Perks of Retirement

Keeping that alarm clock quiet: Not working a full time job means you can finally go to bed and get up whenever you want. On the other hand, you may find that you miss having a morning routine but at least you have more control over fitting in that morning jog or daily to-do list of chores. Sleeping the day away may not be everyone’s idea of a perfect day, it’s rewarding to know you finally have the option to take a step back and relax after decades working a 9-5.
More time for loved ones: Say hello to more date nights or finally pay your family members that visit you’ve kept promising. If you live with your spouse, this increase of time together may take some adjustment but is an overall good thing for couples.
You have more time for exercise and physical activities: It’s important to keep moving once you probably have less responsibilities that get you out the house. Why not take up biking? Or go for a swim? Hiking and golfing are also great activities to pass time while staying healthy with friends or family.

Activities to Keep You Active in Retirement

Widen your knowledge: With more time to yourself, it’s the perfect opportunity to hone into your passions and interests. If you feel like reading a book isn’t enough and you have savings you want to put to good use – why not go back to school? Many colleges even offer discounted lifelong learning classes for retirees above certain ages.
Give back: Although retirement is all about relaxing, it’s also important to make time for philanthropy. Getting in touch with your local church or other charities will be a great way to give back to the community and meet like-minded people to spend your time with.
Become a mentor: Although you may have quit your job, it doesn’t mean everything you learn has left you too. Use your esteemed knowledge and experience to become a mentor to young professionals aspiring to advance in a similar career route. Not only will this keep you active but you can help the next generation make changes.

Tips on How to Cut Costs of Retirement

Stick to your budget: You’ve earned your right to enjoy your hard earned savings during retirement but it’s also important to budget your monthly fixed income to make sure you can cover your expenses, like utilities. Practising energy conservation habits can also help you minimize money leaving your account by decreasing your United Illuminating bill.
Share a car: Now that you’re not needing to drive to work everyday, your household may no longer need more than one vehicle. Think about all the money you can save monthly on gas, maintenance, insurance, and parking. Walking, carpooling, and public transport are cheaper and more social ways to move around.
Downsize: Downsizing doesn’t mean downgrading. Saving money by moving into a slightly smaller home or even to a state with more affordable property taxes will have a massive impact on cost savings during retirement. Utility bills are lower in smaller homes and in warmer climates can save you a lot of money on central heating.
Be a smart shopper: Shopping around for better value service providers is definitely worth the initial hassle. Of course it’s more convenient sticking to the same telephone or medical provider, but it’s a lot smarter to take time and compare the market now to save you cost savings in the long run.

Conclusion

Retirement is a big change in your daily routine. It’s important to make sure you can budget without your normal income coming in but also retirement is a time where you should be able to enjoy all your hard work!