<prompt> Human: Im 31 years old. Ten years ago I graduated college with a degree in Journalism,which turned out to be completely useless in wake of the economic downturn. Ive spent the last ten years paying off my student loans and credit card while working median jobs at different locations. I havent been able to live on my own during that time either, living with parents or roommates and in one case a girlfriend. So in a way Ive never been truly independent.Today, Im still 10,000 in debt in addition to my student loan and credit cars, I also owe on a payday loan I had to take out for extra money. My savings since graduated have been next to nothing I have a tax free savings account with a balance of 5 for about seven years. I make 14 an hour the minimum wage in my province as a supervisor in a fast food restaurant where I work 25 - 30 hours a week. Theres no benefits or life insurance, and no pension plan, and I doubt that Ill get a better job anytime soon. Dont even get my started on a career.I share an apartment naturally with my mother where my half of the rent is 450 a month. I havent driven for six years, probably wont ever be able to afford a car, Ill be lucky if I can even afford my own apartment anytime soon, let alone a house.And in the midst of all of that, I havent had much time to think about retirement. Until now,obviously. So I ask, at this point, is retirement even an option for me? Or should I just hope to die young or on the job or even just kill myself before it ever comes to that? Have I lost too much time and money to rebound at this point?  <response>: Yikes man. Youre 31. Not 60. Saving 10 of your salary assuming salary growth of 2, inflation of 2.6 and a 7.5 pre-retirement return and 4 retirement return should leave you with nearly 500k by age 65. When you factor in that social security will replace a fair portion of your income at retirement and is less likely than a higher earners to be reduced due to solvency youre not looking that bad frankly. 