Living on a fixed income may seem restrictive, but it doesn’t have to be! There are plenty of affordable ways to enjoy your golden years without stressing over money. All it takes is a budget plan and some financial tweaking to make your fixed income cover all your expenses with extra to spare.
Budgeting 101
For seniors on a fixed income, or anyone in retirement, it may feel difficult to save money for big purchases or vacations. While you may be limited in your spending, it’s still possible to put away cash for special purchases or your bucket-list holiday idea.
Budgeting is always much more intimidating before you get started. But like anything, knowledge is power, and once you have an honest and practical approach, it can be an enjoyable process. There are plenty of budgeting apps and software out there to help you, but for a simple, low-cost approach, look for free budgeting templates online to get started.
One priority should be to pay off any outstanding debt before you make big purchases. The more debt you pay off, the more free you’ll be to put money towards purposes that you’re excited about, whether it’s a new e-bike or trip to meet your grandkids at Disneyland.
Tips for Saving
Once you have a clear idea of your consistent expenses each month, look for ways to save. There are plenty of simple changes you can make, whether it’s eating at home more often or driving your car less frequently.
One great way to save money is by looking online for coupons. When you need to buy supplies, check out deal sites such as Rakuten to find cashback stores including Brentwood Home, Fresh Pawz, and Helm.
Another way to stretch your dollars is to do your grocery shopping just once per week. Life As a Strawberry notes not only will you save money by eating out less, you’ll also save gas money by taking fewer trips. Dedicate time to make a detailed food plan for yourself each week, and include meals that could be good as leftovers.
If you don’t drive very often, think about selling your car. You’ll save money each month on car insurance, and you won’t need to worry about ongoing fuel costs. Consider taking public transportation or rideshare service, or carpool with neighbors or friends when you need to run errands.
Side Gigs
Of course, cutting expenses is only one half of the budget puzzle. If you are living on a fixed budget during retirement, you might want to increase the amount of money coming in as well. For seniors who want to pad their fixed income with a side job, The Daily CPA points out that there are plenty of options out there to consider.
One great side job for seniors who want to work with people is tutoring. There are a number of ways to tutor, whether it’s teaching math to high schoolers or teaching English to kids overseas. It’s a job that can be done remotely, which greatly broadens your scope for possible students, and allows you to work wherever you wish.
If you like spending time with animals, working as a pet sitter or dog walker is a great option for seniors. There are plenty of benefits to this kind of work; it will keep you fit, improve your mental health, and allow you to set your own hours.
Seniors on a fixed income don’t have to live dull lives; a little budgeting can go a long way towards enjoying your golden years without money stress. To track your spending, adopt a budgeting system that helps you identify where you might be able to save money. Tweak your spending or look into a side gig that can help you earn some extra cash. With just a little bit of alteration, chances are you’ll enjoy your retirement in much bigger ways.
For more articles on financial planning, specifically related to people near or at retirement age, check out this section of our site.
Pingback: How Seniors Can Recover from Financial Trouble Later in Life -