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Starting with a small budget is absolutely possible! Begin with index funds or ETFs which allow you to invest in diversified portfolios with minimal initial investment. Many brokerages now offer fractional shares, letting you buy portions of expensive stocks. Consider opening a Roth IRA for tax-advantaged retirement savings, and automate your investments to build wealth consistently over time.

A common rule of thumb is to save 15% of your pre-tax income for retirement. However, this depends on your age, current savings, and retirement goals. If you're starting later, you may need to save more. Take advantage of employer 401(k) matching - it's free money! The earlier you start, the more compound interest works in your favor.

It depends on the interest rate. High-interest debt (like credit cards above 15%) should typically be paid off first, as it's costing you more than you'd likely earn investing. For lower-interest debt (like mortgages around 3-5%), you might benefit more from investing while making regular debt payments. Always build an emergency fund first, then tackle high-interest debt before aggressive investing.