career, compounded interest will make a huge difference in your retirement fund.

Don’t forget your debt

Building savings doesn’t mean ignoring your debt. Continue making minimum payments on your debts until your emergency fund is full.

Pay down high-interest debt

Once you have 3-6 months of emergency savings, focus on paying high-interest debts. The faster you pay down credit cards and payday or car title loans, the more you’ll save in interest.

If you’re tempted to work ahead and save in hopes of making money from interest, do the math. You’ll likely find you’ll pay more in interest on your debt than you’d make from interest in a savings account.

What about mortgages and student loans?

You won’t get a lot of out paying more than the minimum on low-interest loans like mortgages and student loans. Yes, extra payments may save you money, but the lender won’t lower your monthly payments. It’s better to save these until you’ve cleared your high-interest debt.

Decide on a repayment strategy

Work with your budget to see how much money you can pay toward your debt. If you don’t already know how much debt you have, this is a good time to find out.

There are quite a few ways to pay down debt, including balance transfer credit cards. Many people have success with D.I.Y. methods like debt snowball or debt avalanche. Look into the pros and cons of different debt repayment methods to see which you prefer, and consider using a tool like a debt snowball calculator to see how that could work for your individual financial situation.

Don’t forget your savings

As you pay back high-interest debt, be sure to maintain your emergency savings fund. Try to resist the urge to use it toward repaying debt. You never know when you may need to access savings.

Keep up the balance

After paying off high-interest debt and establishing a financial safety net, keep going. This blended approach to savings and debt should continue to work. As your financial situation changes, revisit your budget. Create a new financial plan, adding more savings and repaying remaining debt.

Build up savings

Experts recommend having enough emergency savings to cover a year of expenses. Don’t let your emergency fund get too big, though, or you’ll lose out on other saving opportunities. Learn more.

If you’re only investing the minimum in your 401(k) to get your employer match, it’s an excellent time to bump this up. Your goal should be to invest 15% of your gross income for retirement.

Pay off remaining debt

Make a plan to pay off lower-interest debts, like student loans, car loans, and mortgages. With patience and the right tools, you can get out of debt quickly, even while saving for retirement.

FAQs

Should I pay off debt or save for a house?

The question of paying off debt or saving for a house depends on several factors, including the interest rate on your debt, the interest rate on your savings, and your timeline for purchasing a home. If your debt is high-interest, like credit card debt, you’ll want to aggressively pay down debt first. But if your debt has a lower interest rate and you plan to buy a house in the next 3-5 years, you may want to take a hybrid approach to pay down debt and save at the same time.

Should I pay off debt or save for retirement?

Saving for retirement and paying off debt are both important aspects of financial wellness. If your debt is high interest, it makes sense to pay it off first. But when it comes to retirement savings, you’ll want to prioritize it to get your employer’s matching contributions. If your debt has a low interest rate, you can save money for retirement and pay off debt simultaneously.

Should I pay off credit card debt or save for retirement?

If you’re deciding specifically between paying off credit card debt or saving for retirement, there are a few things to consider. Since credit card debt is typically considered “bad” debt due to high interest rates, it makes sense to alleviate the debt burden as soon as possible. But if you have an employer-sponsored retirement plan, like a 401(k), that has a match, you’ll want to be sure to save enough to get the match. Sometimes the best option is to try and do both at once, allocating some money toward paying off credit card debt and the rest toward bumping up retirement savings.

Should I pay off credit card debt or save for an emergency fund?

Whether to pay off credit card debt or save for an emergency fund can be a tough decision. But often, having money in an emergency fund can help you from using your credit card to pay for small emergencies, like a flat tire or a home repair. You may want to set aside a small amount of savings, say $500 or $1000, in an emergency fund to start, pay off credit card debt, then shift gears back to building up your emergency fund to three to six months of living expenses.

Should I pay off all my debt or save?

Still wondering if it’s better to pay off debt or save money? The answer will vary depending on your financial situation. If you have high-interest debt, like credit cards, it makes sense to prioritize paying it off. Plus, lowering your debt burden can help increase your credit score. But saving money for a small emergency fund can also help you pay for unanticipated expenses and keep you from going further into debt. This is why the best approach is often to pay off debt and save at the same time.