15+ Habits Every Retiree Should Quit

Retirement is not the time to be making risky investments as you want to ensure that your finances can adequately cover your needs. While small risks are reasonable, avoid getting involved in any volatile schemes where you could lose a lot of money. If you land yourself in debt, your whole retirement will be derailed.

Don’t rely on going with the flow in retirement! You should have a basic plan when you retire, otherwise you risk running out of money and resources. Prioritize your wellbeing by organizing a basic budget and take time to sort out the fine details of your pension plan.

Do you really need two or more cars in the household now that you’re no longer working? Consider whether you use your cars enough to justify paying twice the cost of insurance, gas, and maintenance. If you could get by with one vehicle, the extra money can go in your pocket instead.

When you reach retirement, you finally have time to evaluate exactly what’s lurking in your storage unit! Consider whether it’s worth paying money to store whatever is in there each month. Chances are, if you don’t use these items regularly, then you don’t need them.

Interestingly, many people underestimate their life expectancy and therefore fail to plan for retirement accordingly. Try to avoid cashing out too much of your pension too early. If you live into your nineties, for example, this could mean that you won’t have sufficient funds later in life!

Technology continues to evolve and, with that, comes increasingly complex scams. Quit taking everything at face value and think twice before releasing your private details to potential fraudsters. Many scammers target pensioners by offering “deals” that sound too good to be true. Others feign a fake emergency that require you to send them money.

Retirement is an excellent time declutter and get ready for the next chapter of your life. This might prove difficult if you’re still hanging on to your children’s toys, prom gowns, schoolwork, and so on. Keep only the items that are special to you and ask your kids if they want to collect the rest.

Retirement tends to bring up awkward, unavoidable topics such as death and money, but it’s best to confront these head on instead avoiding them. If you don’t already have a will, for example, now is a great time to organize one. Being open about your finances could also help you to prevent issues later down the line.

Those old VHS movies might bring back fond memories, but there’s no point in keeping a huge collection. Look into getting special tapes digitized. Quit hanging onto hefty CD and DVD collections too – switch to a streaming service or peruse your local library instead.

Many people take out life insurance plans long before they reach retirement age, meaning that the terms may no longer be suitable years down the line. Rather than paying for insurance every month, it’s worth talking to a financial planner (rather than an insurance salesperson) to explore your best options.

Do you have a filing cabinet stuffed full of paper? Chances are that you don’t need over half of it. Decades-old bank statements and payslips can go for starters. You could also consider receiving electronic invoices going forward - this will reduce your carbon footprint. Just remember that some paper documents are important to keep. Hang onto property deeds and your birth certificate, for example.

Retirement is a time when many people want to save money. You should therefore consider ditching any subscriptions that you barely use. This could include magazine subscriptions that pile up, monthly beauty boxes, or multiple streaming services. Keep the ones you use the most and quit the rest.

It’s always heart-warming to watch your loved ones open beautiful gifts on special occasions, but it’s important that you don’t slide into debt to do so! It’s the thought that counts, after all. Your family and friends will be sure to understand that you’re on a tighter budget now.

Keeping physically active in retirement is important, but it’s a great idea to keep your mind active as well. Continuing to exercise your brain will help you to stay independent as you age. It’s a great time to start learning a new language or play a new instrument, for example. Even crossword puzzles will do the trick.

Relocating in retirement isn’t a bad idea, but don’t rush into it immediately just because you think that’s what you should be doing. It’s not something to be taken lightly! Consider your reasons for moving, property costs, and the local community, for instance. You don’t want to upend your life only to regret the decision.

Quit storing your dusty workwear and office clothing – you don’t need them anymore! Unless you plan to work a part-time job, there’s no reason for these clothes to take up space in your closet. Try donating or re-selling good quality items so that they can go to a better home.

Overspending is a classic habit to quit once you reach retirement age. For instance, you might always grab a fancy takeaway coffee every time you go shopping but consider whether you’re doing this out of habit or desire. Small costs add up over time – don’t overspend on things that hold little value.

Your health is more important than ever when you reach retirement. Prioritize eating a healthy diet, take on gentle exercise, and reduce stress levels. This will help you to minimize long term health risks and prevent injury. Otherwise, you could end up facing hefty medical expenses.

Time is precious in retirement, and you deserve to spend it doing the things you love. While your former years probably involved a lot of hard work, long hours, and networking, you now finally have the freedom to prioritize all the right things. Nurture relationships with those you love most and spend time focusing on personal interests.

Retirement is a huge life change to say the least. But it’s best to take it in your stride rather than burying your head in the sand. Quit viewing retirement as a definitive ending and think about how it can open new doors for you. For example, you now have much more flexibility to follow your hobbies, volunteer, or even take on a new part-time job.

