Retired in America

Your Guide to a Confident Retirement

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

12 Retirement Ideas That Work for Any Household

January 11, 2021 · Retirement Life

Whether your retirement is years down the line or just around the corner, it’s a good idea to have a solid plan for how you’re going to spend it. A lot of people have a vision of retirement that’s really rather dream-like what with all their free time to do whatever they please.

But for a lot of seniors, the final years of their lives might not be so comfortable, especially considering that a lot of Americans don’t have a lot of savings that will see them through a long and happy retirement.

If you, for one reason or another, haven’t been able to save as much money as you would have hoped, then we came up with a list of 12 versatile retirement ideas! Alternatively, even if you have saved a lot of money but are looking to spice things up or you don’t think the cookie-cutter retirements that you’ve seen advertised are a right fit for you, these ideas may help you too!

No matter where you are on the spectrum, click NEXT to find out how you can make the most out of your golden years!

A retired couple enjoying coffee at an outdoor cafe in a beautiful foreign town.
A happy senior couple shares a laugh over coffee at a vibrant outdoor cafe in a colorful town.

1. Retire Abroad

Retiring abroad may sound like a farfetched dream for a lot of people. That may be because traveling abroad is a major expense in most cases. So perhaps it would make sense that living in a foreign country would drain your savings faster too. Well, unless you’re planning on moving to expensive cities, it may actually be cheaper.

Did you know that 500,000 American retirees live abroad? There are some countries that have great senior communities and lower overall costs, so what could last you a few years in the U.S. could stretch over decades elsewhere.

Take Baja, Mexico, for example, where one senior built a home for as little as $25,000! Relocating to a small town may be the right move for you, especially if you have adult children that can visit you! After all, by the time you retire their finances should be in order whereas you’ll be living on a fixed income.

A senior woman relaxing on the deck of a modern tiny house in a meadow.
A woman enjoys a peaceful retirement reading outside her modern tiny home in a scenic mountain meadow.

2. Move Into a Tiny Home

Moving into a tiny house is a smart idea not just for those who want to cut costs, but for those who don’t have the time and patience to deal with huge maintenance costs during retirement.

If you don’t have children living with you anymore and you’re sick and tired of home improvements and maintenance, then buying or building a 100 to 400 square feet home might be the answer you’re looking for. Plus, a lot of these tiny houses are mobile too, so you can travel at your leisure for the remaining of your golden years without breaking the bank.

Don’t just take it from us and look at the trends. Two out of five seniors over the age of 50 opt for tiny houses. Some have even said that they pay as little as $12 a month in utilities while their maintenance budget is also kept at an all-time low. Cleaning such a tiny space is also less time consuming, even if you’re going in deep.

Put all that extra time and money in creative projects that are near and dear to your heart instead!

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

  • Illustration of a mountain valley town with houses, a clock tower, a wooden directional sign, and lupines at sunrise. 15 Scenic and Affordable Mountain Towns to Retire In
  • An older man with drafting tools overlooks a landscape labeled with ages 60, 70, and 80 along mountain ridges. 401(k) Mistakes Retirees in Their 80s Wish They'd Avoided
  • An older couple sits on the tailgate of a pickup truck holding mugs and overlooking a small valley town at sunset. 8 States Where $250,000 Is Enough for a Comfortable Retirement
  • A smiling senior man in a life jacket paddles a green kayak across a misty lake at sunrise near a wooden dock. 15 Affordable Retirement Towns Near Lakes and Rivers
  • A smiling older man walks a brown Labrador and a black-and-white border collie along a paved park path. 10 Side Gigs for Retirees Who Love Animals
  • Older adults smiling and passing food at an outdoor community dinner in front of a brick town hall at sunset. 11 Affordable Retirement Towns With Active Social Calendars
  • Illustration of an older couple walking past kiosks for pharmacy care, public transit, and residential property savings. 11 Senior Discount Programs Launching or Expanding in 2027
  • Illustration of an open hand catching a gold coin beside a bank vault blueprint against a split city and night sky. 11 Windfalls Retirees Can Receive and How They Are Taxed
  • A senior Asian male baker in a flour-dusted apron arranges fresh sourdough loaves on a bakery counter. The 2027 Social Security Update That Benefits Some Working Retirees
  • A plant grows out of an open government envelope toward a sun reading Saver's Match $1,000 in a landscape. IRS Notices Are Going Out About a $1,000 Retirement Match – Are You Eligible?

Newsletter

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

Related Articles

7 Key Social Security Benefits You Might Be Unaware Of

Most people associate Social Security with retirement, but there are actually many other groups of…

Read More →
Seniors calculating their costs

11 Expenses You No Longer Need in Retirement

Retiring early seems like a distant dream. But with determination, motivation and careful planning, you…

Read More →
Senior couple walking arm in arm along a brick sidewalk past a bakery, bookstore, and cafe table with coffee.

11 Signs You’ve Chosen the Right Retirement Town

Discover eleven undeniable signs that you have selected the right retirement town for your personal…

Read More →

The 5 Biggest Retirement Mistakes People Make All the Time

Life, hobbies, work… they can all get in the way of financial planning for retirement.…

Read More →

5 Pros & Cons for Claiming Social Security Early

The question of when to claim Social Security benefits is on every senior’s mind. Should…

Read More →
A retired couple enjoying coffee in their bright, modern, and uncluttered downsized kitchen with soft morning light.

8 Monthly Bills Retirees Successfully Cut After Downsizing

Discover the hidden financial benefits of right-sizing your home in retirement and learn which eight…

Read More →

Here’s the No. 1 Reason Seniors Work Well into Retirement

A recent poll has looked at the retirement situation in America, bringing to light some…

Read More →
Older man leans against a green vintage convertible parked on a gravel driveway in a tree-lined suburban neighborhood.

8 Retirement Towns With the Lowest Crime and Costs

Explore 8 safe and affordable retirement towns with low crime rates, tax-friendly rules, and accessible…

Read More →

22 Ways to Protect Your Retirement From a Possible Recession

A downturn in the market can seriously affect your retirement savings. Take, for example, the…

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.