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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote]Same if you buy a house and get a mortgage, pay off mortgage first, then save for retirement...[/quote]

Please don't listen to this person.[/quote]

+1 Save for retirement FIRST.  [/quote]

+2[/quote]

+3[/quote]

I am 29 and already regretting not saving a higher percentage of my salary in my early 20s because it will make such a tremendous difference because of compound interest.  At an absolute minimum save 5% of your salary for retirement (at least enough to get your entire employer match), but 10% would be better and 15% would be excellent.  If I were you, I would start with a Roth 401(k) or Roth IRA at your income because you'll pay low taxes now while you're in a low tax bracket and have tax-free money in retirement.  If you can only start out saving 5% of your salary right now, commit to increasing your retirement savings by 1-2 percentage points every time you get a raise.  Saving for retirement in your 20s is CRITICAL!  You have to save so much more, even when you're in your 30s and 40s, to catch up if you don't get a good start in your 20s.  If you have a matching option at work, open up a 401(k) there and contribute whatever percentage you need to get the match.  (This will probably be a traditional 401k which is taxfree now, but you pay taxes in retirement.  I don't think you can get an employer match on a Roth.)  Then, contribute any additional money you can to a Roth 401(k) or IRA to capitalize on your low tax bracket now.

Then, I would pay off more than the minimum on your student loans.  Even if you can only round up to the next $100, do it.  If you can do more, great.

Keep your $20K emergency savings intact.  That's a great nest egg for being right out of school.  If it were me, I would probably invest $10K and keep the other $10K easy accessible in savings or money market account.  Add to this savings if you can, but you may not be able to do much right now and that's OK.  Savings account interest rates are low so it's better for you to save for retirement and pay down debt (higher interest rate) first.

Live with roommates for as long as you can to save money.  Learn to cook.  Drink at home.  Always bring your lunch.  Do your legwork and find free events to have fun and invite friends, so that you don't feel like you're missing out.  NEVER carry a balance on a credit card... those interest rates are crazy.  The more you get accustomed to a certain lifestyle (cable, buying clothes, eating out, etc.) the harder it will be to live without later.  Good for you for figuring it out early!
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