Not enough savings at 30? Don't panic, it's not too late to make up for it.

How much money should you save by 30? Fidelity's standard answer is: at least one year's salary. It sounds quite scary, but if you're still far from that, there's no need to blame yourself.

Quick Remedial Solution:

1. Increase 401(k) — Automatically increase the contribution by 1% each year, so it won't hurt too much, and by the end of the year, it will add up.

2. Don't miss out on company matching — If there's a matching benefit, it's free money, not taking it is just foolish. Taxes are accounted for at retirement, it's a huge gain.

3. Side Hustle to Earn Quick Money — Dog training, personal coaching, tutoring, handicrafts… turn your interests into cash, and directly invest the extra income into savings to snowball.

4. Eliminate High-Interest Debt — Use a low-interest personal loan to consolidate credit card debt, and direct all the interest savings into your retirement account.

5. Student Loan Priority — Those with student loans save an average of 6% less, and 69% have even stopped making retirement contributions. If possible, pay it off within 10 years and then redirect that money towards retirement.

6. Open an IRA Account — Choose either a Traditional IRA (pre-tax contributions, taxed later) or a Roth IRA (post-tax contributions, tax-free later), automatic transfers allow for faster growth.

7. Capture windfalls — Year-end bonuses, salary increases, tax refunds, red envelopes… whatever comes your way, save it instead of spending.

8. Check Saver's Credit — Low-income families may be able to get a refund of 10-50% of the first $2000 contributed, with a maximum tax reduction of $1000-2000.

Core Advice: Start saving well before you hit 30; if you are close to 30 and haven't saved enough, don't give up. Make fixed monthly transfers to turn saving into an automatic habit, which is better than anything else. Spend less + earn more = save money. It's that simple.