We are told our whole lives how important it is to save for retirement. And the thing is, it’s totally accurate and correct. But what you might not realize is that it is never too late to start saving for retirement. Even if you are in your 30s or 40s, it isn’t too late to set up your future.

The key to saving for retirement is to know where to start and what steps to follow. Being disciplined helps too, because it takes quite a bit to stay on goal and be smart with your money. There are also a few tips that you can follow to make sure that by the time retirement rolls around, you are prepared.

Pay down Your Debt

This might seem like an “easier said than done” kind of situation, but it doesn’t have to be that way. A big impediment for saving for retirement is making sure that you don’t have any serious debt. If you’re really serious about saving, look into options like a low-rate balance transfer credit card.

When you don’t have anything in debt to pay towards, that gives you more room to put that money towards savings, which we will cover more in the next section. Debt can hinder you from doing quite a lot; make sure that you don’t let it get in your way.

Maximize Your Savings

It is estimated that you should be saving ten percent of every paycheck beginning in your 20s. If you haven’t been doing this, it’s not the end of the world, but you’re going to have to reach your maximums to hit your retirement goal.

This might sound difficult, but it can be done a few different ways. The first is to minimize your spending. The second is to max fund things like your 401(k). When you do this, you will see the savings add up quickly.