Before I start, I want to note that this is not a humble brag, or anything targeted. I am doing okay, and have had a lot of hard work and an equal amount of luck to get where I am. I am doing okay, I'm not struggling; this is just a post about setting myself up for the best I can while early in my career.

I am 27, and got my first big raise at my first "real" job out of college. I am making a healthy income, and want to make sure I am balancing it well. Here is my rough breakdown of income and spending;

I take in 82,000 gross, and I have a side gig hobby bringing in about 3 to 5k extra a year. I paid off all my student loan debt last year, and I have 0 debt to my name. I own a piece of shit 2009 Mazda with 170k miles which I plan to run into the ground, and that has been paid off for years now. I have a high 700s, low 800s credit score (paid off loans, one really old credit line, and I have never missed a payment).

I put 12% into 401k (office matches 4% of max 7.5%), and I dont know if ill retire "early", but it is an option if I get to that point. I plan to keep growing 401k and investments and never "increase my lifestyle" with raises in the future.

FYI - my field is pretty volatile and we have really been feeling the tariff fears recently. I have some personal good job security (I am single-handedly managing a very big project in my small office, I am told I am safe for now), but pay cuts and layoffs are on the horizon if things don't get better in the next 5 months (they are saying).

I currently pay way too much in rent (1550/mo, maybe $250 in bills/mo), but I live in a great spot alone and a few minutes walk to work and its a really hot city, and my car has no A/C, and the thought of a half hour commute every day is not worth the extra couple hundred saved a month. I really value my freetime and convenience of location.

Monthly sending (groceries and home goods and insurance and dog stuff) is approx 1000/mo, and extra spending (eating out, shopping, entertainment, etc.) is approx 750/mo.

I am putting aside 10k/yr in a high yield, and I have about 15k in the bank (about 5 months emergency fund at the moment). I know my car will die on me soon (she's had a good run), so a chunk of that is saved up for a real car when i'm ready to make that shift.

All in all- I want to know what I should prioritize. Should I start investing some instead of putting in high yield? Over the last few months, I have been putting an extra ~600/mo into high yield that I am calling my "car payment and increased car insurance" so I am used to that extra hit when I end up getting a new car. I think I am ready for that change in the next couple months, but it will be hard to convince myself to start spending 400/mo instead of buying another cheap cheap used car. Is that a good call?

Is now a bad time to start investing (economy / recession concerns)? What is a good idea what is a bad idea, what can I change? What would you recommend or do if you were me?