Should I build an emergency fund while I'm aggressively paying off debt?

Yes — keep a small one in place even during aggressive debt payoff. A starter cushion of about $1,000 or one month of essentials stops the next surprise (a car repair, a medical copay) from landing back on a credit card and undoing your progress. Without it, a single emergency can trap you in a cycle of charging, paying down, and re-charging. So the usual sequence is: build the small starter fund first, then throw everything at high-interest debt, then return to finish a full 3–6 month reserve once the toxic debt is gone. While paying off debt, also grab any employer 401(k) match. The starter fund and debt payoff aren't rivals — the cushion is what makes the debt payoff stick. Plan the order of operations for your numbers at wealthserene.com/tools/debt-payoff.