This article appears as part of Casey Weade's Weekend Reading for Retirees series. Every Friday, Casey highlights four hand-picked articles on trending retirement topics and delivers them straight to your email inbox. Get on the list here.

A major study, the 24th Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey, highlights the biggest regrets retirees have—and more importantly, how you can avoid them:

📌 Not Saving Enough: 76 percent of retirees wish they had saved more consistently. To avoid feeling the same, start saving early, but if you're behind, it’s never too late to make a change. Cut unnecessary expenses, save aggressively, and consider extra income sources.

📌 Claiming Social Security Too Early: 58 percent of retirees rely on Social Security as their main income source, yet many claim it as soon as possible, reducing lifetime benefits. Before you decide, use tools, seek guidance, and understand your ideal claiming strategy.

📌 Carrying Too Much Debt: About half of retirees still have non-mortgage debt, and nearly one in three say they are just "getting by" financially. To avoid this, make paying off debt a top priority before retirement. If you’re already retired, consider a part-time job or cutting non-essential expenses to reduce financial strain.

📌 Retiring Too Soon: 58 percent of retirees leave the workforce earlier than planned, often due to health issues or job loss. To avoid being unprepared, plan as if you’ll need to retire earlier than expected.

📌 Neglecting Health: Two-thirds of retirees wish they had taken their health more seriously when they were younger. Make health a priority now by exercising regularly, eating well, and following medical advice to maintain mobility and quality of life in retirement.

Key Takeaways: Your most fulfilling retirement doesn’t happen by accident. By learning from the regrets of others, you can take steps today to build a more secure and enjoyable future.