sure. I wouldn't do #3.

I have always been a firm believer in saving cash. Me personally put my extra money in a bank account.
This isn't to say that I don't have any 401k or IRAs. I do, but I don't want to limit myself. Ultimately, I'll be buying 2-3 more homes in the next 15-20years. These will be (hopefully) my retirement fund.

 

it's a little sad, but picked up this quarter.

 

I'd recommend a Roth if you can max your payments at the 5k per year limit, otherwise a Traditional IRA would be better if you're can't quite contribute that much.