While I agree that user wikibob is investing significant amounts of their time dispensing genuinely helpful advice, I would also like to point out that much of their advice sets you up for retirement, and is not going to be optimal for anyone who has other goals.
For best results, people (especially young people) should do their own homework and know their own risk tolerance and financial goals. Putting thousands of dollars towards retirement won't help you if what you really needed was to pay off your credit card, or to set aside money for your child's college, etc. etc.
If you have any unsecured debt (college, credit cards, vehicle) I would strongly suggest paying it off completely before doing any retirement savings.
If you have or plan to have kids, you need to investigate 529 college savings plans and determine the best mix for you of retirement versus 529 savings.
Getting into other uses for money such as founding your own startup (given we’re on a Y-Combinator website), I’d suggest thinking long and hard about your level of risk tolerance. If you’re happy with the risk, go for it! If you’d be happier knowing your retirement is completely secured from some years of high earning and high retirement savings, go for that.
A big key to retirement savings is really deeply understanding just how big the impact of compound interest is. Go pull up a compound interest calculator, graph a curve, something conservative say 7% growth rate over 20 years. Then do it over 40 years. The difference is amazing.
For best results, people (especially young people) should do their own homework and know their own risk tolerance and financial goals. Putting thousands of dollars towards retirement won't help you if what you really needed was to pay off your credit card, or to set aside money for your child's college, etc. etc.