My next goal is to open up an HSA (I think I qualify, have to look at my Kaiser plan, again), and just get free savings and free money and free free free. I've ignored them until now, because I assumed it was the same as those Flex spending account which disappears each year. HSA is different though--pre-tax savings, tax-sheltered growth, and un-taxed withdrawals if you swing it properly.
Congratulations, welcome to the world's best legal tax dodge!
The HSA is the best kept tax secret. You don't pay tax now, your gains are tax free, and if you spend it on health related items your withdrawals are tax free too. Also, no minimum withdrawals or other restrictions. No fees for early withdrawals either (as long as you have a medical expense that year). Nothing legal comes close to that in benefits, not the IRA, not the Roth IRA, not the 401k, all of those pale in consideration. Plus, you get deep discounts on medical bills for (a) having insurance but (b) paying cash.
That said, there are drawbacks:
Drawback 1:
It is hard to find a place that doesn't charge a fee for a low HSA balance. So, it is best to wait until the end of the year to contribute to the HSA, then at the beginning of the next year contribute all you can to the HSA. For example, contribute $6750 on Dec 31, 2016 and another $6750 on Jan 1, 2017 (half that if you are in single coverage and not family). That way, you never have to pay a low balance fee.
Drawback 2:
Very few places have low-fee mutual funds to buy through an HSA. So, be prepared to have to choose a second tier mutual fund instead of something great like Vanguard funds.
Drawback 3:
To maximize the financial benefit, you have to shop around for medical prices. You can spend 10x more or 10x less for the exact same thing across the street. But they won't tell you the price unless you go there in person.
Drawback 4:
To maximize the tax savings, you shouldn't touch the HSA balance. Put the max in you can each year and pay for medical bills out of pocket. Then your HSA can grow tax free forever. Remember, this is better than any savings or better than any retirement account. Your HSA should be your first place to stash money and keep it there. If you have to, reduce your 401k contributions to pay for your medical bills out of pocket. Let it grow a decade or 3 before using your HSA for bills.
The benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. But just don't go into it without thinking so that you can maximize the benefits and minimize the drawbacks.