retirement income

Planning for Retirement in Your 50s

Woman-car-retirement planning in your 50s

We have heard so many times that the sooner you start saving for retirement the better off you will be in your old age. But when you are in your 20s and 30s you are not in a rush to save for retirement. It is easy to fall into a trap thinking you have plenty of time to do that later. Suddenly, you are in your 50s and have not saved enough for your golden years.

Life has presented you with some challenges. You were busy with kids, saving for their education, straightening out debts, and trying to pay off a home mortgage. In the end, there was never that much money left. But do not despair, because it is not too late. If you are in your 50’s and fell behind on your retirement goals, there are things you can do to boost your retirement savings.

Use these smart steps to find out how to catch up on planning for retirement in your 50s.

1. Retirement projection

Start with figuring out how much money you will need to retire. First, find out how much income you will need to cover your retirement expenses.

Financial experts suggest that you need about 80 percent of your pre-retirement income to maintain the same standard of living in retirement.

Suppose my current annual income is $70,000. Multiply that number by 80 percent ($70,000 X 0.8 = $56,000). So, I will need around $56,000 in retirement to live the way I do today. And if I have expensive hobbies like traveling, I will need a higher number.

Next, figure out how much income you will receive from Social Security. You can contact the Social Security Administration to find out how much will be your benefits at age 62, full retirement age, and at 70. For today, I use the estimated average Social Security retirement benefit in 2021 which is $1,543 a month or $18,516 a year.

Then, subtract your Social Security income from your projected retirement income and you will see how much you need to provide from your savings. $56,000 – $18,516 = $37,484 a year.

So, in our simple case, I will need $37,484 in annual income to cover the income gap. The money to cover that gap should come from 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, and other retirement savings.

5 Easy Steps to Calculate Retirement Income Gap

Also, you can use an online retirement calculator for retirement projection. Take a few minutes to enter your personal information, see the numbers, and where you stand today.

AARP Online Retirement Calculator

But I think the best way to find out how much money you need to retire is to create a retirement budget based on your current and future expenses. You might have a general idea of what you spend now. But you will be better prepared if you have a clear picture of your expenses today and how that might change in the future.

If you do not know how to create a retirement budget or organize your finances for retirement, I recommend reading my posts:

2. Minimize your debt.

When you are in your 50s make it a goal to pay off your credit card debt, student loans, car loans, and any personal loans before your retirement date. Do everything you can to retire debt-free and even pay off your mortgage if possible.

When you stop working and start living on a fixed income you will need to stretch those retirement dollars as far as you can. How can you enjoy your retirement if you must spend a portion of your retirement income to make a mortgage or debt payments each month?

Credit cards

If you are carrying a high-rate credit card debt you are putting a lot of pressure on your finances. Those high-interest payments can eat away your ability to save. I recommend working on a debt payoff plan if you have more than one credit card.

There are two most popular debt payment strategies – the snowball method and the avalanche method.

The snowball strategy works by paying off the credit card with the smallest balance and then working your way up until all credit card debt is settled.

The avalanche strategy allows you to pay off your highest interest rate debt first and then work it down. I recommend focusing on your highest-interest debt first because the longer it takes you to pay it off, the more money you will pay towards interest.

And if you can help it, do not add any more debt to the pile while paying off old debt.

How to Pay off Debt Before Retirement

Mortgage

If you still making mortgage payments now it is time to figure out how to pay it off in full before you retire. You do not want to carry that financial burden while living on a fixed income. Look at your mortgage balance and try to figure out how much extra you can put toward your mortgage each month. Those extra payments can reduce your principal balance significantly.

Also, instead of sticking with the traditional monthly payments, you can start making bi-weekly mortgage payments. The whole idea of paying off your home loan earlier will help you eliminate debt faster and start saving more for retirement. In addition to that look into refinancing your mortgage to get a lower rate and to reduce your monthly payments.

When you plan for retirement in your 50s, getting out of debt should be your first priority. At this age, you have to make the most of your working years and build or increase your nest egg within the next 10 to 15 years.

3. Maximize your retirement savings.

Being in your 50s is an ideal time to look at your retirement plans and financial goals. You are close enough to retirement to have a realistic idea of how you want to spend your golden years. Yet you are far away to tweak your financial goals.

charts-laptop-plan for retirement in your 50s

The closer you are to retirement, the less time you have for compound interest to kick in and start working its magic. That is why the ultimate goal in your 50s is to stash as much money as possible in your retirement savings.

Whenever possible, increase your retirement contributions up to the maximum allowed in retirement plans such as 401(k), IRA, and Roth IRA. The best advice is to start spending less so you can put more money into your retirement savings.

The 2021 contribution limits are:

$19,500 for 401(k) retirement plans. And if you are age 50 or older, the catch-up contribution is an additional $6,500. So, you can save a total of $26,000.
$6,000 combined contribution for traditional IRA and Roth IRA. And the catch-up contribution for people age 50 or older is $1,000. So, you can save up to $7,000 with your pre-tax money (IRA) and after-tax money (Roth IRA).

When you are getting closer to retirement, maximizing your traditional 401(k) and IRA accounts is important but not always enough. While you are still working you can make it a priority to save even more money in your Roth IRA account, emergency fund, and may be taxable investment funds if possible.

