Today, we cover this question:

Joshua,

My husband and I Love your show and would LOVE IT if you could help us answer a question from your point-of-view.

Facts:

1. We’re completely debt-free except for our house.
2. We make around $130,000 per year.
3. We’re currently Investing 10% for retirement.
4. We are dead-set on paying off the house in the next 2.5 to 3 years.

The DILEMMA:

Dave Ramsey suggests saving 15% for retirement for someone in our position. We can do this..but that’ll slow down our house payment goal quite substantially (or, in my mind it’s substantial, as I want this house paid off TOMORROW!)

The goal after the house repayment is to throw everything we can spare towards investing in retirement funds.

THE QUESTION:

Should we stay strong on our course to pay off the house in 3 years tops only saving about 10% for retirement or do we bump up retirement savings? Ultimately how do I figure out the opportunity cost in each scenario?

Thanks so much!

Taliah

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• This is the debt-payoff calculator that I use constantly! https://www.vertex42.com/Calculators/debt-reduction-calculator.html

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Joshua Sheats Teacher, Host, Broadcaster, Entrepreneur

Joshua J. Sheats, MSFS, is the world's leading authority on integrating lifestyle goals and money goals without conflict. He teaches normal people how to seamlessly connect the science of financial planning with the joy of goal achievement.

Joshua is dedicated to helping normal people achieve financial freedom by merging creative (and crazy) ideas from the world of personal finance with the academic integrity of formal financial planning. He simplifies complex money topics and makes boring financial mumbo-jumbo less boring.