One simple truth about retirement is that no one knows for certain how long it’s going to last. This uncertainty can keep you awake at night, but you’ll sleep soundly after finding ways to stretch your retirement income. Simply cutting back on spending isn’t the only answer, and it’s not much fun, either. So, it’s time to get smarter and look at the problem from a financial advisor’s perspective. With the right approach, you’ll be ready for anything — even a lifespan that stretches past your 100^th birthday.

When it comes to retirement goals, most folks are trying to save enough to maintain their current standard of living. However, retiree statistics researchers find a different spending pattern emerges over time than what they initially predicted. In fact, these unexpected retiree spending trends may be good news for your current investment plan.

Saving your pennies for a comfortable retirement’s a lot easier if you can do it without really noticing. That way, you don’t have to skip happy hour or cancel your yearly vacation plans to retire right on schedule. Instead, put some automatic savings techniques to work immediately, and then sit back and watch your savings grow. Check out these five extremely easy (and nearly invisible) ways to save money faster for your emergency fund or retirement.