A Guide to Understanding a 401(k) Plan

Another way to increase your retirement savings is to work longer. The goal is to make the most of your working years. You need to maximize the time you have left. Earning an income for a few more years could improve your financial security in retirement.

4. Spend less and save more for retirement.

I am sure you may not like to hear this, but the fastest way to save more money for retirement is to cut your expenses. If you start practicing how to curb your spending and live on less money today, it will make your life easier in retirement.

Many people in their 50s enjoy the peak of their salaries. The kids are gone, parents become an empty nesters and start spending more on luxuries. It is easy to get used to a luxurious lifestyle. However, it will be tricky to save money and even to retire if you let your spending get out of control. After all, the less you spend the more you save.

15 Ways to Live on Less in Retirement

5. Think about where to live in retirement.

When you are only 10 to 15 years from retirement, you need to think about where you will live because it will affect your living expenses.

houses on lake and mountains -where to live in retirement

Housing is expensive. We all know that it takes a big chunk of our income to pay for property taxes, homeowner insurance, utilities, maintenance, and mortgage. Even with no mortgage payments, housing will be your biggest expense in retirement and it may eat up a big chunk of your retirement income.

I am sure you live in a lovely home. And I know that you love your home and have a lot of great memories of raising your family there. But if it is in a high cost of living neighborhood and expensive to maintain, you need to downsize and move to a place where you can afford it. Otherwise, you will run out of money fast.

There are a couple of housing options to consider before you retire:

Sell your big house in an expensive location and move to a smaller house or condo in a low-tax state. In this case, your living expenses will be reduced, and you might have some extra income to pay for things you love to do in retirement.
Stay in your town but move to a smaller home or condo. Having a smaller place to maintain will cost you less money.
Sell your house and rent an apartment in a big city. But if you want to live closer to the museums, art galleries, concerts, and festivals you should be financially prepared to spend more money because retiring in a booming metropolis can be pricey.

If you want to learn more about housing options, relocating, and downsizing I recommend reading my posts:

6. Protect yourself and those you love.

Planning for retirement in your 50s when retirement is on the horizon, make sure you have insurance plans in place to protect yourself and your family. Have you thought about how to protect yourself as you age and how to help your family care for you if you need it? When the time comes that you need assistance who will manage your finances, your medical care, and your regular day-to-day life?

young and old women in a park-healthcare in retirement

I understand that these are difficult topics to discuss. But it is a part of reality to grow old. And if you love your family you will plan for it. So your loved ones will not struggle and may have to scramble to care for you.

I write often in my articles about the cost of medical expenses in retirement. I want to remind my readers that healthcare is the second biggest expense in retirement after housing and you need to plan for it. Medicare is not free. It does not cover all your medical expenses and does not pay for long-term care.

Long-term care insurance is the most recommended way of planning for future expenses. It will cover nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and in-home care. It will help you not to be a financial burden on your family if that time comes. And you do not want to leave your husband or wife with nothing because the entire nest egg was used up taking care of you.

Putting It All Together

You are in your 50s and feeling the urgency of doing everything you can to have financial security in retirement. If you are behind on your savings and might be feeling the pressure, I want to remind you that it is never too late to start planning and saving for retirement.

The longer you put off dealing with your financial situation, the farther away you will be from your retirement dreams. So, do not delay planning for your next phase of life and take the first step today!

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Everything to Know Before You Retire

by Maggie 2 Comments

Woman at computer - things to know before you retire

Retirement is a life-changing event. And like many things in life, preparing for retirement requires a lot of planning. You do not want to be one of those people who want to retire, but when that day finally arrives, they just let it happen. You want to be smart and invest time in planning and preparing for a big day.

Getting closer to retirement can be both exciting and stressful. You need to know if you are financially ready. And you need to understand how you will spend your days when you stop working.

Retiring without a plan can be disadvantageous. The better you are prepared and see what you are retiring to, the more successful you will be at this transition. Sometimes a step-by-step guide or “to do” list can help. I have created this post with all the things you need to know before you retire.

1. Know your financial situation and retirement needs.

The first step is to evaluate your finances. I read that new retirees have some financial anxiety related to the fact that they no longer earning a regular paycheck. The Baby Boomer generation is redefining what senior living and ‘retirement’ means.

The Boomers want more out of their retirement lifestyle – more activities, more wellness, and sometimes more of everything. But all these luxuries cost money. Not to mention ordinary bills for food, transportation, utilities, medical insurance, and taxes that must be paid every month.

Calculate what you need financially to support your retirement lifestyle.

You should have enough saved to live on 80 percent of your annual pre-retirement income. This number is a good rule of thumb if you do not plan on making any major budget changes.

When you retire you do not need a lot of things that you did when you were working. The costs of commute, take-out lunches, and business clothes will go down. But you will start spending more money on travel, hobbies, and activities. And your medical expenses will increase with time.

You might have a general idea of what you spend now. But you will be better prepared if you get a clear picture of your current cost of living and how that might change in the future.

The best advice is to create an estimated retirement budget based on your current and future expenses.

Related Posts:

Get a clear picture of your retirement income.

money bills & calculator - know your financial situation

When you are working, you probably have a single employer and a single source of income – your salary. In retirement, everyone has different sources of income. As a retiree, you receive income from multiple sources: Social Security, pension, part-time job, or rentals.

