I have found these actions to be very helpful in planning for retirement:

• first create an emergency fund, start small and work up to 3 months of living expenses
• take something out of every paycheck and put it in a different account (perhaps a vacation fund)
• take 1/2 of any raise or “found money” and put it into an investment account
• create a budget and track it so you know where your money is spent
• don’t use credit cards if you can not stay to a budget (only use cash, when you are out of cash, you can’t have it)
• diversify your investments (don’t put all eggs in one basket)
• spend money socially (with friends and family)