I'm not a financial advisor but I've learned a lot from personal experience. The most important thing is to start early and be consistent. Even small amounts add up over time thanks to compound interest. Don't try to time the market.

Pay off your highest-interest debt first — that's almost always credit cards at 18-22%. There's no investment that reliably beats paying off an 18% credit card. It's a guaranteed return. Knock that out before you even think about the stock market.

Talk to a fee-only financial advisor, not one who earns commissions on products they sell you. The commission-based advisors have an incentive to recommend products that benefit them, not you. A fee-only advisor charges a flat rate.

My parents told me the same thing and they were right. But everyone's situation is different. Run the numbers for your specific situation before making a decision. There are good calculators online that account for all the variables.

I made this exact mistake when I was younger and it cost me. Learn from others instead of learning the hard way. The personal finance section of any bookstore has dozens of books — they mostly say the same sensible things for a reason.