Reports on retirement savings often paint the same picture: Americans aren’t saving enough.

A recent study released by the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis at the New School indicates that those who don’t save enough run the risk of a lower standard of living in retirement — if they can retire at all. Social Security benefits were never meant to replace income, and the report indicates that worker being offered employer-sponsored plans declined from 61% to 53% between 1999 and 2011.

Because many workers are more likely to save for retirement when they have access to an employer-sponsored plan, this doesn’t bode well for the retirement situation in America. However, even those who are saving probably aren’t saving enough. The Employment Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) recently released its report on retirement confidence, and that indicates only 34% of workers with retirement plans have more than $100,000 in savings.

If you are concerned about your ability to retire in the future, now is the time to begin boosting your retirement savings.

Alternatives to employer-sponsored plans

The study from the New School indicates that the first hurdle is trying to figure out how to save in the first place. Today, thanks to technology and the greater number of investing tools available, it’s possible for you to save for retirement without using an employer-sponsored plan. Most discount brokerages offer low-cost IRAs that provide you tax advantages without the need to invest in your employer’s plan. Additionally, there are options available for the self-employed and business owners.

Your first step is to get started, and you can do that by opening an IRA and arranging for automatic transfers so that you invest regularly.

Look for more money to set aside

Once you get started, though, you need to next figure out whether or not you can boost your contributions. The EBRI report indicates that 69% of workers could save $25 more per week than they are currently saving. That adds up to $1,300 per year. Using the retirement calculator at Calculate My Wealth, putting that money in stocks means an extra $241,876 in your nest egg after 30 years. While $25 extra a week might not seem like much, it does add up when you factor in the power of compounding interest.

If you want to boost your retirement savings, try figuring out how you can add another $25 each week to your account. If you think you can’t afford that much, start with $10 a week. The important thing is to start with something manageable, and then increase your contributions over time. You don’t have to max out your yearly contribution limit to start. Even a modest beginning can lead to better results over time. Plus, once you establish the habit, you’ll be in a better place financially.

One way to look for the extra money to invest is to cut back on some of your other spending. According to the EBRI study, 46% of workers could save the extra $25 a week by giving up eating out or take-out. Other items that respondents said they could give up to find extra money to put toward retirement including vending machines, movies, specialty shop coffee and lottery tickets.

Think about your long-term financial priorities and make it a point to cut out the items that don’t matter as much to you. I don’t care about TV very much, so I’ve cut the cable and am using a streaming service instead. That’s money that can be put toward my retirement. I’m not missing out on anything today, and that money can help build a better tomorrow. The money you save from cutting out the unimportant items can be applied to your retirement plan, boosting your nest egg in the future.

It’s also possible to boost your retirement savings by making more money. When you receive a bonus at work, put a portion of that into your retirement account. That little extra boost can go a long way if you add it to what you’re already contributing. Any time you get a raise, increase your regular retirement account contributions. If you receive a 5% raise, boost your retirement account contributions by the same amount (or even more) rather than letting it all go toward lifestyle inflation.

When you get extra money for birthdays or holidays, or if you start a side gig, put some of that money into your retirement account.

Saving for retirement doesn’t have to be difficult. Sit down and figure out how much you can set aside each week for retirement, and then start looking for ways to set aside even more. You can build up your contributions over time as you free up more of your resources, and soon you’ll be on track for a comfortable retirement that doesn’t overly strain your finances today.

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