text: What kind of debt are you talking about?  If you're talking about high interest credit card debt, then pay it off first.  If you're talking about a mortgage, a car loan, maybe a low interest school loan, then I would tell you to invest some monies.  I always advise my clients not to pay off their mortgage early.  It's nice having the tax deduction of the interest, and if you take a long time to pay off the mortgage, you're paying it off with money that has been eroded by inflation.   \nIf your company offers a 401k, go into that before an IRA.  Also, if your company offers you a retirement plan, you would only be able to do a Roth IRA and are limited to what you can invest.\nConsult a financial profession to evaluate your individual situation and help you make the right choice.