Did I have you at $1 million?

Look, I actually think you shouldnt worry yourself sick about having millions saved for retirement even $1 million. How much you need to save to have a comfortable retirement depends on so much.

My grandmother Big Mama didnt have $1 million saved. She had exactly $20,000 saved. And you know how much she had when she died some 20 years after retiring?

She had $20,000.

Big mama lived off her Social Security benefit and a small pension. The key was she didnt want for much so she kept her expenses low. She paid off her home before she retired. And she hated debt so she didnt carry any into retirement.

But you may want more.

So what would it take to save $1 million or more for retirement? Heres some reading that may help you achieve that goal. How do I retire with $1 million?

Start with $10,000 and retire a millionaire

Do you need $1 million to retire? Maybe.

Now, heres the thing. Dont read these articles and get depressed. Dont get discouraged. Whatever you end up saving will help. Its better than not saving anything.Retirement rants and ravesIm interested in your experiences or concerns about retirement.

Did you retire early and if so, how did you do it?

Is retirement everything you hoped for?

Are you scared youll run out of money?

Your sharing might help others. So send your comments to colorofmoney@washpost.com. Please include your name, city and state. In the subject line put Retirement Rants and Raves.

Not a rant or a rave but John Wickizer of Arizona offered some great insight about retirement.

Hes 74 and his wife is 75. Both are retired. Its not money he wanted to talk about.

The reason I am writing is to alert those in retirement mode not to get overly caught up the lives of their adult children and grandchildren, Wickizer wrote. Will they at some point in their lives have to face financial challenges? Yes, you bet. Most of us who love our children and grandchildren want to make their lives as easy and comfortable as possible.

But take a pause. Maybe you shouldnt be giving so much,Wickizer says.

We have found the more we give to make their lives easier the more they want and/or need,he wrote. I know a lot of folks out there will say, Just cut them off. If it were only that easy! But there has to be a point of reasonableness, I have to make sure our needs are first met, then anything above our set retirement monies can be considered to aid others! I guess more than anythingits dealing with uncertain times both politically and economically, the state of our old world in balancing on a thin wire, no one knows what will bring our castles tumbling down! Just be wise in your giving! Good luck out there!

Love this advice!

Heres more reading on this topic. 6 Ways to Help an Adult Child Without Going Broke

An open letter to parents who financially support adult children

Id love to hear from retirees who are concerned that they are giving too much to helping adult children or grandchildren. Send your comments to colorofmoney@washpost.com

And if youve been in this situation and cut off the financial spigot help others. How did you do it?

Retirement blogI believe that wealth happens intentionally and this means for me reading as much as I can about all things financial, especially retirement.

In this section of the newsletter, Ill feature postings from various retirement blogs. Recommend a favorite blog post and Ill featured it in the newsletter (and give you credit for spotting it!). Send the link to colorofmoney@washpost.com

This weeks blog post by Squared Away had me at the title: Beach Reads for and about Old Folks

Who wants to spend their beach vacation reading about growing older? These recommendations just might surprise you, Kim Blanton writes.

Retirement assignmentThis week,I want you to do something. Go to ftc.gov and sign up to receive scam alerts from the Federal Trade Commission.

The latestscam alertwill help a lot of grandparents out there: Grandpa spots scammers

This story involves Lou, who knew someone was trying to scam him. But Lou, who is 87, was quick to spot the con, writes Seena Gressin, an attorney with the FTCs division of consumer and business education.

He knew it was a scam, almost as soon as he heard the young man call him grandpa. The caller said hed been arrested for drunk driving, needed money for bail, and wanted Lou to call a lawyer who would explain everything. (All while not telling, mom.)

Read this alert and the common tricks scammers use and then pass it along to someone elderly you know. (This is your assignment too. You may be quick to spot a scam, but others may not be so fortunate).

Every week from now on Im adding this new retirement assignment feature. Theres so much to know and keep watch on once you retired. Whether youre three or 30 years away from retirement you need to plan for the time you cant or dont want to work anymore. This means taking action.

So one week I might ask you to run the numbers on how much you need to save for retirement. Or I may have retirees find a scam seminar to attend.

To become or stay financial savvy, you have to work at it. I also want to hear how your home assignment went. What did you learn? Did the assignment make you change any of your plans? Did it save you money?

Send your comments to colorofmoney@washpost.com. Put Pre-retirement assignment in the subject line. Ill also be open to suggestions on what to assign folks.

Newsletter comments policyPlease note it is my personal policy to identify readers who respond to questions I ask in my newsletters. I find it encourages thoughtful and civil conversation. I want my newsletters to be a safe place to express your opinion. On sensitive matters or upon request, Im happy to include just your first name and/or last initial. But I prefer not to post anonymous comments (I do make exceptions when Im asking questions that might reveal sensitive information or cause conflict.)

Have a question about your finances? Michelle Singletary has a weekly live chat every Thursday at noon where she discusses financial dilemmas with readers. You can also write to Michelle directly by sending an email to michelle.singletary@washpost.com. Personal responses may not be possible, and comments or questions may be used in a future column, with the writers name, unless otherwise requested. To read more Color of Money columns, go here.

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What do you need to do to retire with $1 million? - Washington Post