Another source of income will come from your nest egg – investments and retirement savings:

Tax-deferred accounts – 401(k), IRA
Tax-free – Roth IRA, Roth 401(k)
Taxable investment accounts
Taxable bank checking and savings accounts

You need your nest egg to last through the next 20 or 30 years. Therefore, it is recommended to withdraw a safe 4 percent from your retirement portfolio.

For example, if you have $500,000 in your retirement funds, you can spend roughly $20,000 ($500,000 x 0.04) per year when you retire. Add this number to your Social Security, and calculate if it is enough to cover all your retirement expenses.

According to the stats, the average Social Security benefit in 2020 was about $ 1,514 a month, or about $18,170 a year.

To calculate the retirement income based on the numbers above:

$20,000 + $18,170 = $38,170 a year or $3,180 a month.

Related Posts:

Know your withdrawal strategy.

Do you know how much income you can pull from your nest egg? A good starting point for many retirees will be a well-known rule of thumb – the “4% rule”.

The 4 percent rule refers to your withdrawal rate. If you have a well-balanced retirement portfolio (60 percent stocks and 40 percent bonds), you can withdraw 4 percent of your account balance.

For example, if you have $500,000 saved in retirement funds you can withdraw 4 percent of that amount – $20,000 in the first year of your retirement. Then, you should adjust that number every year for inflation. But following this rule should help you not to run out of money for at least 30 years.

Related Post:

Think about your tax strategies.

We still need to pay taxes in retirement, but not all sources of income are taxed the same. Withdrawals from tax-deferred accounts such as 401(k) plan and traditional IRA will be taxed as an ordinary income.

Withdrawals from Roth IRA and Roth 401(k) plan will be tax-free. If you want to withdraw money from taxable investment accounts, you will have to pay capital gains taxes.

In addition to taxes, you need to remember about required minimum distributions (RMD). You will face this requirement when you reach the age of 72.

By the US tax law, you are required to start taking withdrawals from your retirement accounts such as 401(k) and IRA. The amount you must withdraw will be determined by the IRS. If you have more than one retirement account, you need to withdraw money from each account.

You need to remember that RMD withdrawals might push you into a higher tax bracket and you need to plan how to pay for additional taxes.

Know your medical expenses and long-term care coverage.

You will become eligible for Medicare at the age of 65. If you plan to retire before age 65 you will need to find a separate plan to cover your medical expenses.

Many baby boomers who are close to retirement still believe in free Medicare. I assume people do not do enough research to understand that Medicare does not cover all your medical expenses.

Medicare does not cover premiums, deductibles, co-pays for doctor visits, dental and vision care, long-term care, personal care, and other expenses. It is important to remember that healthcare is the second biggest expense in retirement after housing and you need to plan for it.

We all know that the healthcare cost is rising. According to recent data from Fidelity, the average out of pocket healthcare cost for a 65-year-old couple will be close to $285,000 instead of $265,000 as it was a few years ago. And that number does not even include long-term care costs.

2. Expect to go through the emotional stages in retirement.

woman - rocky beach - things to know before you retire

Most people go through an emotional process when adjusting to retirement. In the beginning, there is a feeling of freedom and being like on a vacation that is going to last forever. Then, after a few years of fun and enthusiasm, you might start feeling bored.

You will learn that retirement is not a constant vacation. Eventually, you will realize that you have to fill up your days with something more meaningful than just traveling or playing golf.

It is good to be mentally ready for your new phase of life. You do not want to realize that most days you have nothing special to look forward to when you wake up in the morning. Or you do not have any reason to leave your house during the day. Or deep inside you wish you were not retired.

Like many other life transitions, retirement comes with emotional and mental adjustments. If you learn more about the emotional stages of retirement you will know what to expect. That knowledge will help you to better navigate the transition to retirement.

3. Structure your days in retirement.

Before retirement, your life has a predictable routine. The alarm goes off, you take shower, have breakfast, pack your lunch, and head out the door. Your job gives you focus and discipline and forces you to get up every morning. Work takes priority and everything else in life is scheduled around it.

But when you retire, there is nothing but time. Thus, you need to replace the established routine with something new. Waking up and trying to figure out what to do each day can be depressing.

You need to create a new routine that helps you plan your days otherwise you have no reason to get up every morning. It could be a hobby, a sport, a new skill, a part-time job, or volunteer work. Do not go to retirement without having a plan about what you are going to do to stay busy.

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4. Stay socially active and grow your friendship.

After many years of meeting people at work and seeing them every day, it might not be possible to keep up with them when you retire. You might feel isolated from your friends. You might start drifting through the days without much to do if you do not get socially connected with other people.

You can stay connected with your old friends by planning social events. If you are friends with other couples, invite them over for dinner or board games once a month. For many people, their social life relates to their work. However, you can do many things to improve your social life in retirement.

Take advantage of your free time in life to make new friends. It is not hard to find a volunteer job, join a group in the local community, or start taking a class at a senior center. Another thing you can do is to start a new club or join the club. It could be a reading club, a walking club, or a gardening club.

Staying socially active will restructure your daily routine. It will help you to feel that you are doing something meaningful beyond watching Netflix, doing crosswords puzzles, or reorganizing the house.

Putting It All Together

I am sure you have thought a lot about how you will enjoy your life in retirement. But there is a good chance you never thought much about how to transition from the workplace to retirement.

