5 Smart Ways to Save for Retirement on Any Income

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1. Begin Saving with Any Amount You Can

You don’t need a six-figure salary to start saving for retirement.

What matters is getting started. no matter how small the amount.

Here’s why small steps still win big:

  • Compound interest, because even $20 today grows over time.
  • Builds consistency, forming a saving habit that sticks.
  • Boosts confidence, showing progress from every single deposit.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Pick an amount that feels doable. Then save it automatically every month without fail.

Make It Easy: Keep a Betterment Cash Reserve Account to store early contributions and earn interest as you build momentum.


2. Set Up Automatic Transfers to Your Savings

If saving depends on willpower, it probably won’t happen.

Automation takes the pressure off and makes your savings run on autopilot.

Here’s why it’s a total game-changer:

  • Removes temptation, since money moves before you can spend it.
  • Creates discipline, without requiring constant effort.
  • Builds momentum, turning small habits into real progress.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Schedule automatic transfers from your checking account to your retirement or savings account each payday.

3. Increase Contributions When You Get a Raise

Every time your income grows, your savings should too.

If you don’t adjust your contributions, lifestyle creep will sneak up and steal your progress.

Here’s why bumping up matters:

  • Keeps pace with your goals, without feeling the extra pinch.
  • Boosts compounding, adding even more growth long-term.
  • Builds security, giving you peace of mind as your income rises.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Every time you get a raise, increase your savings or retirement contributions by at least 1–2%.

Make It Easy: Try Boldin to project how each raise can accelerate your retirement timeline.


4. Invest in Simple, Low-Cost Index Funds

You don’t need to be a financial expert to grow your money.

Index funds do the work for you. steady, low-effort, and long-term smart.

Here’s why they’re a top choice for any income:

  • Low fees, so more of your returns stay with you.
  • Diversified growth, spreading risk across hundreds of companies.
  • Hands-off investing, ideal for busy people who hate overthinking.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Pick a few index funds with low expense ratios and invest consistently every month.

5. Keep Your Spending Small and Your Goals Big

Saving for retirement isn’t about cutting joy. It’s about prioritizing freedom.

The less you spend now, the more future-you gets to enjoy.

Here’s how small sacrifices add up:

  • Frees up cash, so you can invest more without stress.
  • Prevents lifestyle creep, keeping your budget balanced.
  • Grows your future options, because flexibility is the ultimate reward.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Review your monthly spending and cut small habits that don’t add real value. Redirect that money to savings.

Make It Easy: Try Rocket Money to automatically find wasted spending and move it into savings instead.


📌 SAVE IT FOR LATER! 📌


And that’s it!

Never forget it… 

🍔 A Bigger Bank Account Is Waiting For You!

😉 Dale!

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Lily Thompson

Hey, I'm Lily! I'm a mom who's really good at two things: stretching a dollar and talking about stretching a dollar. I created Money Vice after one too many grocery trips where I watched my total climb and thought, "There's gotta be a better way." Spoiler: there is. Think of me as your money-savvy friend who's always got a tip (and coffee in hand).