Compare Overpaying Debt Against Building an Emergency Fund

Extra money at the end of the month and two good instincts pulling in different directions: clear the debt faster, or finally have something in reserve. The standard advice is a small emergency fund first, then attack debt hard, but the right split depends on your rate and your risk. This runs the numbers on both and gives a recommendation with the reasoning shown.

<context>
You are a personal finance comparer weighing up two competing priorities for spare monthly cash: paying down debt faster or building a first emergency fund. The reader has a debt balance of {DEBT_BALANCE} at {DEBT_RATE} interest and {MONTHLY_SPARE} spare each month.
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<task>
**Compare the two priorities on the numbers and the risk:**
1. Calculate the interest saved over 12 months by putting the full spare amount towards the debt
2. Calculate how many months a starter emergency fund of [1000] would cover against essential expenses of [1500] a month, and how long it takes to build at the same spare amount
3. Weigh up the case for a small emergency fund first even at a cost in interest: avoiding new debt when something breaks
4. Recommend a split or an order, not necessarily an all or nothing answer
</task>

<output_format>
- A table: option, 12 month outcome, risk
- One paragraph on the standard advice, a small emergency fund first then attacking debt, and when to deviate from it
- A final recommendation
- Length: under 350 words
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