Since this thread is all doom and gloom so far, I'm going to play Devil's advocate: 10-15 years is plenty of time to grow a healthy nest egg for retirement.
What I think is necessary:
1. Track all outflows of money religiously for 3 months. Use YNAB, excel, or pencil & paper . . . . but count every penny that goes out for anything.
2. Optimize: look for opportunities to eliminate expenses. Eat out only once a month as a special treat (and make that cheap), no cable, find the cheapest phone plan, reduce insurance expenses, reduce commute length, etc.
(3. Obviously, eliminate any debt as fast as possible.)
4. MAX out any employer sponsored retirement options available. This is no brainer. Max the "catch up" contributions. That is why they exist!
5. Open up a Roth IRA and max that as well.
6. Large assets should be sold and the money invested (ie, get rid of any expensive car or expensive house if it involves a loan . . . or maybe even if it doesn't involve a loan.)
7. For the next decade, continue tracking expenses and optimizing with the goal of living on as little money as possible right now. Utilize money saving strategies like finding a roommate, if possible. For inspiration, look at Jacob's website:
http://earlyretirementextreme.com/8. Delay taking social security for as long as possible . . . the amount of the check goes up each year after 62. When friends start drawing it, resist the temptation.
9. Plan to keep working as long as health allows it.
10. Retire quite comfortably at 70.
Back to reality, for whatever reason most people can't even get through steps 1 & 2. If he can't do those basic things, then it will seem impossible to do steps 4 & 5. It is the burn rate in steps 1 & 2 that prevent most people from saving enough for retirement . . .