Jetting off somewhere warm every winter may be the retirement dream of many Canadians, but the reality appears to be quite different.

An Ipsos Reid poll conducted in 2013 found that while more than a quarter (27 per cent) of Canadians who have not yet retired say they plan to be snowbirds in their retirement years, just 16 per cent of retired Canadians actually regularly get away in the winter.

While a number of different factors (health issues, financial concerns, changing interests) may play into this discrepancy, the fact remains that if you want your retirement years to resemble your retirement dreams, it’s best to begin planning early.

Develop a budget, contribute early and often to an RSP or tax-free savings account (TFSA), avoid unnecessary or careless spending and talk to your partner or spouse about where you’d like to be — financially and geographically — in your golden years.