From a Motley Fool email: "According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute's 2005 Retirement Confidence Survey, fewer than half of all Americans age 55 and older have even $45,000 saved up for retirement. In fact, excluding home equity, the median net worth of retirement-age Americans is closer to $30,000 -- which explains why their savings suffice to fund only 11% of their living costs." "Wow" doesn't even cover it. Regularly I wonder how so many people seem to afford big, new vehicles while we drive a perfectly nice but used Camry. It's hard to keep reminding myself that the difference is probably that we're saving a good amount for retirement. Please, please, please put some savings away for retirement. Save half of each raise you get, save your tax refund, at least take advantage of any match your employer provides in a 401(k).