When you are just starting out in your career – and especially when you are still in school – it might seem weird to think about retirement. However, when you start saving as early as possible, you give your future the best chance at success. Every little bit helps – especially when that little bit is going to be given the chance to grow over the course of your career.

If you were planning on starting your retirement saving in your 30s, you might want to rethink that idea. By starting now, the extra 10 years or more could make a huge difference in your savings totals. As the amount you deposit gains interest, that interest gains interest and so on. This compound interest, as its called, gives you quite a boost.

If you already feel like you are struggling to get by, the last thing you want to do is put money away for retirement, but there are a few things you can do to make this saving easy.

Sign Up For Your Employer’s 401(k) – If your employer offers a 401(k), be sure you sign up for it – especially if your employer matches your deposits. You might think that you’d prefer that extra money in your pocket, but it will be most beneficial to you as your retirement savings.

Save As Much As You Can – Whether your employer offers a 401(k) or not, it’s beneficial to engage in additional saving. $20 here or there can really add up over the course of the year. Keep track of all of the ways you cut back on spending and use that cash to contribute to your IRA annually.

Roth And Roll – Going the Roth route makes a ton of sense, especially at this stage of your career. You don’t get the same tax break annually as you do with a Traditional IRA but you get to receive your funds tax-free at retirement. This is a huge deal when we’re talking hundreds of thousands of dollars. Talk with your tax advisor to see if a Roth IRA makes sense for you and deposit as much as you can annually. If you have one, it even might make sense to rollover your Traditional IRA into a Roth.