Retired in America

Your Guide to a Confident Retirement

  • Home
  • Personal finance
  • Retirement Life
  • Saving & Spending

11 Ways to Improve Your Finances Before You Retire

April 8, 2021 · Personal finance
A man looking out a window thoughtfully, symbolizing the vision for his future retirement.
A man holds a mug and gazes out at the countryside, visualizing his ideal retirement lifestyle.

Know Your Retirement Number

Your retirement numbers come after figuring out your retirement lifestyle. Most experts say you should have 12 times your salary socked away. Others say it’s best to have at least 80% of your preretirement income annually at the ready.

There are many such rules floating around, but the truth is that not everyone can save that much and not everyone even needs that much money. It all depends on different factors of what you plan on doing during your retirement. You don’t need an exponential travel budget if you’re not a big fan of traveling in the first place, for example!

The best thing you can do is separate your budget into categories such as food, housing, insurance, travel.

Furthermore, use the months you’ve likely spent indoors because of COVID-19 to give you a better idea of your budget. With travel restrictions and minimal time spent eating out, you’ve probably spent a lot less now than you ever have before. Is this something you’re comfortable doing during retirement?

And don’t forget, there’s always the possibility of working part-time once you retire for both the extra income and to keep active and social!

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Share this article

Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Latest Posts

  • A warm mid-century gouache illustration of an older couple happily planning a trip to Europe with a colorful map on their kitchen table. The Cheapest Months to Fly to the Most Popular European Destinations
  • An older woman smiling and laughing while talking on her phone at a sunlit kitchen table with a mug of tea. Telephone Reassurance Programs: Getting Paid to Chat With Seniors
  • An older woman at her sunlit dining table organizing paperwork and folders. Supplemental Security Income: Do You Qualify for Extra Help?
  • An older man happily restoring a wooden chair in his sunlit home workshop, symbolizing flexible and rewarding part-time work. 8 Flexible Part-Time Work That Won't Affect Your SS Benefits
  • A retired woman sits thoughtfully at her sunlit kitchen table, reviewing papers and bills with a warm mug of tea nearby. 16 Things Retirees Often Overpay For Without Realizing
  • An older couple stands on their porch during sunset, looking at a moving truck parked in their driveway. Retirees Regret Choosing These 5 States (Based on Cost and Lifestyle)
  • An older couple sitting at a wooden kitchen table reviewing organized tax documents in warm morning light, representing tax planning. 5 Tax Breaks You Can Claim Without Itemizing in 2026
  • An editorial illustration of a retired couple rolling back a rug to reveal hidden wealth and resources beneath their floorboards. The Retirement Benefits Beyond Traditional Checks - Find Them Here!
  • An editorial gouache illustration showing a stylized Social Security card sliced at the top, revealing gold coins inside. Could Social Security Taxes Change Again?
  • An editorial gouache illustration showing stylized hands adjusting a large monthly benefit check with a ruler and compass. The Benefit Rule That Could Affect Your Monthly Check

Newsletter

Get retirement planning tips, savings strategies, and lifestyle insights delivered to your inbox.

Related Articles

13 Key Money-Management Tips Every Retiree Should Know

A man sits at his kitchen counter using a laptop to organize his monthly retirement…

Read More →
An older couple sitting at a wooden kitchen table reviewing organized tax documents in warm morning light, representing tax planning.

5 Tax Breaks You Can Claim Without Itemizing in 2026

Learn how to lower your AGI and preserve your wealth in 2026 with these five…

Read More →
An editorial gouache illustration showing stylized hands adjusting a large monthly benefit check with a ruler and compass.

The Benefit Rule That Could Affect Your Monthly Check

Discover how crucial benefit calculation rules like the Windfall Elimination Provision and earnings test can…

Read More →

12 Best Kirkland Products You Should Get at Costco

Discover the top 12 Kirkland Signature products at Costco that help retirees stretch their fixed…

Read More →

10 USA Cities With Rents Under $1000 for Seniors

Discover 10 vibrant, safe, and affordable US cities where seniors can easily find comfortable apartments…

Read More →
An older woman at her sunlit dining table organizing paperwork and folders.

Supplemental Security Income: Do You Qualify for Extra Help?

Learn the 2026 eligibility rules, income limits, and application process for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)…

Read More →
A brass house key sits next to a residential lease agreement on a wooden table, illuminated by morning sunlight.

How to Decide Whether to Rent or Own in Retirement

Discover the financial, practical, and lifestyle trade-offs of the rent vs. own decision in retirement…

Read More →

14 Ways to Make Your Money Last in Retirement

2. Jump at Any Senior Discount Don’t take discounts as a sign of getting old,…

Read More →

Downsizing Your Home? Stay Away From These 8 Crucial Mistakes

Avoid these 8 crucial mistakes when downsizing your home in retirement, from hidden moving costs…

Read More →
Retired in America

Your Guide to a Confident Retirement

Inedit Agency S.R.L.
Bucharest, Romania

contact@retiredinamerica.com

Trust & Legal

About Us

Editorial Policy

Advertiser Disclosure

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Us

Disclaimer

Terms and Conditions

Privacy Policy

Subscribe

Unsubscribe

Categories

  • Personal finance
  • Retirement Life
  • Saving & Spending

© 2026 Retired in America. All rights reserved.