Almost debt free — pay down $8.5K at 8% or invest bonus while market is down?
TLDR: Should I use a $4,400 bonus to finish paying off high-interest debt (~$8.5K at 7.98%), or invest it while ETFs (VOO/QQQM/SMH) are “on sale”?
I drastically cut discretionary spending this year and have already paid off $10K of debt, with ~$8,500 remaining at 7.98%.
I’m getting a $7,400 bonus on 4/30 (expecting about $4,400 after taxes). Obviously I should put all of that toward the remaining debt, right? Or is it too good an opportunity to pass up buying quality ETFs (VOO, QQQM, SMH) while they’re relatively cheap?
Without the bonus, I’m on track to pay off the debt by December at $1,300/month. Paying it off sooner would save me about $200 in interest. But lump summing or dollar-cost-averaging into the market could potentially grow into a lot more in just a few years.
What would you do in my position?
Other info that might be relevant:
• 40M, single, live in NYC
• Behind on retirement savings (have about 1/3 of what the internet says I should have by now)
• ~6 months of emergency savings
• Previously paused investing to focus on debt payoff
• Very little invested outside my retirement account
• No immediate need for this bonus money
I know paying down debt is a guaranteed return, but I’m trying to think long-term and not miss opportunities like I have in the past. But this is also the closest I’ve ever been to being completely debt-free in my adult life (all my fault), and I’m excited to finally get there.
Would love to hear your thoughts, Reddit!