When you’re retired, you have more time to challenge yourself through apps on your phone! Just keep an eye on your screen time and quit buying those extra in-app purchases. These apps are specifically designed to keep you hooked so that you end up spending more. What seems like a small amount can add up quickly.

Quit sitting around in your house all day – get outside! Staying indoors too much can negatively affect your mental and physical health, as you’re unable to nurture close relationships and may not be getting enough exercise. Think of some things you might enjoy and go from there. Perhaps you could try spending time in an allotment garden, for example, or volunteer for a charity?

It’s never too late to learn new things! Don’t think you’re a lost cause just because you’re retired. If there’s a skill you’ve always wanted to learn, now is a great time to start. Re-enter education if you can afford it or consider taking up a free online course.

It’s important to look after your health in retirement, and emotional health is no exception. Be sure to maintain boundaries where necessary. For instance, many people might assume that you’re free all the time now because you’re retired. Don’t fall into a trap of agreeing to everything that comes across your plate - you'll risk becoming stressed.

It’s important not to overspend in retirement, but don’t veer too far in the opposite direction! You’ve worked hard to earn your money, and you deserve to allow yourself to live comfortably. For instance, don’t neglect to turn up the heat if your home is freezing cold!

Consider moving to a smaller home if you no longer require a large house. Perhaps your children have grown up and moved out? Downsizing will help to reduce expenses like utility bills and maintenance, not to mention that a smaller place is more convenient when it comes to household chores like cleaning!

Retirement allows you to finally slow down. Packed schedules that worked well for you previously may no longer be suitable in retirement. Avoid planning rigidly with strict daily routines as it can leave you feeling stuck and overwhelmed. While it may take some getting used to, there is joy in embracing flexibility!

Quit procrastinating with things – time is more valuable than ever during retirement. Whatever your plans, take the steps to make them happen! One idea is to write down your intentions on paper and check each item off as you go along. This helps you to build a life you love instead of putting things off.

The joy of retirement is that you have time to focus on more than one interest. While your previous career probably left you little time for multiple hobbies, you’re now free to enjoy a variety of meaningful activities! If you don’t know exactly what you want to do, keep an open mind and look out for new opportunities.

Retirement is the time to finally put yourself first! If you have kids, you probably doted on them during your younger years. Now that they’re grown adults and able to fend for themselves, you can use your extra time (and money) to travel or do whatever you want!

By the time you reach retirement, you should ideally have no outstanding debts. Whether it’s student loans, mortgages, or credit cards, get them all paid off as soon as you possibly can. The longer debt lingers, the more of a financial burden it becomes. You don’t want it to eat into your retirement resources.

As your household is likely smaller now, quit continuing to spend the same amount on groceries. Large, family-sized grocery shops are not only more expensive, but you’ll be less likely to use everything before it expires, leading to food waste. Plan your meals ahead of time and only get what you need.

Retirement certainly allows you the time and freedom to stock up on alcohol and cigarettes, but these are among the worst things you could spend your money on! Many people turn to these vices in times of stress, but the good thing about retirement is that you actually have less to be stressed about. Therefore, consider spending your time and money on meaningful social activities instead.

Although there are many upsides to retirement, the reality is that it can also be very lonely. Perhaps your kids have grown up, working full-time hours, and you don’t see them as often. Maybe you’ve lost a partner or a close friend. It’s important to keep going out and stay sociable to fend off feelings of depression and isolation.

Many retirees can feel a little lost when they go from full-time work to having a completely free schedule. If the idea of this makes you feel anxious, consider retiring in stages. Perhaps your employer would allow you to work part-time for a while. You could then slowly phase out your workload over several years instead of going cold turkey.

Prevention is better than cure, so don’t ignore your vaccination invites and regular health checkups! If you’re at risk of illness it’s better to catch things early to minimize or reduce the effects. The longer you leave things unchecked, the more chance that you could develop something serious.

When you’re retired, eating too much junk food will catch up with you quickly. You might have gotten away with a bad diet when you were younger, but it’s more important than ever to take care of your health in retirement. Eat healthy meals regularly (you have more time to cook, after all) and enjoy fast food sparingly.

You might not see your colleagues everyday anymore but don’t let retirement stop you from maintaining close relationships! It’s a great idea to schedule regular catchups or use your free time to reunite with people you haven’t seen in a long time. Birthdays and special occasions are also a perfect opportunity to get together and celebrate.

Overplanning your schedule isn’t necessary in retirement, but establishing a basic daily routine will help you to stay grounded and give you a sense of purpose. For example, you might want to get up, go to bed, and eat your meals at roughly the same times each day.

After decades of hard work, retirement is an excellent opportunity for you to treat yourself to some self-care. If you can afford it, why not indulge in more travel and explore new places? You could also consider a well-deserved day trip to a spa or eat out at a nice restaurant.