When it comes to saving for retirement, starting early is key. And while putting money away can seem like a huge and daunting task, it doesn’t always require major lifestyle changes. If you implement changes slowly and in small ways, you may not even realize how much you’re saving.

Here are 4 small ways you can make a big difference in your savings account:

1. Pay off your credit card on time. Waiting to pay off your credit card bills is a great way to accrue interest and lose money in the long-run. Instead, pay your credit card bill on time and put that extra savings towards your savings fund.

2. Set up automatic transfers. While it’s easy to promise yourself that you’ll transfer money to a savings account each month, it’s helpful to set up automatic transfers so that you aren’t tempted to spend the money.

3. Save your change. Cents turn into dollars quickly! Additionally, you can sign up for a savings program like this one, where everyday purchases made with your debit card will be rounded up to the nearest dollar amount, and the difference will be transferred from your checking to your savings account.

4. Have a plan. People who create concrete retirement plans are more likely to stick to them and on average, end up with three times more money than those who fail to create a plan.

Creating a secure retirement takes careful planning, and it’s never too early to start saving. Use our calculators to determine how much money you should be saving now to make sure you have a balanced financial plan and the lifetime income you’ll need.