should I pay off my credit cards or build an emergency fund first?

No, accumulate as much debt as possible in the US and move to France.

building an emergency fund, you can actually declare bankruptcy on credit card debt if it gets too high

At the rate of interest charged by credit cards, always pay them off as quickly as you can. The money you save from interest payments can be applied toward savings after you get ride of those high interest payments

Take a free year and help Forests to live

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I would go with Ramsey's recommendation but focusing entirely on paying off your debt, per your own interest calculation, is not a bad idea either.

I know, ask 16 more times.

Paying nterest is cutting into your emergency fund, but if you don't have ANYTHING saved, you'll have to find a compromise. Put half of what you plan to put toward the debt towards the debt and put the other half into the fund and don't touch it.

A basic emergency fund of 2000 or 3000