Tech debt is mainly a problem with code that needs frequent updates as it makes changes harder. If you have messy code that doesn't need updating, then it does

Tech debt is mainly a problem with code that needs frequent updates as it makes changes harder. If you have messy code that doesn't need updating, then it doesn't cost a thing to leave it in a bad state. The act of refactoring in these cases is a waste of effort and often does more harm than good by introducing bugs. I take the YAGNI when it comes to refactoring. Just pay back the stuff if the code actually slows you down in the future instead of doing it in advance. There is a lot of tech debt you can get away with for free without ever having to pay back.