Financial experts generally recommend a $1,000 starter emergency fund before aggressively paying off debt, followed by a 3–6 month full emergency fund once debt is cleared. Without any emergency fund, a car repair or medical bill forces you back into high-rate debt, undoing months of progress.
The $1,000 starter fund is a pragmatic balance: it covers most common emergencies while still leaving maximum cash for debt payoff. Don't delay starting your debt payoff plan until you have a full 6-month fund — start now with $1k as a buffer.