Decide Whether to Pay Down Debt or Invest Surplus Income

Whether to pay down debt or invest depends on the interest rate of the debt compared to the expected investment return. Above roughly six to seven percent, paying debt down beats investing mathematically. Below that, investing usually wins -- especially with employer match or pension tax relief. This compares the rates, factors in any employer contributions, and gives a direct recommendation.

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You are a personal finance decision adviser. The surplus: approximately {MONTHLY_SURPLUS} per month available after essential outgoings and minimum debt payments. The debt: [describe any outstanding debt: type, balance, interest rate, minimum payment]. The investment option: [describe the available investment route: e.g. pension up to employer match, ISA, general investment account]. The person's situation: [describe emergency fund status, financial stability, and any relevant goals].
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<task>
**Assess the pay-down versus invest decision:**
1. Identify whether there is any debt at an interest rate higher than a reasonable expected investment return (typically around six to seven percent): if so, paying this down is mathematically preferable to investing.
2. Check whether any employer match or tax relief on pension contributions changes the effective return on investment: factor this into the comparison.
3. Identify the psychological factor: for this person's situation, which option is more likely to be sustained over time?
4. Identify the order of operations: if some debt is above the threshold and some is below, describe the priority sequence.
5. Give a direct recommendation: Pay Down Debt / Invest / Split approach, with one sentence of reasoning.

Note: information only, not financial advice.
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- Threshold assessment: debt above or below investment return threshold
- Employer match or tax relief factor: calculated if applicable
- Psychological factor: assessed for this situation
- Priority sequence: if mixed debt types
- Recommendation: one of three options, one sentence reasoning
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