Can I pay off my credit cards and other debts before retirement?

• Pay off credit card and consumer debt before you retire.
• If possible, pay off your entire mortgage by retirement.
• Spend less than you earn.  Do not take on new debt prior to or during retirement without a realistic plan to pay it off.
• Consider the 10 years before retirement as your “debt-reduction decade.”
  
  
  • Track your spending, and pay your bills on time.
  • If you think you may fall behind, talk with creditors early and often, not after you are late on your payments.
• Build an emergency fund of at least three months of living expenses to avoid relying on credit for unplanned costs.

More about debt:

• Types of Debt
• Managing Debt
• Handling a Credit Crisis