AOL Money & Finance:
* Work longer. If you retire at a young age from one job, move right into a second job with additional retirement benefits.
* Slash your spending. Make shopping a job, not a hobby.
* Eliminate debt. Pay off credit cards. Put extra money on your mortgage to eliminate that expense when you retire.
* Establish a nest egg. Save as much as possible while you’re living on a full salary.
* Keep home repairs current. Two benefits to this: it’s easier to sell and cheaper not to let small repairs escalate into big jobs.
* Know your limits and capabilities. Can you help your parents or grown children if needed? Do the math. Are you sandwiched already? Assess your resources.
* Separate wants from needs. Indulge your wants if you must, but make certain there’s enough left to cover unexpected expenses.
* Get healthy. Eat right, lose weight, exercise daily. Have regular physicals. If you start retirement healthy and fit, you’ll reduce medical expenses down the road.
* Factor in life changes. Could you survive if your partner died, needed full-time care or the two of you split? Figure your expenses as a single retiree.
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