Save: How much? How often?

Everyone has advice on how to plan your financial future. To make it easier, financial advisors for USA Today recommend this road map for retirement.

In your 20s: Put small amounts into your IRA or a 401 (k) as you lay the ground work for your future. At this point, your mission is to get out of credit card ad college debt.

In your 30s: Increase your savings, maybe to as much as 10 percent of your net income. Save for a down payment on a house, if you haven’t already. Most people marry their 30s and children might be on the way. Avoid debt.

In your 40s: These are the peak years for earning and saving. Coordinate your plans with your spouse and put salary increases and bonuses into your savings. Start calculating how much you will need for retirement. Invest in a Roth IRA so you’ll have money you won’t have to pay taxes on.

In your 50s: Try to save more than 20 percent of your income. Consider downsizing your home if it’s too big. Decide when you want to start taking Social Security. Try living on a fixed income. What then? If you’ve planned and saved well, you can retire in your 60s. If not, you can work a little longer. Or you can retire anyway and find a part time job that you will enjoy. Many retirees work. They want the money but also enjoy the routine and social contacts