Hi friends.  We are excited to share, How To Live Well Without Sacrificing Your Savings by Sara Bailey this week.  Thank you Sara for providing this great post for us!!  We really enjoyed it and appreciate the time you took for us!!

*Note:  This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.

 

HOW TO LIVE WELL WITHOUT SACRIFICING YOUR SAVINGS

 

Image via Pixabay

 

If you live in the generation dubbed the “baby boomers,” you know the value of money.  Growing up, you were taught that pennies make dollars, and the importance of reuse and recycle has been imprinted forever on your memory.  While there is nothing wrong with keeping your bank account comfortable, there’s no need to live frugally when you’ve worked your whole life.  Here are some ways to enjoy your mature years without sacrificing your savings.

 

Plan for Long-Term Healthcare

First things first: If you want to make the most of your retirement, you have to take a few steps to make sure you’re prepared for unexpected costs, especially when it comes to healthcare.  It’s common sense that the older we get, the more we have to plan for our health to take some less-than-ideal turns, so if you haven’t already, look into long-term care coverage.  Once you have a plan in place, you’ll be able to move onto some of the more exciting parts of retirement, such as taking a well-deserved vacation.

 

Enjoy a Long Vacation

If you’ve been sticking close to home for fear that a week away might jeopardize your retirement, don’t worry.  While it’s true that you’ll spend money on accommodations, vacationing at the right time can shave a huge chunk off your overall costs.  For instance, CNN Travel notes that October is a great time to take a cruise.  It’s at the end of hurricane season and well ahead of the holiday rush of December.

 

Know When to Kick Name Brands to the Curb

If Senior Advisor is to be believed, almost everyone reading this already buys the store brand over the name brand, but it’s not always the best option, even if it saves a few bucks at the grocery store.  In this post, the blogger known as The Krazy Coupon Lady compares branded food products to their nameless counterparts.  The comparisons reveal that generics are fine for certain things, but your coffee and cookies should have a logo.

 

Give Yourself the Gift of a Free Education

You may have enjoyed a long and illustrious career, but chances are, you didn’t pursue a course of study near and dear to your heart.  Fret not, because it’s never too late to take those classes you never got to as a teen.  The AARP lists so many free college courses that we’d need an entire blog post just to cover them.  While you won’t earn credits for learning about quantum physics or music history, you do get to retain all the knowledge, and all for free.

 

 

Prioritize Your Time

Time is worth more than money any day of the week.  That’s why it’s so important to use what you have wisely.  No matter your age, you can always earn an income, but you can’t extend your life doing things you don’t love.  What you can do, however, is outsource the boring (or dangerous) chores so you can enjoy the activities you love.  An hour not spent cleaning the gutters or mowing the lawn is an hour you could utilize bonding with your grandchildren or spouse.

 

Scale Down the House

If you’re still holding on to your family home, you can sell it outright, or you can gain income by renting it out.  If you choose to rent your home, research the market and rental prices in your area to make sure this is a feasible option.  You can save tons of money (and time) by downsizing to a smaller house or condo.  A smaller place means less maintenance and more time for living.  Many condos and neighborhoods cater to the 55-and-up crowd and come pre-planned with amenities you’d have to pay for elsewhere, such as a swimming pool or resident-only golf course.

 

Give yourself three months to purge your home and sort your goods.  This will eliminate the stress of downsizing and put a little extra jingle in your pocket that you can use for new swimming trunks or clubs.

 

You’ve raised your family.  You’ve done your civic duties.  You’ve made your mark on the world.  It’s time to let yourself relax, grab life by the horns, and live your very best life — no debt required.

 

Take a look at this article by Sara Bailey  we think you will love:

How Parents Can Build A Strong Financial Future For Their Children and Themselves

 

Author Bio:

Sara Bailey

Sara Bailey hopes that by sharing her journey of grief she can provide insight and hope for others who experience loss.  She created TheWidow.net as a way to share her unexpected journey of losing her husband and learning to be the best parent (and person) she can be while nurturing her grief.

 

WRITE GUEST POSTS FOR US

Living 4 You Boutique is looking for bloggers who would like to write free guest posts!!  We are accepting submissions in the following categories:

• Recipes
• Travel
• Dieting
• Health
• Exercise
• Saving Money
• DIY Tutorials on Projects or Crafts
• Organizing Tips
• Relationship/Love

If you are interested in having your article published on our site, click here to see how to get started!!  We would love to hear from you!!