It’s a question many people face: should you pay off debt first, or start saving? On this week’s Money Monday , financial expert Paul Hood shared his advice on how to strike the right balance.

Q: What makes this decision so tough?

Paul Hood said that while the question seems simple on the surface, the reality is more complicated.

“If you’ve got an 18% credit card and you’re putting money into investments and you’re making 5%, you should pay the credit card off, or should you?” he said, noting that the answer isn’t as straightforward as it may appear.

Q: Why does Hood recommend saving first?

Hood explained that financial decisions are about more than just math — they’re about habits.

“I like to counsel people to start saving before they pay off the debt. Because you want to create,

See Full Page