Here are some of their biggest regrets

• More than 1,000 older Americans shared their biggest regrets in life with Business Insider.

• These included not saving enough for retirement and taking Social Security benefits too early.

• Most older Americans are unable to absorb a financial shock, while millions can’t afford daily needs.

Over 1,000 Americans between the ages of 48 and 90 told Business Insider their biggest regrets in life. Those insights show how perplexing retirement and planning for it can be.

Responses to an opt-in Business Insider reader survey, along with interviews with 20 respondents, show that preparing for retirement while juggling life’s many obstacles is often a trial-and-error process. Many said they couldn’t crack the code on balancing how much to save, where to invest, when to retire, and how to be fiscally responsible when raising a family. Others said they took Social Security too early or didn’t pursue career opportunities that may have led to higher pay.

Janis Carroll, 79, said she was in the middle class for much of her life and made decent wages, but she is now struggling to live comfortably on about $25,000 in Social Security each year and $35,000 in savings.

Though she retired over a decade ago with enough to get by, she said not being more savvy with investing, moving too frequently, and draining an IRA account to buy a home she lost $50,000 on have contributed to her fears about the future. She’s considered returning to work, but she’s worried it would be too physically and mentally taxing.

“Going back to school is for a career that pays better and just matches with my morals,” Brownfield said. “My daughter sees that. She says, ‘I’m right behind you, Mom,’ and she wants to do it too.”

Are you an older American with any life regrets that you would be comfortable sharing with a reporter? Please fill out this quick form or email [email protected].

Read the original article on Business Insider