One 10-step sequence — from your first month of emergency savings through maxing every tax-advantaged account you have

Step 2 (401(k) match) comes before Step 3 (debt) — a 100% guaranteed return beats even 24% credit card interest

Step 10 (extra mortgage payments) comes dead last — it's tied to an appreciating asset, no rush

Follow it in order and you're ahead of 95% of Americans by step 8

No more guessing "should I invest or pay off debt?" — it's already answered