Quoted:
Put the maximum in the deferred comp. plan as often as possible.  Don't forget to also have an emergency fund, and separate funds for future needs such as car, or home down payment.

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The goal, eventually, should be 17,500 in your tax deferred 457.  Obviously, your gross pay makes that number tough, but good job keeping the mortgage reasonable.   Keep doin what your doing... Put your future raises in retirement accounts, and keep your day to day expenses the same.

Good work.  Banking 25-30% of gross towards retirement is about the best most people can do.

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I'm looking for some guidance with setting some financial goals for myself.  I want to know how much of my paycheck I should attempt to put away with my set of circumstances.  

Currently I'm paying down debt at a pretty fast rate (car/student loans) so I'm not able to put away as much as I'd like to.  I also own a home and have a $685 a month mortgage payment, plus all the other bills that comes with that.  

Here's my situation: I make right around 45K a year (yes I know not enough)

My company automaitcally deducts 2% of my salary from this and puts it into a 401k, they also put 8% of my salary in the same 401k. So I save 10% of my salary every year no matter what I do.   =$4,500

We also have an optional 457 account that we can put tax deffered contributions into.  This account is voluntary and the organization matches up to 4.2%.  I put $75 into this account every pay period to max out the 4.2% match.  This leads to another 8.5% or so and another $3,900 per year.  

Brings my total to $8,400 per year.  I'm 29 and have been doing this for 3-4 years now.  I know I'm not doing enough but what is a good goal for me to set?  What percentage of my check should I set for savings each pay period?

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18.7% actually isn't too shabby.  I've always lived by the rule that 15% is the bare minimum and 25% is ideal.

If you are paying down debt on top of that 18.7% then I'd say you are doing just fine and keep chugging along like that.  Just make sure that all those contributions are being directed towards decent investments that are appropriate for your age.  You don't want that money to languish in cash.  You'd be amazed how many people just let their 401k contributions go to cash and never get around to making elections.  

Once your debts are paid off you can jack that number up a bit with your new found cash and try and shoot for the 25% ideal.

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I would keep doing what you are doing with regards to the investments and put all excess money on your debts. Once they are cleared you can invest more.

We are debt free house and everything and it will amaze you how much you can save and invest when you don't owe anyone anything.

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It's in the market but not close to optimal. Having an advisor put a plan together for me now.

So your 25% rule applies to total contributions? I was thinking of trying to get to 30% of my gross, not including employer contributions.

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The 25% guideline can include employer contributions.  I arrived at 25% by figuring out how much I needed to retire and then worked backwards figuring on a 4% post inflation return over the course of 35 years so the buck from your employer match is as good as any buck.

15% gives you enough dough to live on about 75% of your working income during retirement.

25% gives you enough dough to live on 100% of your working income and probably have something to pass on to your kids.

Of course, there a million little factors that this simple math doesn't include like pay raises (or demotions), inheritance, unforseen costs, unforseen windfalls ect.  It's just a good starting point to get yourself in the ballpark, obviously the more the merrier.  If you did 30% plus your employer contributions, there is a pretty good chance that your money will eventually make more than you do, which is a nice place to end up.

Quoted:
I'm looking for some guidance with setting some financial goals for myself.  I want to know how much of my paycheck I should attempt to put away with my set of circumstances.  

Currently I'm paying down debt at a pretty fast rate (car/student loans) so I'm not able to put away as much as I'd like to.  I also own a home and have a $685 a month mortgage payment, plus all the other bills that comes with that.  

Here's my situation: I make right around 45K a year (yes I know not enough)

My company automaitcally deducts 2% of my salary from this and puts it into a 401k, they also put 8% of my salary in the same 401k. So I save 10% of my salary every year no matter what I do.   =$4,500

We also have an optional 457 account that we can put tax deffered contributions into.  This account is voluntary and the organization matches up to 4.2%.  I put $75 into this account every pay period to max out the 4.2% match.  This leads to another 8.5% or so and another $3,900 per year.  

Brings my total to $8,400 per year.  I'm 29 and have been doing this for 3-4 years now.  I know I'm not doing enough but what is a good goal for me to set?  What percentage of my check should I set for savings each pay period?

Quoted:
How old are you? 18.7% of your salary saved a year is pretty damn good, especially if you are fairly young. Invest it in a couple of index funds that cover the whole market, and forget about it. I'd recommend reading a Boglehead's Guide to Investing and then checkout www.bogleheads.org (arfcom of financial advice IMO).

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Sounds like you're doing well.  Don't forget to work on building up an emergency fund that's a little more liquid for whatever.