New data from the US Census shows that old folks are becoming ever more likely to need to move into your spare bedroom: "The median level of debt among households led by someone 65 and older..rose nearly 120% between 2000 and 2011 from roughly $12,000 to $26,000, due largely to rising mortgage debt."

So the median debt of retirement-aged people is $26,000, and the majority of workers have less than $25,000 in total household savings.

Fortunately, the average American cannot do math.

[WSJ. Photo: Franco Folini/ Flickr]