We’re kidding, right? You’re still paying for college or saving for your first house, and we’re saying you should think about retirement. We must be joking!

We’re not. This is the time to start thinking about retirement. Think about it. Say you’re 20 years old. If you stash $1,000 dollars in an IRA at 8% interest today, it will be worth $24,273.39 in 40 years, when you’re 60. If you wait until you’re 40 to set aside that $1,000, it will be worth $4,926.80 when you’re 60. You simply get more bang for your buck when you save that buck earlier, rather than later. A lot more bang.

Check it out. Use this calculator to see how much the smallest sum can add up to. Figure out how much you can set aside now, even if it doesn’t seem like enough to matter. See how much it can turn into. And start saving. You’ll be glad you did.

And - just between us - none of the 30 or 40 or 50 year olds we know are bragging about all the extra money they have lying around, either. Saving will never be easier than it is now - or as fruitful.

Why Save Early? | What about Social Security? | How Should I Invest? | Credit & Debit