Retirement anymore seems to be right around the corner for us. Yikes! And because of certain lifestyle choices we’ve made, we’re starting to think they’re going to be interesting years, to say the least. Not that we’re alone. It’s not uncommon for people to find themselves in reduced circumstances in their retirement years.
And not just with reduced income. Old age and retirement, which eventually come despite all efforts to avoid them, often bring many reductions. Reduced income, diminshed energy and stamina, decreased physical strength, and sometimes, declining health. With all this in mind, how can we best prepare?
Preparing for retirement
In our 20s and 30s most of us seldom think about retirement. Young people often think they are invincible and that old age will never get the best of them! And then out 50s come with aches and pains. Perhaps high blood pressure or other age-related ailments. And suddenly you realize, “I’m getting old!”
Well, since there is no avoiding it (short of death, that is), what can we do about it? These thoughts have been running through my mind lately. Which by the way, is running slower than it used to. That’s a good thing because otherwise I’d never be able to catch up! ;)
My husband and I are in our early 60s. So I certainly don’t think we’re ready to be put out to pasture! But we’re wondering where our youth and vigor went and how we’re going to manage financially.
Perhaps you have similar concerns. If so, here are 3 simple changes that most people can make, regardless of their current income.
3 easy ways to prepare for retirement:
1. Cut expenses now
Learn to live on less income by cutting expenses now. Many people focus on financial savings, IRAs, or investments. But because they take extra money, they’ve never really been a viable option for us.
So we’re learning to avoid debt and live frugally so we can put a little money away. We’re also trying to establish better spending habits so that when our income shrinks, we’ll have eliminated some bad habits. And hopefully our retirement income will stretch further.
2. Downsize and declutter now
Simplify while you still have the energy, stamina, and strength to declutter and downsize! Because a smaller home with less stuff is much easier in so many ways! Less cleaning, dusting, and upkeep, and lower taxes, insurance, and energy costs.
Plus as we age it’s harder to keep up with everything. So aim for fewer things that are easy to clean, and furniture that is easier to move. Many of us already have a hard time keeping up with everything, and it only gets harder as we age!
3. Safeguard your health
Protecting our health is better than trying to restore it. So start protecting your health before you lose it. Get enough rest, exercise, eat well, and perhaps give the Mediterranean diet a try! These can make us feel better and keep off excess weight. If you start living well in your younger years, you’re more likely to be healthier in your older years!
Of course, we can’t prepare for everything. But I’m firmly convinced that these steps can help us deal with the decline that usually comes with old-age. And enable us to live our older years with greater joy, peace, and energy!
So don’t wait until the last minute. Start thinking and planning now, no matter how young you are. Aging is a certainty, and not planning for it is like leaving your umbrella at home when it’s already raining. And then wondering why you got soaked! So prepare now, while you can!
What preparations are you making (or have you made) for retirement years? I’d love to hear your suggestions!
In fair weather, prepare for foul!
Thomas Fuller
📷 Image credits: cottage; living room
Signora Sheila 
32 responses to “Simple Living for Retirement”
My pastor husband and I lived in church-owned parsonages all during his 40 years of ministry. That means at retirement we were buying our first house. It’s a small 1960s ranch, so if our knees and hips start to cause trouble, we won’t have to deal with stairs. (The laundry is in the basement, but if worse comes to worse, the washer and dryer can be moved upstairs into a closet.) We paid less than our budget actually allowed, knowing that extra space just seems to accumulate stuff (and takes longer to clean!) and “fancy” just isn’t necessary nor does it guarantee contentment. I love our little house and practically sigh with pleasure when I/we pull in the drive of this property God provided!
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Wow Nancy! Your story is so similar to ours. In our years as missionaries with no steady income no bank would give us a loan. And usually we had barely enough to pay the rent. So we also bought our first (small) home later; we were 50 & 51. And with only a 6-year affordable loan! I have the same feeling of contented awe when we walk into it. And even more so when we step into our lovely back garden. Awe over God providing when it seemed utterly impossible! And it gives us a place to park our bags while we take missionary trips – which should be increasing now that things seem to be opening up again! God is so good! So happy for God’s gift to you. May he grant you many more happy years there together!!
