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Kruse,

It sounds like you are living with your parents or staying at a dorm while you go to college? Is college being paid for? It sounds like it with having only $200/month in expenses.

Here is my advice:

1. Stay in school and finish your degree - that will be a significant path to wealth unless you do something like social work or something. Okay, I'm being Dr. Obvious here. When you graduate, thank your parents.

2. If I were 19, here's what I would do differently. I would go ahead and open up that Roth IRA but don't worry about "maxxing it out." You can open a Roth IRA for as little as $500 and $50/month contribution. Make the minimum on that for now. As Rod Stewart sang when, "Young hearts beat free tonight. . .time is on your side."

3. Open a taxed account and start saving for a house. I know you are young and getting a house, even a little townhouse, is the last thing on your mind but as much as we all have lofty goals of having a million in the bank, home ownership is still the track to wealth and the middle class. You sound like a male and I know at 19, I had no desire to "nest." I think female college students are thinking about it. Maybe open up a Vanguard Wellington or Wellesley balanced fund and contribute $200/month to that. Learn about shifting the mix as you get closer to buying. I would probably drop $2000 of your 3K into that.

4. Finally, have a small account for that truck (the ING or HBSC is a fine vehicle) you want so you aren't tempted to blow your future house money on that. I'd place $100/month in that - you won't ever need a new pick-up. 21 year olds shouldn't have new pick-ups anyway. Try to minimize your car loan in the future, although realisitcally, you will need to be able to use debt responsibly as you mature. I think saving $3K to $4K and having a small car loan is realistic.

3 accounts - different goals. You are now establishing superior credit and gaining leverage with your savings.

Divide your current assets among them in the same proportion.

Sooner or later, you will have to establish an emergency fund for living expenses, when you strike out on your own. You may have to zig-zag a little with your money over the next 5 years but try to stay focused on the home ownership goal.

Good luck.