<prompt> Human: Ive taken a couple of accounting and economics courses, and I plan on being able to pay down a majority of my student debt when I get out. Starting last summer I start saving 50 of my income. In addition to this, this summer I opened my first credit card which, yes I know are dangerous, but I dont buy things unless I have the money and I pay them down immediately. I looked into start a Roth IRA account, but the thing is places like Vanguard which I was recommended I should use require a 3,000 minimum, which for me is a large sum of money. I was wondering if there are any other things I should be doing. Ive heard investing get tossed around between my family members, but it has always scared me, especially post financial meltdown.  <response>: If I were you, Id just hold onto the money in a savings account. When you graduate, you will have to move, more than likely. There are deposits to pay for rent, security, utilities, etc, furniture to buy, plus the expense of actually moving to the other location. And you may be unemployed for several months after graduating, so youll need a buffer to float you until you receive a job and your first paycheck. Plus, if you are in a business office setting, youll need to make sure you have a decent wardrobe for the job, which isnt cheap. 