SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/teen-invest-pay-debt-first

You owe 18 percent on a credit card and want to invest. What is generally better?

Pay off the card first.

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  1. Invest first, pay later
  2. Pay off the high-interest card first ✔
  3. Ignore the card

Why: Virtually no investment will reliably give returns to match an 18 percent card rate. Eliminating high-interest debt beats most investing.

Huh, didn't know that: No investment strategy pays off as well as, or with less risk than, eliminating high interest debt.

The dad joke
How do accountants manage to stay out of debt? They learn to act their wage.
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References

Answer: Pay off the high-interest card first. Virtually no investment will reliably give returns to match an 18 percent card rate. Eliminating high-interest debt beats most investing.

  1. Investor.gov: Pay off credit cards or other high-interest debt www.investor.gov/introduction-investing/investing-basics/save-and-invest/pay-credit-cards-or-other-high-interest
    That’s why you’re better off eliminating all credit card debt before investing.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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