The key to a happy and comfortable retirement is in planning and preparing for it. It includes not just financial planning but envisioning your life in retirement. The more time you spend to know your retirement lifestyle goals, hobbies, and activities, the more successful you will be at this transition.

And If you do it right it might be the best time of your life!

Are you ready to retire? Do you have a clear picture of your retirement? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Financial New Years Resolutions for Baby Boomers

by Maggie Leave a Comment

a piece of paper _new year resolutions for baby boomers

Happy 2021! In the spirit of the New Year, I have put together a list of financial New Year’s resolutions for baby boomers.

These financial goals are especially important for people who are planning to retire within the next 10 years. I personally think that the beginning of the year is a great time to start something new and work towards a goal.

Here is the list of financial New Year’s resolutions for baby boomers:

1. Determine how much of the nest egg you will need.

When you are near retirement, it is important to know how much of the nest egg you will need to live comfortably for the rest of your life. How do you figure it out? You have options.

The typical advice is you should aim to replace 70 to 80 percent of your annual pre-retirement income. For example, if you earn $70,000 per year before retirement, you should expect to live off $49,000 to $56,000 per year.

Also, you can use an online retirement calculator. Take a few minutes to enter initial information and then see the numbers, and where you stand today.

Vanguard – Retirement Nest Egg Calculator

Or you can use your current expenses and determine how it will change when you retire.

The best advice is to create an estimated retirement budget based on your current and future expenses. You might have a general idea of what you spend now. But you will be better prepared financially for retirement if you have a clear picture of your expenses now and how that might change in the future.

Related Articles:

2. Get a clear picture of your retirement income.

When you are working, you probably have a single employer and a single source of income – your salary. In retirement, everyone has different sources of income.

As a retiree, you receive income from multiple sources: Social Security, pension, part-time job, or rentals (if you have any).

Another source of income will come from your nest egg – investments and retirement savings:

Tax-deferred accounts – 401(k), IRA
Tax-free – Roth IRA, Roth 401(k)
Taxable investment accounts
Taxable bank checking and savings accounts

Getting a clear picture of your retirement income will help to make sure you have enough money to cover all your living expenses.

To make your assets last through the next 20 or 30 years, use the rule of thumb to withdraw 4 percent of your portfolio annually.

For example, if you have $500,000 in retirement funds, you can spend roughly $20,000 ($500,000 x 0.04) per year when you retire. Add this number to your Social Security, pension, and other savings, and calculate if it is enough to support the retirement of your dreams.

Related Articles:

3. Set a target retirement date.

woman and man walking on the beach - financial new year goals for baby boomers

Another important financial goal for baby boomers who are near retirement is to set a target retirement date. We all need to plan for the day when we are ready to retire or can no longer work.

Based on your target retirement date, retirement income, and what you want to spend in retirement, you can determine if you have enough money saved for your golden years. If it is not enough for a comfortable retirement, move the date, and save more into your retirement funds.

Related Article:

7 Financial Mistakes to Avoid in Retirement

4. Update your budget.

What is your budget? How much you want to save and how much to spend in 2021?

Sticking to your budget can help to know where your money is going. If you want to save more money for your upcoming retirement, begin eliminating some expenses that may not be important to you anymore.

When you retire, you do not need a lot of things that you did when you were working. The costs of commute, take-out lunches, and business clothes will go down. But you will start spending more money on travel, hobbies, and activities.

Balancing income with your spending plan will help you to save more money for retirement.

Related Articles:

5. Maximize your retirement savings.

Whenever possible, increase your retirement contributions up to the maximum allowed in retirement plans such as 401(k), IRA, and Roth IRA.

When you are a few years away from retirement, being short on retirement savings can be problematic. The best option is to start reducing expenses in your budget, so you can put more money into your retirement savings.

The 2021 contribution limits are:

$19,500 for 401(k) retirement plans. And if you are age 50 or older, the catch-up contribution is an additional $6,500. So, you can save a total of $26,000.
$6,000 combined contribution for traditional IRA and Roth IRA. And the catch-up contribution for people age 50 or older is $1,000. So, you can save up to $7,000 with your pre-tax money (IRA) and after-tax money (Roth IRA).

Related Article:

Why Do You Need to Max Out Your 401(k)?

6. Get out of debt before retirement.

Paying off debt, no matter how much you owe, is a key to a stress-free retirement. Getting into retirement with any kind of debt will put a burden on your lifestyle.

The best advice for baby boomers is to pay off all your debts before you retire including a mortgage.

When you are working, you have years of earned income to pay a mortgage, credit cards, student, or any other kind of loan. But once you retire, you will be living on a fixed income.

And when you start living on a fixed income, it is hard to pay off debt if you need to pull big chunks of money from your savings. Although, big withdrawals from retirement funds could push you into a higher tax bracket.

Being debt-free gives you more freedom and money left in your pocket to enjoy your golden years than struggling to pay the mortgage or other debts.

To pay off all debt including a mortgage might not be realistic for everyone. However, the less debt you have, the better you are prepared financially for retirement.

Related Article:

How to Pay Off Debt Before You Retire

7. Rebalance your portfolio.

list of 2021 goals - financial goals for baby boomers

The 2020 year has been a volatile year for financial markets. It can be tempting to stay away from stocks to reduce the risk of losing money in your retirement funds.

But stocks provide growth, and investing for growth is important at this stage of your life. If you retire at 65 and spend 20 years in retirement, you need to have enough growth to make your money last that long.

