When people dream about their retirement, they often imagine sunny beaches and exciting trips abroad. But in reality, retirement is about careful budgeting. Nearly half of all Americans never attempt to calculate what they need for retirement1 until it's too late. Sure, there's Social Security, but with an average payout of just $1,404 per month2, clipping coupons and finding discounts where you can could be a rewarding way to get more from your retirement savings.
1. DOWNSIZE.
Do you have a large amount of equity in your home? Could you have a garage sale and move into a smaller home, condo or flat? Maybe you'd like to live in an RV and travel the country. Downsizing not only helps cut expenses, but it can also put a large amount of money to work for your retirement years.
2. DISCOVER DISCOUNTS.
America loves its active and engaged seniors. You can capitalize on that with special discounts. Look for restaurants, national park passes, supermarkets, pharmacies, hotels, camping sites, vacation packages and more that offer discounts. If you cannot find information online, check with the company or service provider you visit most. Often times, simply asking about a senior discount will save you money.
3. JOIN A CLUB.
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC), or American Seniors Association (ASA) are all great options. Some organizations charge annual or lifetime member dues, but make it worth your while with steep discounts at restaurants, travel destinations and necessities. There are even discounts available on life, health and auto insurance.
4. GET A PART-TIME JOB.
Being active during retirement is a must. If you find yourself with a lot of downtime, go out and get a part-time job doing something you love. You'll get out of the house, interact with others and make some money. Through our partnership with Balance Financial Fitness, you'll find a great article about job options for the semi-retired at OneNevada.org/balance.
5. GIVE YOURSELF A MONTHLY (OR BI-WEEKLY) PAYCHECK.
Regardless of your retirement accounts or where your money is located, take each disbursement as if it were a paycheck. That will help you better manage your finances and stick to your budget. Additionally, re-calculate your distributions annually to help ensure you're not taking too much from your savings. The goal is to ensure your money outlives you, not the other way around. You'll find a long list of retirement-based calculators at OneNevada.org/calculators.
6. USE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION.
Taking the bus or drive-share options like Uber or Lyft can save you a lot of money. Your savings could include the cost of gasoline, insurance, car payments and repairs, as well as taxes and fees.
7. STAY HEALTHY.
When you stay healthy, you'll likely spend less on doctor visits, medications, and treatments. Get out and walk every day, exercise more, take the stairs whenever you can and take the dog for a walk or two . . . or three.
8. CUT THE RED TAPE.
The government is there to help when you need it. Visit sites like nutrition.gov and fns.usda.gov/sfmnp for assistance with nutrition guidelines as well as coupons for discounts on fresh fruits and vegetables for seniors who qualify.
9. TRACK YOUR SPENDING.
Your One Nevada membership gives you access to some powerful money and budget tracking tools with Mobile and Online Services. Download the free app for your mobile device, or simply log in to OneNevada.org on your computer. There you'll find KeepTrack® Personal Finance Tracking, account alerts, instant access to your most recent transactions and the chance to review your credit score and history. And it's all free.
10. TALK TO A FINANCIAL EXPERT.
There are people out there who can show you how to get more from your savings, including tax benefits, estate planning, and retirement income strategies. Best of all, an expert could look at your situation and see things you may have missed. Wherever you are in your retirement journey, it's never too late to do some math and find ways to reduce spending, outpace inflation and enjoy your golden years to the fullest.
Give us a call at (800) 388-3000 or stop by any branch and we'll introduce you to the experts at One Nevada Investment Services3 , available through CUSO Financial Services, L.P. ("CFS"), who may be able to help you get the most from your retirement savings.
1 Employee Benefit Research Institute; 2 Social Security Administration; 3 Non-deposit investment products and services are offered through CUSO Financial Services, L.P. ("CFS"), a registered broker-dealer (Member FINRA/SIPC) and SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Products offered through CFS: are not NCUA/NCUSIF or otherwise federally insured, are not guarantees or obligations of the credit union, and may involve investment risk including possible loss of principal. Investment Representatives are registered through CFS.
One Nevada Credit Union has contracted with CFS to make non-deposit investment products and services available to credit union members. CFS representatives do not provide tax or legal guidance. For such guidance please consult with a qualified professional. Information shown is for general illustration purposes and does not predict or depict the performance of any investment or strategy. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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