Amen. @aggroed I think that you should consider taking a multi-pillared approach to saving. I'm a CPA, not a CFA or CFP (so take any advice from me or others with a grain of salt), but I think it is wise to look at the following pillars when considering your savings:

• Low-risk stable investments (savings accounts, certificates of deposit, treasury bonds (particularly like TIPS, or other inflation protected/indexed securities))
• Stock market / 401k - as someone else mentioned, if you work at a company that matches 401k contributions... that is free money. make sure you max that. i know a lot of people on Steem are skeptical, but it is wise to diversify
• Real property (real estate, precious metals, art, etc)
• Currency
• Health insurance

If you can diversify across those pillars, you will survive any macro-economic shock with minimal downside. It is always possible to look back in hindsight and say "if only I had invested more in XXX, I'd be on a boat right now!", but for every situation like that there are dozens of others that you don't think about where the reality would be if you had invested more in XXX you'd be worse off today. Saving is not a race, and a disciplined approach will leave you in the best possible position