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SO glad to hear you’ll be able to travel again soon. Will you be visiting your “summer” village?
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Yes, we will, we’ll be leaving soon. They’re excited about our arrival, praise God!!
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I’ll be praying!
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Thanks, Nancy, we appreciate it. When we down for a long weekend at Easter, the folks were still wary of interaction because of the virus situation. Churches in the area were meeting, so we got to encourage the brethren – and should be able to do again this year too. But hopefully, as more and more people are vaccinated, the fear will start easing up too. It’s really hard to reach out when people are afraid to even come near!
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Perhaps your outdoor Bible studies will be more appealing than ever!
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We hope and pray that they will be. We’ll see…
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Great reminders, thank you! We are trying to make up for lost time in saving money, trying to get healthier and declutter our home so we have less stuff if the opportunity arises and we can downsize to reduce our expenses.
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Brava Wendi. Always smart moves. It’s so true that we don’t know what tomorrow will bring. And we find that simplicity can help a lot with making needed changes!
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:) this was interesting to read.
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I imagine it all seems light years away to you TR. But when you get to be my age it will seem like those years just flew by! Don’t wait too long to think about it!! lol!
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No, I completely hear you. :) I’m already concerned about getting older.
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Well TR, it does sneak up quicker than we could imagine. Not that I’m old (yet). I’ll be 60 this summer (yikes) so I figure I’m just older. But that retirement age does keep creeping closer and closer… You guys are smart to think and prepare now while you still have plenty of time to plan wisely!
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Great post! We’ve been thinking this direction a lot lately!
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Seems to happen as time passes, doesn’t it? lol! Mario is hoping to work as long as possible. Because of our missionary status (no steady income or actual employer) we probably won’t have much of a pension. But we know we are in good hands. The Lord never fails, and we’ve practiced simple living a long time!! Hope you can make good plans now to make those later years better!
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Wise counsel! And you are right about retirement. Many people see retirement, Social Security, 401k funds, and pensions as the great provider instead of God Himself as the provider. Just one way we take the Lord out of the equation.
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Well, I don’t think the funds are a bad idea. But they’re not possible for many people to do. And they can always fail. Only God and his faithfulness are sure!!
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For sure. Don’t trust in treasure. Trust in The Treasure!
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LOL, I am trying to figure out the best job for me when I am 75, since my early preparation was so poor!
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LOL Wally, good to know we have company in our boat!! As missionaries (with no steady income or actual employer) our pension will be very low. We’re thinking we might want to plant a huge garden. At least then we’ll have food. And one major blessing is that over here our health care is free. We only pay for specialist visits and exams (very little), and over-the-counter meds. That helps a lot!! Thankfully, we know we can count on the Lord’s everlasting care!!
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Sheila, I retired a couple of years before I planned to when my employer closed the office and moved to another city. My husband had retired several years earlier. I remember telling my employer, “Well, I don’t know the plan, but I know the Planner!” God has provided everything we need and more. We live a simple life, live in the house we raised our sons in, and enjoy time with our family and friends. In fact, I didn’t realize this season in our lives would be this relaxed and enjoyable. But looking back, our Father has a way of sending abundant blessings in every season of our lives, doesn’t He? You are trusting the Lord, making wise choices, and looking forward as God leads. May you continue to be blessed as your days unfold.
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I’m so glad Doris that things worked out so well for you, and that you are finding joy and peace in your retirement years. That’s encouraging! And yes, the Lord does always provide – and give us goodness all through life. We hope and pray that by making good choices now – we will reap benefits later!
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You have good plans. I was thrust into retirement a few years earlier than I wanted for health reasons. The sudden change in income and activity wasn’t as dramatic as I feared but the house was a different story. You cannot downsize on the fly. Take time now to consider what you really need and start thinning. It will be time well spent.
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Thanks for the encouragement! That’s exactly what we’re doing. And it’s good to hear from someone who is already walking the retirement pathway!!
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