I wish I knew this 10 years ago... your 20's are the best 10 years of compound growth you'll ever have here's an example: If you start at 20, put $250 a month into an account at 7% growth per year - you will have $598,905.34 by the time you're 60. If you start at 30, put $250 a month into an account at 7% growth per year - you will have $283,382.36 by the time you're 60. See the difference those 10 years make? (images below show difference of an average of 5,7,9% YoY compound growth) Even if someone sat little jimbo down at 20, showed me how to open an account and said: "just put 10% of what you earn in here and you'll be laughing" but I didn't have any direction or guidance I'm only REALLY learning a lot about finance and investing now, and felt the need to share. 7% return is conservative for the S&P500 too. Plus there are a bunch of other tax-free ways to invest part of your earnings as well. Would highly recommend checking out @baileygradyshow @sircalebhammer and @DaveRamsey Sharing because I wish someone told me.