Making the decision to save for retirement is an important step to start on the path to a secure financial future. Most people can usually select from several tax-advantaged options to save for retirement, sometimes at the same time. Here's a list of ways you can save to help you make the most of your options.

1. Participate in retirement-savings plan at work. This is usually the easiest way to save for retirement. If you have an "automatic" retirement plan, the money is invested automatically in the plan, before your pay is taxed, which helps to stretch your savings. Contributing $300 per paycheck to an employer-sponsored plan like a 401(k), 403(b) or 457, the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) or other retirement-savings plan lowers your take-home pay by just $225 if you are in the 25 percent tax bracket.

If you do not have an automatic retirement plan, you may have to actively join the plan, so make sure you familiarize yourself with your options. For example, members of the military must elect to participate in the TSP. The TSP has very low fees-about 25 cents a year for every $1,000 invested-and the money grows tax-deferred until it's withdrawn in retirement.

2. Contribute to a Roth IRA if you qualify. In addition to contributing to a TSP, 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement-savings account, you can also contribute up to to a traditional or Roth IRA. If you qualify for a Roth IRA, consider whether to contribute some money to the Roth account before you max out your employer's plan because a Roth IRA has different tax benefits. In a Roth IRA, you don't get a current tax break, but you can withdraw the money tax-free in retirement. You can also withdraw your contributions penalty- and tax-free at any time.

Members of the military who are serving in a combat zone get an extra boost from a Roth IRA because the money goes into the account tax-free and comes out tax-free too. You can open an IRA with a mutual fund company, bank, credit union or brokerage firm and can invest in funds, stocks and other investments. Compare fees and investment choices when choosing an IRA administrator.

3. Save extra money for your non-working spouse. If your spouse is not working, you can still contribute to a traditional or Roth IRA on his or her behalf. You can contribute as long as you earned at least as much from a job for the year as the combined IRA contributions. The income limits to contribute to a spousal Roth IRA are the same as they are for any Roth-based on the adjusted gross income on your joint tax return.

4. Claim an extra tax credit if you can. You may get an additional tax break for contributing to an IRA, 401(k), TSP, 403(b) or other retirement-savings plan, which could help you afford to save a bit more. You can qualify for the retirement savers' tax credit, which can reduce your tax bill by up to $1,000.

The credit is worth 10 to 50 percent of the first $2,000 you contribute for the year to a retirement-savings plan, with the highest contribution limits for people with the lower income levels. See IRS Form 8880 for details.

Now that you have an idea of how to start saving for retirement, it's also important to find out how much you will need to live during retirement.