Most financial advisers agree: The simplest way to ensure you retire comfortably is to start saving early and let the power of compound interest work for you over time.

But what happens if you’re getting a late start on retirement, or financial troubles in middle age ate into your nest egg and now you’re playing catch-up?

The hard reality is that the vast majority of Americans get a late start on retirement planning. Consider a 2011 study from the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis at The New School, which found a staggering 68% of Americans age 25-64 weren’t even participating in an employer-sponsored retirement plan like a 401(k).

More recently, a 2014 survey from finance website Bankrate.com found more than one-third of Americans don’t have a penny saved for retirement, including more than a quarter of those age 50 to 64.

It’s also important to point out that many Americans grossly underestimate how much they will need to retire. A 2014 survey from Fidelity estimated an average of $220,000 in health-care expenses alone. So even if you think you are prepared for retirement, you may not be quite as secure.

“ Saving $12,000 annually for 12 years will give you a total of $144,000. But if you invest that money at a 7% annual rate of return in the stock market, you’ll actually finish with about $230,000 in 12 years. ”

But rather than moralize about the state of financial planning in the U.S., I’d prefer to focus on ways to correct this problem and achieve some measure of retirement security in short order.

Here are seven ways to do so:

Kill your consumer debt: Carrying a credit card balance is always costly, but particularly so to older Americans who are trading retirement savings for interest payments on their debts. It’s also wise to pay off car loans if you can, since that is one less monthly outlay to make in retirement after your vehicle is paid for.

Max out retirement accounts: The limit for an employee-sponsored 401(k) is $18,000 in 2015, but employees age 50 and older get a ceiling of $24,000. Similarly, IRAs offer a cap of $6,500 if you’re older than 50 vs. just $5,500 for younger Americans. Given the tax benefits of investing via these plans and the fact that you’re behind, take full advantage of those higher limits if you can.

Stick with stocks: If you’re sitting on a cool $1 million, it’s probably wise to lean toward lower-risk, lower-reward assets like CDs as you age. However, if you’re behind on retirement savings, you can’t afford to settle for low growth rates if you want to catch up. Specifically, saving $12,000 annually for 12 years will give you a total of $144,000. But if you invest that money at a 7% annual rate of return in the stock market, you’ll actually finish with about $230,000 in 12 years. There is added risk in the stock market, to be sure, but the risk of not retiring with enough money is pretty large, too. A properly diversified portfolio and a good long-term plan can help you grow your nest egg faster.

Look at your living space: If you really want to save some cash, consider moving into a smaller place if your kids are out of the home and you don’t need those extra two or three bedrooms anymore. Even if you don’t have much equity in your home, the smaller mortgage payment will allow more of your monthly budget to be diverted to your retirement plan. Even if you rent instead of own, moving to a smaller apartment can unlock big savings; a one-bedroom apartment can cost 20% to 30% less in most metro areas.

Cut other spending in chunks: Housing is one of your biggest expenses, but other major outlays should be reassessed for any savings opportunity. Shopping around for a new car insurance policy or cheaper cell phone plan, for instance, could save you a few hundred bucks annually. Taking big chunks like this out of your family budget is often much easier — and less painful — than buying store-brand breakfast cereal or vowing to never eat at a restaurant ever again.

Work more: Cutting expenses is one way to generate more cash for retirement savings, but increasing your overall income is also an option. If you’re eligible for overtime or can take on extra work through a second job, just a few extra hours of work each week could add up to real money in your retirement account. And if doubling down now isn’t appealing to you, consider working part time in your so-called “retirement,” or perhaps even delaying your retirement date altogether. You certainly wouldn’t be alone: A 2014 survey from Merrill Lynch found that 72% of those age 50 and older want to work during their retirement years either for the fulfillment of having a job, or simply for the paycheck.

Adjust your expectations: If you’ve been dreaming of quitting work at 62, but find yourself with only a few thousand dollars in your bank account and no practical way to enact any of these recommendations, it may be time to wake up and face reality. In the absence of a practical way to reach your target retirement date, the only reasonable solution is to move your retirement age back or to at least dial down how much you plan to travel or allocate toward discretionary expenses.