For me, the #1 priority is getting out of debt. With that said, the only ‘suggestion’ I would make is reverse #3 & #4. If you get out of debt first that will give you more monthly $$$ to put towards retirement when you are finished paying off the debt. There is something about being focused on one thing at a time that makes it work … esp. since you have 20 yrs to go until retirement.

I finally took the ‘more focused’ approach of stopping my 401k contributions this yr. And wouldn’t you know it, my employer stopped their matching contribution this year too so I’m only missing out on the market return not the employer match. Stopping this contribution is temporary – restart it after debt is paid.

My priority is to get college finances, then revisiting the assets in various 401ks from various jobs and trying to consolidate and simplify – hopefully trying to get some decent returns without too much risk.

My parents were once in a similar situation — had a house for sale in once city, rented in another. Took them about the same amount of time to unload their house. Stressful times for sure.

Just curious why you think the balance transfer was such a risky move that you wouldn’t recommend? I can only assume the debt was hanging out on another credit card at some odd percentage rate that you have now transferred to another card that will give you a long 0% grace period. What is the major risk there?

Right now, my major financial goal is to make sure I am adequately pursuing the many goals that I have. I have always been the type of person to pick 1 thing and go after it with all I’ve got and am trying to change my style to allow myself to save for multiple goals in my life.