A headline for a retirement annuities flyer declares "Future Secured!" Was your reaction like mine? Yea, sure!

Is our financial future ever that secure? Maybe for a few. But for the majority of us this is not true. Stock market changes, health costs and inflation fears all contribute to a sense of insecurity

You may have a good retirement pension and 401k plans but is it enough? How much control over our financial security do we have?

There are some things we all can do to feel more secure. Reducing debt is a good place to start.

Paying down credit card balances, car loans and home mortgages are good goals to work toward.

And saving or building a nest egg is helpful too. In fact, if you're paying down your home mortgage, you may also be building equity in your property which is a form of savings.

Another way to save is to reduce your cost of living. Nearing retirement means you are no longer tied to a certain location.

If you can find a town you like that has lower cost of living including home prices, you could moving there. Maybe invest in a place as a rental or vacation home until you're ready to move into the property

There are many places out there that may be your perfect retirement get-away. Do a little research on the internet. Find those hidden treasures. It's worth the effect.

Dot McLeod is webmaster for http://www.best-towns-to-retire.com with many resources on retirement planning.