How to Get Your Finances Ready for a Crisis and Tackle Debt Smarter

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Mar 3, 2025

Discover how to financially prepare for uncertain times while juggling debt repayment and savings. The hosts delve into the importance of having emergency cash and building a supportive community. Learn about effective debt payoff strategies like the debt snowball and avalanche methods. Hear a listener's journey balancing debt and retirement contributions, as well as practical budgeting techniques such as the 50/30/20 rule. This engaging discussion empowers you to take proactive steps toward financial security.

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ADVICE

Cash Preparedness

Prepare for emergencies by keeping a few hundred dollars in cash at home.
Consider how much you'd need for a few days of essential expenses.

ANECDOTE

Hurricane Harvey Experience

Elizabeth Ayoola shared her experience during Hurricane Harvey, where she struggled to find cooked food due to a power outage.
Many restaurants only accepted cash, highlighting the importance of having it on hand.

ADVICE

Building Cash Reserves

Build your cash reserves gradually by setting aside a small amount regularly.
Store it securely and remember where you put it.

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Learn how to prepare financially for uncertain times and balance debt payoff with saving for emergencies and retirement.

How much emergency cash should you keep on hand? Should you focus on paying off debt or saving for retirement first? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss financial preparedness and debt payoff strategies to help you feel more financially secure. They begin with a discussion on personal and financial resilience, covering tips on keeping emergency cash, building a support network, and taking proactive financial actions.

Then, Sean and Elizabeth talk with listener Michaela, a 24-year-old paralegal, about balancing debt repayment with savings and investing. They explore the debt snowball vs. debt avalanche methods, how much to save for emergencies, and why starting retirement savings early — even while in debt — can pay off in the long run.

NerdWallet’s guide to how to prepare for your next emergency: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/how-to-prepare-for-your-next-emergency

How to open a Roth IRA: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/how-and-where-to-open-a-roth-ira

In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: emergency cash savings, how much cash to keep at home, personal finance preparedness, financial resilience, budgeting for emergencies, how to build an emergency fund, debt snowball vs. debt avalanche, should I pay off debt or save, how to start investing in your 20s, best budgeting methods, 50/30/20 budget, zero-based budgeting, how to save for retirement early, Roth IRA vs. 401(k), why you need an emergency fund, financial security tips, community and financial support, mutual aid groups, debt repayment strategies, credit card debt payoff, investing while in debt, how to budget better, personal loan repayment, car loan interest rates, financial planning for young professionals, cash vs. credit in an emergency, preparing for a crisis financially, high-interest debt payoff, how to avoid debt traps, savings vs. debt payoff balance, and financial habits to build in your 20s.

To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com.

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