It is better to earn compound interest instead of paying it.

“Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it; he who doesn’t, pays it.”

- Albert Einstein, Goodreads 

Ideally, you want compound interest for your money. You want stock to build up and to the right. The growth spirals out of control because you stay invested for the long term, reinvest dividends, and add money consistently.  

The same is with knowledge. If you grow your knowledge consistently, eventually it also yields compound interest.

Continuous learning of new concepts builds a stronger knowledge base you can consult. Studying with a strong existing knowledge base can lead to deeper insights. Some of these insights may even be innovative.  

Otherwise, worst case, you end up going down and to the left. Failing to understand compound interest means debts can also grow. You start making mistakes on mistakes and it compounds in a not so pretty way, like death or jail or in crippling debt. 

THE TAKEAWAY: It is better to earn compound interest instead of paying it.