America is known for extra-large everything, from meals to cars to homes. Why not cut back on excess? “Sell something. I find that happiness isn’t contingent on where you live or what car you drive,” Shemin urges.

If you’re making a big purchase, such as a home, consider whether you really need, for example, a house with five bedrooms, says Patrick Astre, author, speaker and financial expert. A bigger house means bigger bills and smaller retirement savings. He adds: “I can give you three guarantees: You will get older, you will die, you won’t want to work during retirement. But if you don’t save money, you will work until you die.”