Is it better to pay off debt or save? Most people need to do both, but we’ll explore factors to consider when deciding which is more important.
What Is the Rule of Thumb About Emergency Savings vs. Debt Payoff?
The general rule of thumb is to do both: Pay off debt while building your emergency savings. “Saving at the expense of accelerating debt repayment ignores the importance of commitment to do both now,” he said. “It should never be an all-or-nothing option,” said Todd Christensen, education manager at Money Fit by DRS, a nonprofit debt management agency. If you wait to pay off debt before saving for emergencies or even retirement, but then never manage to pay off the debt, one day you may realize that it’s time to retire and that you are completely unprepared—and, perhaps, still in debt. You could weight contributions toward your emergency savings—for a while, at least. Christensen suggested saving up a small nest egg—anywhere from $500 up to the amount of one month’s living expenses—if you don’t have anything put aside right now. But continue to pay more than the minimum on your debts. For example, suppose you have $100 in discretionary funds per month to put toward emergency savings, debt, or both. In this case, send an extra $5 or $10 to each debt account, and focus the rest on savings. Take discretionary funds out of every paycheck right away, versus seeing what’s left at month’s end. “You never have money left over at the end of the month,” he said, meaning you’ve probably already spent it all. Establishing the savings mindset, rather than buying whatever you want every month, will benefit you long-term, he noted. You’ll be more likely to move the former debt payment into savings when you’re caught up on the account. Samantha Gorelick, a certified financial planner (CFP) with Brunch & Budget, a financial planning firm, recommended a variation on that idea: Pay just the minimums on credit cards until you’ve built a solid savings cushion. Start with one month of expenses, she suggested, then try to accumulate a few months of savings. Starting small is fine—perhaps auto-deduct $10 to $20 from your paycheck and sending it to a savings account. “While it won’t build quickly, you’re creating a habit of saving—which makes you a saver,” Gorelick said. As you get more comfortable with balancing spending and saving, increase the transfer amounts to savings. If you stay invested for the long-term and keep making regular contributions, your money should at least see some growth and outpace inflation. Historically, until 2018 the stock market has returned around 10% a year on average. Your money also compounds in a tax-deferred investment account such as a 401(k) or IRA, so it can grow even more quickly. Missing out on one or two great years could make a big difference in your total savings. If you are paying off the debt and simultaneously saving, you should end up on stronger footing than you otherwise would be.
How to Decide Whether to Prioritize Saving Money or Paying Off Debt
No one solution is right for everyone. But there are some questions you can ask to help you decide whether to prioritize paying off debt or socking away cash in a high-yield savings account. Ask yourself the following questions:
What’s My Job Situation?
If you don’t feel secure in your job, prioritize emergency savings. That’s because if you aggressively pay down debt, then lose your job, you still don’t have any money even if you have no debt, which leads to more card use, and added debt, Gorelick said. If you have savings, that can help prevent too much credit card use in the event of a layoff or shutdown. Christensen agreed, pointing out that having some savings gives you a little more breathing room when job hunting. “The worst thing that can happen when you lose your job and have no emergency savings is feeling like you have to find something, anything,” he said. “You end up in a lower-paying job. Later, when you try to get the type of job you had before, future employers wonder what happened when they look at your resume. It’s a tough situation to be in.” On the other hand, saving could be a no-brainer if your employer matches the contributions or a portion of the contributions that you make to your 401(k). With a 401(k) match, you are getting an instant return on your money. Think of it as a bonus or a pay raise. It’s easy money. So save at least up to the amount your employer will match, typically anywhere between 3% to 6% of your salary. One exception to the rule is if you plan on leaving your employer prior to being vested in those matching contributions.
How Much Do I Have in Emergency Savings?
To determine how much you ultimately need in emergency savings, one general rule of thumb is to take your annual income and divide it by $10,000, Christensen said. The resulting figure is how many months of living expenses you’ll need in savings until you find your next job at equal pay. If you earn $30,000 per year, for example, save up three months’ worth of living expenses. If you earn $60,000, you need six months’ worth. If you find that you’re drawing on savings every month—instead of contributing to it—Gorelick suggested revisiting your budget. Reduce your monthly contributions, and focus on managing your expenses within your available income.
Do I Need Other Savings?
Christensen noted that “expected” expenses sometimes can be just as difficult as unexpected ones. For example, you’ll probably need to buy a car sometime in the next five to ten years. But if you’re not saving for that car now, you’ll be at the mercy of the lender where interest rates are concerned. Other “expected” expenses might include appliances or home repairs. Instead of having to draw on home equity to get a loan for those things, you could draw on a dedicated savings account for planned expenses.
What Type of Debt Do I Have?
Some debts have devastatingly high interest rates—such as payday, car title, and pawnshop loans, which can have an annual percentage rate (APR) well above 100%. If you have any of these, you’ll want to put as much as possible toward those kinds of debt, Christensen pointed out. Put something into your emergency savings fund, even if it’s $1 or $2 each month. Other lower-interest debts, such as mortgage, car, and federal student loans, are still essential to pay regularly, but they may not be as pressing to pay down if you need to build your emergency fund. The higher the interest rate, the more you’ll benefit from getting the balance paid down quickly.
Am I Expecting a Potential Windfall?
If you receive unexpected money from a government source, family member, or employer, spend it wisely. Christensen suggests the following formula as a rule of thumb for how to use that windfall if you’ve already got some savings:
30% for needs—e.g., replacing broken appliances or repairing your car, to prevent debt down the road25% for paying down debt20% for savings15% for long-term investment 10% for fun spending
However, if you have no emergency fund, consider this formula:
35% for emergency savings30% for needs25% for paying down debt10% for fun
Grain of Salt
Rules of thumb are general guidelines that might not work for everyone. You may need to take such rules with a grain of salt in your situation. For example, if you’re behind on credit card, house, or car debt payments, catch up on those before building an emergency fund, Christensen stressed. Some unpaid loans, such as a car note, could cut off your access to work and other life necessities. But even in that situation, “If you can put just a dollar into your emergency fund, you’ve saved something. Being a saver is a lifetime choice, not a just choice until we’re out of the economic downturn. If more people saved, we’d probably never see another payday lender again. They wouldn’t be necessary.”