Take the opportunity to review your asset allocation and make sure your portfolio is diversified and invested for growth. You should have a mix of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and other assets that fits your retirement goals.

You need to remember that a well-balanced portfolio will help you to weather market downturns. Also, it will potentially generate a retirement income to cover your living expenses.

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8. Think about the future medical cost.

Health care is expensive. Unfortunately, many baby boomers forget to include it in their financial plan. Medicare will cover most of your routine health-care costs if you retire at age 65 or older. Unfortunately, it does not pay for all medical bills, and it does not pay for long-term care at all.

Underestimating health care expenses or how to pay for long-term care can be a big financial mistake. Think about your future medical cost and find ways to protect your retirement savings.

Consider buying long-term care insurance which can help to pay for home health aides in your late years. If you buy long-term care insurance now, your premiums will be lower than if you wait several years.

It is recommended by many financial gurus to open a health savings account (HSA).

The money you can contribute to HSA is tax-deductible or pre-tax. And any increase in the value of your account is free from federal taxes. But it has to be used for qualified medical expenses otherwise you will be paying income tax and penalties on your contributions.

The 2021 HSA contribution limits are:

$3,600 for individual coverage
$7,200 for family coverage

You can put money into HSA every year until you enroll in Medicare benefits. After that, you are no longer allowed to contribute. However, money that you do not spend will be accumulating in this tax-free account until you need it in retirement.

Related Article:

5 Ways HSAs can Fortify Your Retirement

9. Plan where you will live.

Where you will live in retirement could have a big impact on your living expenses. Consider this option – sell your big house in an expensive location and move to a smaller house or condo in a low-tax state. In this case, your living expenses will be reduced, and you might have some extra income to pay for things you love to do in retirement.

You may also consider staying in your town but moving to a smaller home or condo. That will be more financially manageable while living on a fixed income.

But if you are planning to move to a big city you should be financially prepared to spend more money because retiring in a booming metropolis can be pricey.

Related Articles:

Final Thoughts

I know many people do not bother with New Year’s resolutions. But I find them to be very motivating. New Year’s financial resolutions are a great way to take steps to move towards your new goals.

What is your New Year’s resolution? Do you have any financial goals?

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15 Ways to Live on Less in Retirement

by Maggie 2 Comments

older couple walking - live well on less money in retirement

Do you know how much money you need to live on in retirement? Have you been honest with yourself?

Everyone wants to have a happy retirement without the worry of not having saved enough or spending your savings too quickly.

Before you retire, look at your current expenses and see how much you will need when you leave the 9-to-5 world. Be honest about your retirement savings and calculate if it is enough to support you for the next 20 or 30 years.

Fortunately, a happy retirement does not always come with spending a lot of money. It only takes several steps to reduce retirement expenses so you can live well on less money.

Explore 15 ways to live on less in retirement:

1. Stop saving for retirement.

Once you retire, you no longer must save for retirement. If you have been saving 10 or 20 percent of your paycheck for decades, you no longer have to do that.

You do not need to save thousands of dollars to your 401(k) or IRA retirement accounts each year anymore. This chunk of money can be eliminated from your budget. It is time to start spending your savings.

2. Save money on commute.

Once you retire, you do not need to commute to work every morning. This means saving money on car parking, maintenance, and gas.

Every year we spend over $6,000 on commute including parking, maintenance, fuel for 2 cars, and T-passes for the subway to get to Boston. When our commute is over, we can save a lot of money every year.

3. Do not buy expensive clothes.

When you stop working and spend many hours at home or in your garden, there is no need for ‘a dress to impress’. Say goodbye to your business clothes and wear something comfortable for your new daily activities.

I know that I will save some serious money when I stop buying expensive clothes, shoes, and accessories for work. My new outfits will be something simple and comfortable and what I want to wear. The best part is that I will spend less on clothes and more money on fun stuff, travel, and activities.

4. Downsize to a smaller home.

Homeownership is one of the most expensive categories on the retirement budget. That is why downsizing to a smaller home is a smart way to lower your monthly living expenses.

Moving to a smaller home will help to reduce utility bills, cost of maintenance, repairs, and cleaning. If your current home is paid off, you can use available home equity to buy a smaller home without taking on another mortgage. Moreover, moving to a smaller home will save you more money in the long run.

If you do not plan on downsizing, consider other housing alternatives to reduce monthly expenses:

Rent out a room in your home.
Rent out your garage.
Take a roommate and split the mortgage payment.
Make money with Airbnb and rent out extra rooms in your home.

5. Relocate to a low-income or no-income-tax state.

Moving out of a high-income tax state in retirement is one of the best ways to stretch your retirement funds. But you still have to ask yourself if it worth it. Probably it does not make any sense to move If you do not pay a lot of state income tax today and do not expect to pay more when you retire.

Living in a high-income tax state like Massachusetts, we paid a maximum of $6,200 over the years. I am not sure if it worth it for us to sell our home, hire movers, find a new place to start a new life somewhere else only to reduce a tax bill.

However, if we paid $20,000 or more in state income tax and expect to pay the same amount in retirement, I would plan on moving to a low-income or no-income-tax state.

Article: Perils of Moving to a No-Tax State

6. Reduce insurance premiums.

home office - live on less money in retirement

Before you retire, you should plan how to live on less money. One of the ways to cut your retirement expenses is to reduce insurance premiums. You can ask your home insurance company for a senior discount.

