First Things First, Before you invest do this:

1. Get out of debt!
2. Only one credit card
3. Pay off credit card each month
4. Pay yourself first: savings
5. Max your 401k (or a Roth IRA*)
6. Health Insurance
7. Take on a mortgage ONLY if you can afford it

Exploring the realm of Socially Responsible Investing is fascinating and rewarding, yet you need to make sure your vital financial assets and liabilities are taken care of before you begin investing. Likewise, a Financial Plan which puts your finances on a long-term, lifelong path toward your goals cannot be helpful if you don't start from a solid place.

There are seven things everyone must do before investing. Yes, these are the things you may not want to think about: debt, savings, health insurance. Perhaps you think investing is more important, that you can make your way out of debt through investing; simply put,no, you can't. Let's just say it. Do not plan on your finances to return a big pay-off that will bail you out of debt, this is gambling, plain and simple (remember, the house always wins).

Many people aren't gamblers and realize the risks involved, however they currently have a large credit card debt. Most people have more credit card debt than they should; that is, they carry credit card debt for months and years at a time, very common. Of course, you know that the cost of that debt can be over 20%. Since the best 'steady' return you'll get from good fundamental investing is less than 10% (remember Madoff was boasting over 10% and we know that was a lie), every day that goes by you lose money if you have credit card debt. Simple math.

Here are the seven basics you should focus on first with links to more info about each one:

* if no 401k is available to you open and fully fund a Roth IRA