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Up until yesterday, you may have done nothing to prepare for your financial future, but this is today. To begin, make a committed decision to save. You are in a financial marathon, not a sprint. Even if you are 50, deciding to save $10 a day can make a substantial difference in your ability to retire comfortably. This requires changing the way you live and making real sacrifices, but failing to prepare will result in a much worse scenario. Your life will be far more difficult if you aren’t ready for retirement.

Yes, this would all be easier if you had commenced saving 30 years ago. But you didn’t and nothing will change that. Just decide that, starting today, you will prepare for your life 10, 15 and 20 years into the future. If you keep dragging your past into the present, you will never free yourself to enjoy the rest of your life. Cut yourself some slack. Whatever your present situation is, you can begin to build a better, more joyful life.

If you take the time and energy to analyze your problems, you will realize that many of them involve money. While money alone cannot bring you happiness, lack of it can bring misery. A survey of baby boomers conducted...