<prompt> Human: Edit: Removed the 1,000,000 goal. The verdict is that this isnt realistic : The goal is now 100,000.Hi! I just have to say thank you in advance for all of the help you people offer on this subreddit. Can you please offer your advice? Im about to be 28, and I would like to start investing so that I may have 100,000 saved by the time I turn 40. I have never invested in my life, so Im not sure how to start. I have come a very long way in terms of my finances, and would like some advice on how to prioritize for the future.Income4,600 in take-home monthly. Pay raise not happening in at least a year. After all my expenses are paid highlighted below, I have around 750-800 left to play around with.ExpensesRentUtilitiesMetropassCell Phone: 2,010 I live in an expensive city, but I live in a nice area for a relatively good value. I have one roommate. No car needed!Health: 50month for employee-sponsored healthdentalvision insurancePersonal TrainerClassPassCheap Gym: 300Food: 300 I cook and eat outEntertainmentNights Out: 250 max Broadway, barsMisc.: 70 Professional hair color every eight weeks, giftsCredit ScoreAbout 670. All outstanding debts have been paid off since 2011. I am expecting a big credit credit score jump soon, because I had some issues with my first two credit cards at 21, which were all paid in full and resolvedclosed on good terms. The only red flags on my credit score have been my student loans, and those two now-closed credit cards that I had at 21. I have been paying all my bills on time since 2012.DebtCredit Card Debt: 0. I have one Capital One credit card with a 3,000 limit. Ive had this card since 2007, so I dont want to close it. I link my cell phone bill to autopay with this account, which I always pay in full. I also have a Victorias Secret credit card since 2007, which I use maybe 3-4 times a year. I usually spend about 60-70 when I use it, but always pay the bill in full.Student Loans: About 18,000. Currently paying 250month. Defaulted on student loans in 2010, but have paid regularly since.Short-Term Goals Only have about 850 in my checking account now.July 2015: My sister and I want to go on a week-long vacation in Florida. 1,500October 2015: I would like to visit Portland, OR by myself for two weeks. 2,500February 2016: I want to go to New Orleans for two weeks. 2,500May 2016: I would like to rent a car and go on a road trip for Memorial Day Weekend, likely Canada 1,000November 2016: A friend of mine is getting married in Paris in 2016. I would like to attend -- shes planning a two-week trip in Paris with her closest friends before her big day. 5,000Long-Term SavingsSavings Account: 2,000 so far, but have started to transfer 500 to my savings each month. Should have 6,500 saved up by December.401k: Just started last month for the first time ever in my new job. 5, employer matches 4.5. So, about 230 from me, 207 from my employer.Thanks again :  <response>: Ok, it looks like you just have to run some numbers.Income:4600, takehomeExpenses:RentUtilitiesMetropassCell Phone: 2,010 Id like to highlight this. Lumping all these things together doesnt really help you in a budgeting sense. Utilities is fine, maybe even rentutilities. But your cell phone isnt a utility, and youre likely paying 3-4x as much as you need to be for this service.Health: 50month for employee-sponsored healthdentalvision insurance Id also like to highlight this. Does it come out of your paycheck, or are you paying the company 50month separately?Cheap Gym: 300 Foodeating out: 300 Entertainment: 250 max Misc.: 70 Professional hair color every eight weeks, giftsDebts:Student Loans: 18k remaining at ___ APR, minimum payment: 250Currently have 850 in checking.Plans:1500 vacation in Florida, July 20152500 vacation in Portland, Oct 20152500 vacation in NOLA, Feb 20161000 vacation road trip, May 20165000 vacation in Paris, Nov 2016Given your income, expenses, debts, and travel plans, I dont think your financial goals are feasable.However, lets do the math to see where youll end up, assuming you pay the minimums on your student loans.Your expenses and debt minimums come out to 3230. If you take home 4600month, you have 1370month unaccounted for that you can be saving, not 750. First of all, you really need to get a better grip on where your moneys going. But lets say you save that full 1370 every month, starting this month. Your first goal is 19380, six months worth of expenses.You currently have 2000. At the end of June, youll have 6110. 1500 for the vacation puts you at 4610.In October, youll have 10090. 2500 for the vacation puts you at 7590.In February, youll have 13070. 2500 for the vacation puts you at 10570.In May, youll have 14680, 1000 for the vacation puts you at 13680.In November, youll have 21900. 5000 for the vacation puts you at 16900.Now, I dont know the interest rates on your student loans, but Ill assume 6 on average. If youve been paying the minimums, youll still have something like 17225 left.Frustrated, you make your six-month goal a three-month one. You have three monthss worth of expenses already, you say to yourself. Lets pay down some of that student debt. You use 7210 of your savings, leaving you with 9630, and a student loan balance of 10015.From that point on, you put your extra money each months into your student loans. Theyll be paid off by July 2017. Now, debt free, you have about ten years left in your twelve year plan.If you put all of your extra money every month in an index fund, with the rates of return weve seen historically, you could come up with 250k by the time youre 40.But I dont think youre going to change your lifestyle. Youre not going to put all of that away. Youre going to keep going on vacations. And thats ok! Its definitely holding you back financially though. 250k is a fine goal, but Im just saying, dont be disappointed if you dont get there. 