Start saving for retirement with first paycheck! If I had, I'd have a LOT Morin my IRA. Not sure how the retirement "tiers" work now, but I started in Tier 2, changed after 14 years to Tier 1. If I had started in Tier 1, I'd be getting around $5,000 a month, instead of $2,700. No matter what you do, "work" towards your retirement goals.