Many home insurance companies provide discounts for retirees because they spend more time at home which reduces the risk of fire, flood, or robbery.

Another way to reduce your insurance premiums is to tell your car insurance company that you will no longer be driving to work. The more you drive, there are more chances for you to get into an accident.

Daily commuting is a big risk factor because car collisions typically happen during periods of heavy traffic. When you retire, contact your car insurance company, and ask them if you qualify for a low-mileage discount.

7. Downsize your vehicles.

We own 2 cars, and last year we spent $4,950 a year (or $412 a month) on license fees, insurance, maintenance, repairs, and gas. We even had spent more money when our cars were financed with loans.

Owning 2 or 3 cars is often required when you live in the suburbs and work in the city or have kids. But when you retire, you do not need to have 2 or 3 cars. It stops making so much sense and hurts your budget.

To live on less money in retirement, you should downsize to one car or no car at all if you want to move to the city and use public transportation.

8. Reduce your bills.

There are many ways to reduce your retirement expenses. One of the most popular ways is to get rid of cable and cancel your landline phone service.

I have to admit we still have a landline phone, and it costs $30 a month or $360 a year. When we retire and start living on a fixed income, it will be a lot of money to pay for something we do not use often anymore.

I know that we should cancel our landline and use only cell phones. In the modern era of texting, Facebook messaging, and emails, people do not call each other as they used to do.

We have cable TV, and our last year bill was topping at $75 a month or $900 a year. I struggled with the question: “Should I get rid of cable?”

Honestly, we do not watch hundreds of channels on TV, and I do not like to be interrupted with commercials every 10 minutes. Internet streaming service like Netflix and Amazon Prime costs much less and offers more entertainment.

So far, we did not get rid of cable but changed from Verizon Fios TV 300+ channels to Verizon Fios TV plan with fewer channels for a price of $55 a month or $660 a year.

If you plan to live on less money in retirement, you should not overpay for things you do not use often.

9. Find free activities or use senior discounts.

As a retiree, you can find many great things to entertain yourself for less money. There are many free local summer concerts, fall festivals, events at libraries, or social activities at a senior center.

Many museums offer free days or evenings for visitors. When you do not have to work, it is much easier to visit museums on a weekday with a smaller crowd.

Using senior discounts is another way to live on less money and still enjoy your retirement. You can ask for a senior discount at many places:

gym membership
local museums and concerts
state parks and beaches
golf courses
restaurants
local stores and supermarkets

Article from AARP: 10 Places to Ask for Senior Discounts

10. Find travel deals and travel off-season.

flowers-lake-mountains - travel off-season

Traveling is the number one goal on the retirement bucket list for many baby boomers. But traveling is expensive. It includes hotels, air tickets, restaurant meals, rental cars, entertainment, tours, and more. But If you want to travel on less money, and still fulfill your retirement dream, look for travel deals or travel off-season.

In retirement, it is much easier to save money on travel because you have the freedom to travel when the best deals are available. Start with looking at cheap accommodations. Instead of paying for the hotels, look at websites like Airbnb, VRBO, or Vacation Rentals to see what they have to offer at your destination.

Airbnb

VRBO (Vacation rentals by owner)

Vacation Rentals (Home to Go)

Check airline prices and find the cheapest flights. Sign up for free price alerts. Be flexible on dates and be flexible with your travel destination. Fly out early because the lowest price flights are the first flights in the morning. Fly on the cheapest days of the week – Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday.

Look for senior discounts to museums, concerts, parks, and other tourist attractions. With available discounts and deals, you can save a lot of money and travel for less.

If you like to travel but concern about spending too much money, do not travel far. Drive a few hundred miles rather than fly to your destination. You will save money on air tickets, airport food, overpriced hotels, rental cars or taxi, currency exchange, and other charges.

11. Cook at home and cut down on eating out.

Eating out often might be expensive when you start living on a fixed retirement budget. One of the ways to save money is to cook more meals at home.

I like to cook, but I can see how it might be boring to eat at home all the time when you are retired. You easily get caught in a routine of the same dishes – pasta and meatballs, fish and rice, or chicken noodle soup.

To save money and still have fun, plan on eating out at lunch rather than at dinner. Many restaurants have a cheaper lunch menu. Instead of eating out once a week, start eating out only once a month.

If you want to dine out in an expensive restaurant, avoid ordering appetizers, alcohol, and dessert to save money on the highest price increase items.

To cut your spending on dining out, take advantage of deals and discounts. If you receive a 10 percent senior discount on a $120 meal, it will reduce your annual cost of dining from $1,440 to $1,296. So, you can keep $144 in your pocket and still have fun eating out on a reduced bill.

Ask about senior discounts before ordering the meal. Special savings like senior discounts are not always advertised or offered by the restaurant employees because of age sensitivity.

To save more money sign up for Groupon to receive coupons or discounts. And check out the AARP website for restaurant discount deals.

Article: AARP Restaurant Dining Discounts.

Groupon website

Also, consider a rewards credit card for your everyday spending – like getting cash back. If you do not have any debt, you could easily use a credit card to earn cashback on your groceries and even travels.

The key to making the most out of credit card options available today is using them for purchases you can afford to pay off and paying your bill in full every month.

