Sept. 29, 2025

Should You Pay Off Debt or Invest First? The Answer Might Surprise You (Money Q&A)

In this episode of the Personal Finance Podcast, we are going to do a Money Q&A about should you pay off debt or invest first.

Today we are going to answer these questions:

Question 1: Should I build my emergency fund to $20,000 first, or start paying down my mortgage and investing at the same time?
Question 2: Is my bonus payoff plan the best option, or should I prioritize my 12% personal loan or Roth IRA contributions instead?
Question 3: Should I use my $8,000 tax refund to max out my Roth IRA this year, or finish building my 3-month emergency fund first?
Question 4: What are the best books and resources for someone getting started with real estate investing, especially in rental properties?
Question 5: Should I sell my current home and use the equity for a down payment and student loans, or keep it as a rental — and how does the FHA assumable loan factor in?
Question 6: [Placeholder for your next listener question]

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