Budgeting & Spending

Budgeting, especially for the future can be tricky. Find articles below to help you reduce your spending, save more, understand inflation, know how much you can spend, strategize for emergencies and more.

Your household budget is a foundation of your financial wellness. When working, ideally you are spending less than you are earning and are able to save the balance. When you are retired, you need to be able to plan to spend less over your lifetime than your retirement income and savings withdrawals allow.

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does money buy happiness

11 Ways Money Really Can Buy Happiness

They were wrong. The answer to the question does money buy happens is… yes! In fact, the research is overwhelming. And, there are actually multiple ways to spend to increase happiness. Here are 11 ways to spend money to buy happiness. The following 11 tips are valuable whether you are 75, 65, 55 or 15!…

June 9, 2022
property insurance

Why is Your Property Insurance So High? 10 Ways to Lower the Cost

Explore the 3 main reasons why your property insurance is so high and discover ways to reduce your expenditure.

June 2, 2022
successful retirement

Keys to a Successful Retirement: The 3 Traits of Financially Solvent Retirees

A recent study found 3 traits to help you achieve a successful retirement. Adopt these maxims to achieve a more secure future.

June 2, 2022
personal inflation rate

What’s Your Personal Inflation Rate?: Inflation is Not an Equal Opportunity Phenomenon

Average inflation is high. But, what is your personal inflation rate? Find out how to calculate and what it means.

May 26, 2022
medicare advantage denies coverage

Medicare Advantage Plans Too Often Deny Care and Claims: What to Do About It

A government report finds that Medicare Advantage plans are denying coverage and claims. Find out what to do about it.

May 19, 2022
consumption smoothing

What is Consumption Smoothing? And, Why Is It Important to Your Lifelong Happiness?

While most people do short term consumption smoothing, you really need it for your future financial security.

April 28, 2022
spending retirement nest egg

9 Ways to Overcome the Terror of Spending Your Retirement Savings

Terror about retirement spending is not uncommon. In fact, most people are worried about spending their nest egg and running out of money. After all, you have been conditioned for decades to earn, not spend. You were probably a teenager when you opened your first paycheck and officially started the cycle of earning and spending…

April 28, 2022
retirement bucket strategy

Is a Retirement Bucket Strategy Right for You and Your Money? (And, How to Calculate)

Is a retirement bucket strategy right for you? Learn how to calculate your buckets and model them in your financial plan.

April 13, 2022
social security and taxes

Taxes on Social Security: Don’t Get Taken for a Wild Ride

Yes. You will likely pay taxes on Social Security. Learn what to expect (federal, state or work) and find a retirement tax calculator! Learn more now…

March 31, 2022
emergency money

The Best (and Worst) Sources of Emergency Money

If you find yourself needing emergency money or income, here is a guide to 11 different sources of funding. Explore the pros and cons.

March 10, 2022
What to do about inflation

What to Do About Inflation? How Are People Adjusting Retirement Plans in the Face of Rising Costs?

Is doing nothing a sane response to inflation today? For some, absolutely. Others need to take action. Explore your options.

February 10, 2022
Managing Money in Retirement

10 Great Tips for Managing Money in Retirement

In some ways managing money in retirement will be easier and in other ways it will be harder. Here are 10 tips for getting it right.

February 2, 2022

12 Surprising Ways to Save on Retirement Health Care Costs

Out of pocket retirement health care costs can be outrageous. Use these 12 surprising tips for a healthier and wealthier retirement.

November 24, 2021

Pursue Dental Care Before You Retire

There’s one important task that you may be forgetting before you retire: pursuing dental care. Learn why and access a full retirement checklist.

November 3, 2021
reduce 401k fees

401(k) Fees: Get to Know What You Pay and Reduce the Expense

Many of us are oblivious to the fees, but almost everyone with a 401(k) pays them. Get 7 ideas for reducing costs to greatly increase wealth.

September 23, 2021

Is a Tiny House the Big Solution for Your Retirement Plan?

Six reasons tiny homes are increasingly popular for retirement and how to see if it is a good option for you.

August 25, 2021

Is it Time to Sell Your Home? Will it Help You Get the Retirement You Want?

Your home is an important part of your retirement lifestyle and finances. With housing prices at record highs, is it time to sell?

August 4, 2021
living on social security alone

11 Ideas for Living on Social Security Alone

Living on Social Security alone really is possible. Get the scoop on 11 ways to make it work for your situation. Read now!

June 30, 2021
charitable giving

Charitable Giving in Retirement: 4 Questions to Ask

For many of us, the desire to engage in charitable giving — giving  to our family, communities or world — only grows as we age. And there may be good reason that we want to give.  It turns out that giving is good — very good.  Numerous studies have found that there is a huge…

June 7, 2021

8 Ways to Cut Housing Costs for Retirement

Should you try to cut housing costs? Is there an option that is right for you? Downsizing? Retire abroad? Refi? Explore your options.

April 29, 2021
retiring to a holiday inn

Hotels, Cruises and Communes! Unexpected Ways to Afford a Little Help as You Age

Most of us are going to need some extra support as we age. Cooking, cleaning, running errands and more are called “activities of daily living” and it can be nice to get help with these tasks as you age. Is retiring to a Holiday Inn the answer? Living independently can be extremely difficult as we…

March 22, 2021

Podcast: Paula Pant — You can Afford Anything but not Everything

Episode 54 of the NewRetirement podcast is an interview with Paula Pant, the Founder of Afford Anything, a personal finance site, and host of the Afford Anything Podcast with 15 million downloads. (congrats!) Paula’s core belief is that you can “Afford Anything but not Everything”, and every decision has a tradeoff. We’re going to discuss…

March 18, 2021
Dig out of a financial hole

17 Ways to Dig Yourself Out of a Financial Hole (and Build Toward Retirement)

 At age 47 I was jobless, emotionally broken after an abusive marriage, and running through savings to keep a divorce attorney in my corner. Grieving my mother’s death and terrified that my disabled adult daughter and I would end up homeless, I couldn’t see any kind of future for myself. Within five years I had…

March 18, 2021
stimulus

24 of the Best Ways to Spend Your Stimulus Check

Depending on your income (not your assets), you may be receiving a stimulus check of somewhere between $1,400 and $2,800. How are people putting this money to use? We asked the NewRetirement Facebook group and it turns out that the uses are as varied as we are individually. Many are looking to spend the money…

March 18, 2021

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