Best Cash Back Credit Cards of 2020

12. Stay healthy and fit.

To keep your medical expenses down, stay healthy and fit. The cost of healthcare is rising every year. So, it is important to stay healthy in retirement. Start with developing good habits in your new life. Create an exercise routine and follow it thoroughly.

You do not need to spend extra money on expensive personal trainers or gym membership. Walking, running, or cycling outdoor is more than enough to stay in good physical shape for years. Explore your local walking and jogging trails. Those 30 minutes a day you need to spend walking can be done in a local park or greenway path.

Leave the car at home and walk or bike to the local store, bank, or post office. Gardening or decluttering are easy ways to keep you active and fit.

Follow a healthy diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and low-fat dairy products. Additionally, do not forget to shop smart and always read food labels to avoid foods high in cholesterol and saturated fat.

13. Keep track of retirement expenses.

It is important to stick with your budget and keep track of your retirement expenses. You may need to adjust your spending habits and make it fit within your budget.

Always remember how hard it was to save for retirement. Do not fall into the consumption trap and find new ways to spend less on your purchases.

For example, try to limit spending at your favorite stores by setting up a fixed amount or just bring cash. If you do not have enough cash to pay for your purchase, do not allow yourself to pay for it with a credit card.

Another way to control impulse spending is to shop online. Compare prices, read reviews, and do not buy more stuff just because it seems cheaper. Setting up a budget for different occasions like a holiday budget or a vacation budget will help to keep track of your expenses.

14. Pay off debt before you retire.

If you want to live well on less in retirement, consider paying off any high-interest debt such as a credit card before you stop working.

It can be difficult to pay off debt while living on a fixed retirement income. These monthly payments may become one of your largest retirement expenses. Getting rid of debt before retirement will help you to live with less stress and fewer liabilities.

15. Set up systematic withdrawals from retirement funds.

Once you leave the 9-to-5 world, do not give yourself limitless access to your retirement funds. You do not want to go through them fast.

To avoid unlimited spending, you should use the ‘4 percent withdrawal rule’ for systematic withdrawals from your retirement funds. You can call it ‘my retirement paycheck’.

Set it up as a direct deposit coming from your retirement savings – 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA – into your checking account once a month. This process will help to control your spending. Otherwise, you might start treating your retirement funds as a big pot of cash.

Have you saved enough money for retirement? Do you know for how long will your money last? Have you thought about retiring on less money and the ways to do it? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Are You Financially Prepared to Retire?

by Maggie 4 Comments

middle age couple - financially ready to retire

You are getting close to your retirement age. But do you know if you are financially prepared to retire?

Retirement is a big step and it will be hard to reverse a decision. Not everybody wants to retire. Many people who are old enough are not ready to retire. But according to the surveys, there are a significant number of people who feel they retired too early and were not fully prepared for that step.

Most people dream of having a great time when they stop working. They dream about having a nice place to live, exciting travels, and leisure time spent with a family. But it all costs money. Not to mention ordinary bills for food, transportation, utilities, medical insurance, and taxes that must be paid every month. It is hard to do things or even live comfortably if you do not have enough money saved for retirement.

Following this checklist should help you being financially prepared for retirement:

Get a clear picture of your retirement lifestyle.

What do you want to do when you retire?

It is important to have a clear picture of how you want to spend your time in retirement. Ask yourself:

Do I like to travel? If you are like me and dream about traveling in retirement, you need to know where and how much it will cost.

Do I have a list of activities or hobbies I want to start? Does it require you to buy new equipment or to have an additional space? Will I need internet and cable in my day-to-day life?

How are you planning to fill in your days?

There are a few questions to ask yourself:

Do I want to spend more time with my grandchildren?

Do I want to volunteer for a local organization or take a part-time job?

Do I want to join a club or start attending classes at a local college?

What is my passion? Cooking? Gardening? Maybe I will cook homemade meals and invite friends instead of eating out.

Where do you want to live when you retire?

Are you planning to retire in place or relocate? If you want to relocate have you made a list of your priorities:

Retirement community?
Proximity to the beach? Or near the mountains?
A small town? Or a big city?
Close to children and grandchildren?
Medical facilities?

Have you researched places you want to relocate? Or have you visited these places? Do you know how much will it cost to relocate? Housing will be the most expensive category of your retirement budget.

If you want to retire in place, ask yourself:

Will my home be paid off? Or will I have a mortgage to carry into retirement?
Do I want to have a few small projects upgrading my home? Or one big home renovation?
Is downsizing an option? Is it time to consider something smaller and easier to maintain?

Calculate financial needs to support your retirement lifestyle.

The first step to being financially prepared for retirement is to determine how much money you need to afford your dream lifestyle. Once you have a picture of your retirement lifestyle you can get a sense of how much money you need each month to pay for this life. The number should include your daily living expenses and the money you want to spend on hobbies and activities.

You should have enough saved to live on 80 percent of your annual pre-retirement income. This number is a good rule of thumb if you do not plan on making any major budget changes when retire. However, not all retirees spend less in retirement.

It is important to include big-ticket expenses into retirement budget as well. Sending a grandchild to a college or paying for a wedding. Buying a new car or a lake house with a boat will require a significant amount of money withdrawn from your retirement funds.

Get a clear picture of your retirement income.

When you are working you probably have a single employer and a single source of income – your salary. In retirement, everyone has different sources of income.

