re: At what age did you start putting the max yearly limit towards your 401(k)?

Started my job at 25, started contributing to my 457 immediately with what would amount to about 60% of the max. Within 4 months, I increased it to the max and haven't touched it since except to increase to the new max when the max contribution limit increased. Money is taken from check before I ever see it, so I just pretend like it's not there and live/budget based on the amount deposited in my bank account.

Only "financial hardships" were purchase of new home and saving for a wedding that is next month.

A couple years later I started doing additional investing of about another $500 a month. If I ever need access to more money, this would be what I would stop doing first.