5 Questions to Decide Whether to Pay Down Debt or Save

It can be hard deciding whether to prioritize paying down debt or putting money into savings - especially if you have limited resources.

Answering five key questions can help you allocate your funds: 1. Do you have high-interest debt? Interest rates on credit cards are often high. That can cost you considerably over time, since credit card interest typically accumulates faster than what you can earn on savings.

Pay it down! If you’re carrying debt with double-digit rates, it may make sense to prioritize paying it down so you can free up future funds to save or pay other debts.

RELATED: How Much Will Paying Off Credit Cards Improve My Credit Score? 2. Do you have an emergency fund? An emergency fund provides cash you can draw on in case of:

• Unexpected car or home repairs

• Medical emergencies

• Essential costs like rent and groceries if you are laid off or out of work

Save it up! If you don’t have three months’ worth of living expenses set aside for emergencies, consider that goal next, while paying at least the minimum on any loans and credit cards. 3. Are you planning for retirement? Your retirement account earnings may produce earnings of their own, so the earlier you start to save, the more growth potential you have. Plus, some retirement contributions help you minimize taxes. Save it up! You can’t borrow for retirement, so consider this goal next. As you build your retirement accounts, you can continue to chip away at debt at the same time. 5. What are your other goals or needs? If your high-rate debt is under control, you have savings in an emergency fund and are contributing to your retirement, it’s time to consider saving for other things. Save it up! Depending on your goals, you can save for: A new car, education or a down payment on a home. Once you have those up and running, you can look toward the fun stuff like vacation and other big purchases. Pay it down! If your rates and terms are reasonable, you may decide to stay the course with your monthly payments. Or you could bump up your payments to pay those debts faster - especially any with higher rates. That way you’ll save on total interest paid and have more money to allocate to your goals. YOUR TURN Based on your current financial goals; are you Saving Up or Paying Down? We want to hear from you! Sound off on our Facebook Page, our Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn feeds. And don’t forget to subscribe to our monthly eNewsletter. You may unsubscribe at any time.

The material provided on this website is for informational use only and is not intended for financial or investment advice. The Shannon McCarthy Team assumes no liability for any loss or damage resulting from one’s reliance on the material provided. Please also note that such material is not updated regularly and that some of the information may not therefore be current. Consult with your own financial professional when making decisions regarding your financial or investment options.