As a retiree, you receive income from multiple sources:

There are several sources of guaranteed income:

Social Security
Pension
Annuity – a guaranteed income you must purchase yourself

Other sources of income:

Part-time job
Rental income
Business
Dividends

Sources of income from your investments and savings (your nest egg):

Tax-deferred accounts – 401(k), IRA
Tax-free – Roth IRA, Roth 401(k)
Taxable investment accounts
Taxable bank checking and savings accounts

While working, you receive a paycheck regularly – probably every two weeks. When you retire, you might receive income monthly, quarterly, annually, and even irregularly. Getting a clear picture of your retirement income should help to make sure that you have enough money to cover all your living expenses.

Develop your withdrawal strategy.

Do you know how much income you can pull from your nest egg?

If you want to be financially ready for retirement you need to have an income plan or your withdrawal strategy. An income plan is a strategy for withdrawing money from your retirement accounts.

A good starting point for many retirees will be a well-known rule of thumb – the “4% rule”. The 4% retirement rule refers to your withdrawal rate. If you have a well-balanced retirement portfolio (60% stocks and 40% bonds), you can withdraw 4% of your account balance.

For example, if you have $500,000 saved in retirement funds you can withdraw 4% of that amount – $20,000 in the first year of your retirement. You can adjust that number every year for inflation but following this rule should help not to run out of money for at least 30 years.

Though, you have to be aware that this rule of thumb is not perfect. When I have researched the “4% rule” it has shown all kinds of pros and cons.

There are a few problems associated with following this rule:

Return risk – the risk of earning lower returns than it was in the past.
Longevity risk – the risk of living a long time and running out of money at the end of your life.
Series of return risks – the risk of a market downturn during your early withdrawal phase.

Even it is not perfect, the 4% rule is a good starting point you can adjust with time.

Pay off debt.

Paying off debt, no matter how much you owe, is a key to a stress-free retirement. Getting into retirement with any kind of debt will put a burden on your lifestyle. I am sure you will be irritated knowing that you need to make a credit card payment every month with your retirement savings. The best advice is to pay off all your debts before you retire including a mortgage.

Your mortgage payment will be the largest and most consistent expense in retirement. When you live on a fixed income you need to have a plan on how to handle these payments.

Check how many more years of payments you have on your loan and try to pay it off before you stop working. Maybe you can use some savings to pay off the home loan. However, if you cannot pay it off in full, consider downsizing and selling your home.

Some retirees have enough money saved to afford mortgage payments and to enjoy their life in full. But if you have limited retirement funds you will be better off without a burden of a home loan.

While paying off debt including a home loan might not be realistic for everyone, the less debt you have the better you prepared financially for retirement.

Determine how to cover medical expenses.

You will become eligible for Medicare at the age of 65. If you plan to retire before age 65 you will need to find a separate plan to cover your medical expenses.

When you stop working, your health insurance provided by your employer ends. Even if your current employer promise to cover your health insurance in retirement does not mean they will not change their mind in the future or reduce coverage significantly.

Thus, you will need to find and buy your health insurance coverage. Individual health insurance is expensive and could cost more than $1,000 a month. Make sure to shop around for the best prices.

Even being eligible for Medicare brings its own set of challenges because it does not cover all medical expenses. Medicare does not cover premiums, deductibles, co-pays for doctor visits, dental and vision care, long term care, personal care, and other expenses. This means you need to include healthcare costs in your retirement budget.

Article from Retire Guide: Health Savings Account as an Investment Strategy

Remember about tax strategies.

In retirement, we still need to pay taxes, but not all sources of income are taxed the same. Withdrawals from tax-deferred accounts such as 401(k) plans and traditional IRAs will be taxed as an ordinary income.

Withdrawals from Roth IRAs and Roth 401(k) plans will be tax-free. If you want to withdraw money from taxable investment accounts, you will have to pay capital gains taxes.

In addition to taxes, you need to remember about required minimum distributions (RMD). You will face this requirement when you reach the age of 72. By the US tax law, you are required to start taking withdrawals from your retirement accounts such as 401(k) and IRA (excluding Roth IRAs). The amount you must withdraw will be determined by the IRS. If you have more than one retirement account, you can withdraw money from each account or total RMD from just one account.

For example, you have several IRA accounts. First, you need to calculate the RMD for each IRA separately each year. Next, you can sum up your RMD amounts for all your IRAs and then withdraw the total from one IRA. You do not have to take a separate RMD from each IRA account.

It is important to remember that your RMD withdrawals might push you into a higher tax bracket.

Think about what tax strategies will work for you the best. If it makes more sense you can roll your assets into Roth IRA before you reach RMD age. Another option is to start taking withdrawals from your retirement accounts before RMD kicks in so you would not face the sudden jump in taxes.

Putting It All Together

Getting closer to retirement can be both exciting and stressful. But if you want to have a happy and comfortable retirement you need to take time to understand your retirement picture.

You do not want to be one of those people who want to retire, but when that day finally arrives, they just let it happen. You want to be smart and invest time in planning and preparing for a big day. Before you take the plunge make sure that you are financially ready!

If you do it right it might be the best time of your life!

Are you financially ready to retire? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Disclosure: This information is only educational. The intent if this post is to provide a simple guideline for an extremely complicated matter. I am not providing any specific financial advice or recommendations to any of my readers.