Folks contemplating retirement often picture sunny beaches and lots of relaxation. There is a ton that goes into retirement though. This article is going to give you some useful advice to give you a clearer picture of retirement.
Find out how much money you will need to retire. Most people will have to have about 75% of their regular income in order to maintain a reasonable standard of living. People who make very little money should anticipate needing at least 85 percent of their current income to live well during retirement.
Start cutting back on miscellaneous and extraneous expenses throughout the week. Write a list of your expenses to help determine how to cut costs. Luxury items can add up to a pretty penny when you add up their cost over time.
Many people look towards their retirement with anticipation, especially after working for many years. They think retirement will afford them the opportunity to do everything they couldn’t do when they were younger. Plan today to ensure your retirement is as great as you wish it to be.
Partial Retirement
Think about partial retirement. If you wish to retire but can’t afford to, partial retirement is an option. This can mean working at your current career part time. You can transition your job to allow you more freedom while you adjust financially.
Make sure that you are adding to your 401k every paycheck. A 401(k) plan gives anyone the ability to save more pre-tax dollars, so that you can actually put away more, without feeling so much sting from doing so with each paycheck. When employers match contributions, they are giving you free money.
With all the free time you should have on your hands now that you’re retired, you’ve got no excuse not to get in great shape! You have to keep yourself healthy to ensure your medical costs don’t go up. A good retirement features regular exercise so that you can live life to the fullest.
Take a good look at your employer’s retirement plan. If there is a 401k plan, sign up and start adding as much as possible. This will help you to save the most amount of money that you can.
Rebalance your entire retirement portfolio once a quarter. If you do it more, you may become overly preoccupied with minor changes in the market. Doing this less often can cause you to miss opportunities. Work with an investment professional to determine the right allocations for your money.
When you retire, think about cutting back in various areas of your life. While you may think the future of your finances are already planned out, things can and will happen. It is best to have “extra” money available each month.
Learn about the pension plans that you have available. If you locate a good one, see if you qualify. Before changing jobs, find out what happens to your pension plan. See if you will get benefits from your earlier employer. You may also be eligible for benefits via your spouse’s pension plan.
You may want to consider starting a small business at retirement age. A lot of people turn their hobby into a successful business that they can do from home. You won’t need to rely on the money which makes it less stressful.
You should know that once you reach 50-years-old, you can add extra contributions into your IRA to try to catch up. Typically, you can save a maximum of $5500 annually in your IRA. After age 50 that number goes up to approximately $17500. This is great for those that started late but wish to save a lot.
When you calculate what you need for retirement, think about living like you already do. Estimate that you will need about 80% of your current income each year you are retired. However, you must keep an eye on your expenditures. Since you will have more free time, you may be tempted to spend more as well.
Social Security
Social Security is not something that you can rely on to live. Social Security will only pay you a portion of what you will need to live when you retire; the number is around 40 percent of what you make right now. Many people require 70-90 percent of their current salary to live a nice life after retirement.
Downsizing is a great idea if you’re retiring and think you need to save more. Remember all of the expenses that are required to maintain your home. Think about relocating to a home that’s smaller. This can save you quite a bit of money.
Don’t touch your retirement investments until you are retired. Doing this can make you lose principal and interest. Also, there may be withdrawal penalties for taking the money out and you could lose some tax benefits. Try to hold out as long as you can.
Try to have fun. It’s hard to know what to do with life as you age, but that is the reason you have to be certain to do something each day that aligns with your spirit. Look for activities you’ve always liked, so that you can fill your days with happiness.
You should now have a bigger picture. Retirement isn’t all about just relaxing, if you haven’t prepared for it well. Without planning, retirement can be a struggle. If you take action on the steps here, you should find yourself living more comfortably during your retirement years.