When you’re in your 20s, it may seem like you have all the time in the world before you worry about retirement. But the years have a way of sneaking up on you, and before long, you realize you need to start stockpiling some serious money if you hope to be able to do any of your bucket list items during your golden years.

Here are some ways to ensure you’ll have enough to get you through retirement.

Manage Your Debt Wisely

While one of the things you need to do to fund your retirement is saving money, keeping your debt load low is crucial too.

If you still owe on your house, credit cards, or a fancy car while you’re in retirement, you may find yourself strapped for cash. That’s a bad way to start off your retirement.

You’ll need less savings and have less worry if you enter retirement debt free. So in the years before you know you’ll be exiting the workforce, get a handle on your spending and big purchases.

Consider Working a Little Longer

Leaving the workforce at age 62 certainly has its appeal. But if you start collecting Social Security at age 62, you’re going to get less than you will if you delay it.

If the idea of continuing with a full-time job past 62 seems like a fate worse than death, maybe you should find a different job or a part-time job that will allow you to bring in enough money to live on until you’re a little older.

Build an Emergency Fund

Access to emergency cash is just as important in your golden years as it is in your younger years. It would be smart to not even count this money into your retirement projections.

You never know when medical or family emergencies will happen – and one catastrophic illness could drain this account quickly. It will help ease your mind if you know you have this extra money available to you in case times get hard.

Plan for a Long Life

If you’ve ever toyed around with retirement calculators, you’ll notice many ask you how long you plan to stay in retirement. That’s a polite way of asking you when you think you’re going to die!

But it’s a valid question since how much you need to save depends on how long you expect to live.

Instead of shortchanging yourself later in your life, you should estimate on the longer side when it comes to your lifespan. It’s better to overestimate and die with money still in the bank than it is to underestimate and die completely broke.

Give Up Those Bad Habits

Those daily vices can cost a lot of money. If your bad habits include alcohol, tobacco, overeating, or soda, calculate how much those vices are costing you. You could be throwing hundreds, or potentially thousands, of dollars down the drain each year.

If you can cut out those bad habits entirely, or at least trim them down a little, you’ll be able to save a lot more money in the years or decades before you retire.