We conduct two survey experiments with national samples of U.S. adults to understand how individuals balance saving and paying off debt, while taking into account survey context and question effects that might influence self-reports of behaviors. Both studies find a significant question order effect, in which respondents provide different answers about their preferred financial choice depending on the placement of questions within the survey. Specifically, when asked how to allocate their discretionary income between savings and debt payments, respondents generally indicate a greater preference for savings; however, when asked about their personal financial values before the allocation question, they are more willing to allocate a larger portion toward debt payments. These findings highlight the importance of considering survey context and question content when interpreting survey responses about personal finances.

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