I take a look at the headlines on Investment News daily and noticed one a few weeks ago that caught my eye about young workers and employee matches.

The story was based on data released from the Employee Benefit Research Institute last year that said 71 percent of full-time workers ages 21 to 24 were not enrolled in their workplace retirement plans.

Not that every employer offers a match. But if yours does, the “.50 cent for every dollar you put in” match which is most common, is more lucrative than you’d think. Invest $100 and that’s $50 for free. Over and over and over again. Not bad. Those matches are getting more generous too: One in five companies plan to increase matching dollars, according to Hewitt Associates.

The Investment News story quotes Brian Jones, a 30-something adviser and author I’ve spoken with in the past who works with young workers. He suggests that workers getting started should ask their parents to help them save for retirement if living expenses make it nearly impossible for them to do it on their own.

I think it’s a great idea in theory– especially since starting early is one way to amass lots of money without major sacrifice. But I don’t know if that’s realistic considering many parents are unprepared for retirement and need to save that money to fund their looming golden years.

I think the right way to save for retirement is skip a few iTunes downloads and head to happy hours at the cheap bars, not beg mom and dad to fluff up your nest egg. They already hatched you and fed you worms for 20+ years (forgive me for taking that too far, but it’s Friday).

The idea that being in debt impacts one’s ability to save for the future is certainly no surprise. But a Securian study that addresses America’s debt, attitudes about debt, and how they feel owing money has affected retirement plans is pretty interesting.Take a look here.

They found that 7 of 10 retirees currently have debt. The survey does not count mortgages as debt, which I find to be peculiar and also frightening. Whatever happened to the idea of retiring the mortgage when you retire from your job?

Debt is also the main priority for the majority of those surveyed. Not retirement savings.

It also found that most consumers are philosophically against debt. Sixty-eight percent believe that financial irresponsibility is to blame for debt. Yet 82 percent of those surveyed said they have some form of debt.

I have debt– a student loan. And I’m sure many of you out there have car loans (which we may take on soon) and credit card debt.

Do you consider debt a normal part of life? Is it shameful? Do we rely too much on debt? Should mortgage debt be retired when you do?

Share your thoughts about debt in this country. Are we in too deep? Are you?

We have a week for everything in this country, don’t we? America Saves Week aims to: “increase awareness that people need to save money, reduce debt and build wealth,” according to the America Saves Week web site.

Can’t say I know of anyone blissfully unaware of those issues, especially these days.

Anyway, in addition to savings calculators, the site also has a list of savings tips. Submit your own and you could win a $50 EE Savings Bond. It’s not much, but have you heard that every little bit adds up?

The sponsors held a conference call yesterday during which an earnest group of government and nonprofit leaders involved in the campaign talked about the importance of saving.

Now don’t get me wrong (here’s my disclaimer before my mini-rant), I’m a huge believer in the need for people to start saving already and am glad that the issue is getting a lot of attention. But I’m frustrated. Study after study comes out beating the retirement shortfall drum. Yet the stats and the solutions fail to sink in.

Some of it, of course, comes down to money. Not everyone makes enough to afford to live well, let alone save. But some of it is systemic and societal. When a reporter on the conference call asked the officials what they thought of the stimulus package and the message it sends from an indebted nation to indebted citizens, my ears perked up (yes, I admit I was looking at the best dressed Oscar pics).

Boy, did this group dodge that question like an actress trying to avoid Joan Rivers on the red carpet. Most were silent. A couple trotted out the typical, start saving early, teach kids about money lines. Another brushed off stimulus as an issue economists are best left to worry about.

I’m no economist, but I am worried– that these oh-so-trendy, dime-a-dozen financial literacy and savings efforts are failing to inspire those that need it most. And we’ll all pay in the long run.

Anyone have any bright ideas?

Here’s a little story about inertia and luck.

My husband set up a Roth IRA a couple of years ago and has $333 automatically transferred into it monthly so it comes close to the $4,000 max. The max changed to $5,000 this year so he should kick it up to $416.

Not sure what the chance of that happening is since I’ve learned from experience that nagging him about making a change to the Roth IRA is fruitless. Or so I thought.

His money is sent to a money market account. He tried to switch it so that it buys a stock mutual fund straight away, but for some reason the online change hasn’t worked.

When the Dow was flirting with 15,000 last year, I chided him for missing the great run-up.

I changed my tune when I opened his account statement yesterday and saw $4,000 in cash. His failure to act saved his portfolio from a correction.

What now? It’s tough to know if we’re heading up or down with the market these days. He could decide to put some in now, hedging his bets in case we haven’t seen a bottom. Or he could put it all in and risk missing out on a better price if stocks drop again.

My guess is that going in twice is unlikely given past experience. And that going in today or Monday based on market moves is unlikely as well.

Either way, with a small sum with decades to grow, the day its finally invested into the stock market won’t matter much in the end. And in these uncertain times, holding onto a little bit of cash a little longer doesn’t seem like a bad idea.

Are you kidding me?

Check out this story from TheStreet.com about a debit card to make borrowing against your 401(k) as easy as “enter your pin please.” Or for you TCF Bank customers “please enter your secret number.”
No equity in your house to swipe the home equity line of credit card anymore?

Why not take money out of your 401(k) during a period when the market is in decline? It’s insane to give people such access to their RETIREMENT money, don’t you think?

The IRS lets you borrow 50 percent of your vested account balance up to $50,000, although some employers may not allow it. Sometimes it’s a person’s only option to get out of a financial bind. But there are already ways to access that money for such one time needs.

I think it was a recent Employee Benefit Research Institute report that found fewer people are borrowing against their nest egg. That’s a good thing. Why make it so easy to sabotage one’s future?