Finally, after decades of working and saving, you can see the end of this long and dreary tunnel. You are almost ready to retire. You’re about a decade away from retirement. That’s still a long way to go, but it’s enough time to prepare yourself for the next stage in your life. But retirement isn’t about not going to work anymore. It’s about having the finances to support this new chapter of your life.
Plan Where You’re Going to Stay
Do you plan to stay with your children? Do you plan to live alone in your house? Do you want to be in a care home in Sittingbourne or other towns? Do you want to live in a retirement community with your friends? These are just some of the questions you need to ask yourself before hanging your gloves for the final time.
Pay off Your Debts
This is easier said than done, of course. But downsizing your debts is the smartest move you can make for your retirement. You don’t want to pay off your debts while you’re relaxing in your beach house, for example, do you? That will only eat away at your savings and pension. Consider accelerating your mortgage payments so that you’ll be done with them before you retire. If you incur new credit card debts, talk to the companies and see if you can restructure the debts.
Save and Invest Your Retirement Money
Financial experts agree that you should save 10% to 20% of your income every year. But aside from that, you should also invest this money wisely. Put it in stocks, mutual funds, or your individual retirement account (IRA). If you’re younger, you should learn stock trading. You can earn thousands of dollars in just weeks once you learn how to trade stocks. As you grow older, you can start diversifying your portfolio by investing in bonds and mutual funds.
Calculate How Much You Need in Retirement
What are your likely expenses in retirement? How much do you pay for your utility bills? What kind of services do you plan to have? How much do you need for food and other activities every month? You should have a good idea of how much money you need every month. This way, you can compare if the money in your pension account is enough for your basic needs and other expenses. Remember that you cannot go off living on credit card debts once you’re retired. You will only suffer from having to pay off these debts.
Consider What Activities You’ll Most Likely Want to Do
Do you plan to travel or take up a new hobby? How much do you need for these? You need to find something that you will enjoy while on retirement. Although it’s nice to think that you can just lie on the bed the whole day, this is not the way you should envision your retirement. You need to remain active if you want to live a long and healthy life.
Whether you’re near your retirement or decades away from it, you should plan for it as early as yesterday. You shouldn’t have to worry about your bills and payables. That peace of mind that comes from not having to worry about your bills is what’s going to make your retirement an enjoyable one.
