This article sums up my kicking and screaming about the priorities young people should have with personal finance.  You MUST pay off your debt before you start heavily investing.  Think of it like this, if you have $10,000 in debt at an interest rate of 10%, and you have $10,000 in a mutual fund making 10%, what is your annual net return?  NOTHING, nada, zilch.  Read this article from USA today.  It’s a great one.  Twentysomethings have the power to change the world when it comes to personal finance, but it must start with our consumption habits.