Managing both high-interest debt and emergency savings is a common trade-off. Many advisors recommend a two-step approach for households carrying credit card debt: first, build a small starter emergency fund (often $500–$1,000) so you won’t rely on cards for short-term shocks; second, aggressively pay down the high-interest debt because its carrying cost usually exceeds any safe savings return. Once high-rate debt is reduced, you can shift back to building the full 3–6 month cushion. This strategy balances protection against new emergencies with minimizing wasted interest expense.