Retirement habit: pays off to carry stick (7)
I believe the answer is:
pyjamas
'retirement habit' is the definition.
(clothing or habit worn when retiring to bed)
'pays off to carry stick' is the wordplay.
'off' is an anagram indicator.
'to carry' indicates putting letters inside.
'stick' becomes 'jam' (I've seen this in other clues).
'pays' with letters rearranged gives 'pyas'.
'pyas' enclosing 'jam' is 'PYJAMAS'.
(Other definitions for pyjamas that I've seen before include "Sleeping-suit" , "Jam a spy into these at night" , "Night attire" , "Pays jam poorly to wear them" , "Night clothes" .)