Retired in America

Your Guide to a Confident Retirement

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

11 Major Costs That Will Most Likely Plunge When You Retire

November 23, 2020 · Retirement Life
A retired man in casual linen clothes at a market, showing the shift away from expensive work attire.
A stylish man trades formal office wear for a relaxed linen shirt while browsing a sunny market.

Clothing

When it comes to business wear, we all know what they say: You dress for success. Fortunately, once you’ve retired, you can take a break from wearing stiff suits and high heels and trade in your work wardrobe for more comfortable pants and T-shirts.

The average household led by someone who is 65 or older spends $1,070 a year on clothing, compared to $2,028 a year spent by the average working household. The money you’ll get to save on dry cleaning (around $1,000 a year in certain urban areas) is also something to consider.

While it’s true that retired people don’t spend as much on clothing and related services as working people, according to Marguerita Cheng, the chief executive officer at Blue Ocean Global Wealth, during the first few years of retirement, some retirees might still feel the need to refresh and update their wardrobe.

A couple cooking a healthy meal together in a bright kitchen, representing savings on dining out.
A happy couple prepares fresh vegetables at home to save on dining expenses during retirement.

Food

Many future retirees dream of retiring and making the most of their newfound time by cooking more of their favorite foods or going out to their favorite restaurants. Given that you’ll have 25 percent fewer costs on the food you consume in and out of your house during your golden years, you have every chance of fulfilling those dreams. According to Erik Hurst and Mark Aguiar, professors from the University of Chicago and Princeton University, there’s a simple reason behind all this: when you’re retired, you have fewer mouths to feed (many retirees are empty-nesters) and more time to shop around.

When you’re no longer in such a rush to get to your next destination, you have more time to compare prices, use coupons and plan your meals in advance. This helps you save more from dining out, with spending dropping by as much as 35%. When you’re on a 9 to 5 schedule, much of your dining out consists of lunches on the go or expensive coffees on your way to the office.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6

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

  • What $3,000 a Month Really Looks Like in Retirement Based on Where You Live What $3,000 a Month Really Looks Like in Retirement Based on Where You Live
  • An older couple in casual clothes sitting at a wooden kitchen table, looking at a tablet together in warm natural light. Here's What the Average Social Security Check Is in August (How Do You Compare?)
  • A retired couple walks down a peaceful, tree-lined suburban sidewalk during the warm golden hour. 10 Best Retirement Cities With Peaceful Neighborhoods
  • 10 Small Towns Where Retirees Can Live Like Millionaires 10 Small Towns Where Retirees Can Live Like Millionaires
  • An older veteran looking skeptically at a tablet showing a $10,000 XRP claim, watercolor illustration. American Veterans Are About to Receive $10,000 in XRP From Ripple - More Here!
  • A retired couple standing on a sunny balcony in Europe overlooking a coastal town at sunset. 10 Things to Know About Retiring Abroad
  • A thoughtful 68-year-old man sitting on his porch during golden hour, holding a warm mug. Here's the Average Social Security Benefit of 68-Year-Old Americans (How Do You Compare?)
  • A stylized gouache illustration of a couple walking along a path divided into Taxable, Tax-Deferred, and Tax-Free segments. In What Order Should You Tap Your Retirement Funds? (Find Out Here!)
  • An active retired couple laughing together on a wooden lakeside porch in New Hampshire during a warm autumn morning. The 10 States Where Retirees Receive the Highest Median Social Security Benefit Checks
  • A retired couple hiking hand-in-hand along a scenic desert trail lined with cacti during a warm, golden sunset. 20 Affordable Desert Towns Retirees Are Falling in Love With

Newsletter

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

Related Articles

12 Biggest Retirement Regrets According to Seniors

Discover the 12 biggest retirement regrets reported by seniors, from claiming Social Security early to…

Read More →

Retiring Soon? Here’s How To Find the Perfect Home in Retirement

Narrow down your choices All you need to do is decide on the type of…

Read More →

What It’s Really like to Retire in an RV

Think Outside the Box RVs are usually more expensive than travel trailers. Which means a…

Read More →

10 Secrets Elderly Parents Are Hiding From Their Families

Frivolous Spending – Or, on the other hand, there are seniors who can’t stop spending their…

Read More →

Mistakes That Can Sabotage Your Retirement

Sometimes, all it takes is one mistake to sabotage your retirement. In some cases, seniors…

Read More →

11 Essential Facts About Assisted Living You Need to Know

When does someone need assisted- living? If an elder is struggling to keep up with…

Read More →

11 Online Courses For Seniors That Won’t Cost You A Dime

BBC Language There are many people that wished on learning a new language at the…

Read More →

7 Reasons Renting Fits Perfectly With Your Retirement

3. Live closer to children and grandchildren A lot of parents have looked forward to…

Read More →

Are Your Retirement Savings Safe? 6 Surprises That May Derail Your Retirement Plans!

National economic crisis We all dead to think about national economic crises, but considering what…

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.