Which should I prioritize this year: 401(k), Roth IRA, or extra student loan payments?

Debt

I'm trying to get my finances in better shape this year and could use a sanity check on what to tackle first.

Quick facts about me:

- 31, single

- Salary: $92k

- Emergency fund: $18k in a high-yield savings account

- 401(k): $24k balance, currently contributing 6% to get the full employer match (employer matches 50% up to 6%)

- Roth IRA: $0 (haven't opened one yet)

- Student loans: $27k total (about $12k at 6.1% and $15k at 4.3%)

- No credit card debt, car is paid off

- Rent + utilities: roughly $2,100/month

I can realistically free up about $700-$900/month after bills and normal spending (I keep entertainment cheap - mostly board game nights at home).

What I'm trying to decide how to allocate that extra money:

  1. Bump my 401(k) contributions above the match

  2. Open and fund a Roth IRA (I could probably max it if I prioritize it)

  3. Make extra payments toward the 6.1% student loan first

I know the usual rules of thumb, but I'm on the fence - is 6.1% high enough to aggressively pay down instead of investing more for retirement? Also, should I add to my emergency fund above $18k before doing any of the above?

If you were in my shoes, what order would you prioritize these in and why?

Posted Feb 28, 2026, 1:20 PM UTC

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