I did many of these sane things. Maxed out 401 and IRA by payroll deduction and have college accounts for my kids. This was on an E6 - E8 army oaycheck or GS9 - GS13 check. Never paid credit card interest. I retired at 55. I make as much retired as I did working. In fact on a take home basis my annual income without the retirement accounts after tax is 10k. With crypto mining maybe another 30-60k a year.
Learn how to invest. The best book on investing I’ve read is “The Warren Buffet Way”. I don’t agree with the man’s politics but his investing style works for me. On a much smaller scale of course.