When it comes to your retirement planning, you shouldn’t believe everything you hear. Here are a few common myths about retirement that could land you in trouble.

Planning for retirementis about more than budgets and logistics. Finding the ideal retirement location to fit your dream lifestyle is important, too. You want a city that provides your ideal lifestyle, without breaking your retirement budget.

For many professionals, the early 30s is a time when they begin earning a better salary, raising a family and looking for a larger home. That’s also a time when it’s easy to get distracted by the day-to-day decisions and make mistakes that have a negative impact on their financial goals.

In your 30s, perhaps you purchased your first house or condo. When children came along, you found a larger place to live. As the years progressed, you managed to keep up with your family’s rising expenses.

But now, your son or daughter is ready to start college, and you’re not sure how you’ll come up with the money to pay for it. In situations like this, planning for retirement often takes a back seat to more immediate needs, with consequences down the road.

Whether it’s saving for college or planning for retirement, too many people make the mistake of taking an all-or-nothing approach or thinking they’ll just catch up later. The most important step in securing your family’s financial future is to get started today with what you have.

Here are three tips to help you start securing your family’s future: