17 Tips For Making Your Money Last A Lifetime (2024)

Living to 100is expensive, but taking time to run through this annual checklist will help you afford it.

Advertisem*nt

Here are 17 steps to a more secure financial life.

1.Analyze your spending.

Analyze your spending over the last month to see where your money is going and where you might be able to cut back to add more to your savings.

Many banks offer free money tracking through online accounts, and money-tracking tools such as Mint.com make it easier to follow the dollars, too.

2.Get a number you want to save for your retirement.

Calculate how much money you want to have saved before you retire (online calculatorscan help).

Advertisem*nt

For a shortcut, multiply your current annual salary by 12. Figure out how close you are to reaching that goal and what needs to change, such as working longer or saving more, to reach it.

3.Check on your investment fees.

Check up on the investment fees you are currently paying through your retirement accounts and consider whether it makes sense to shift into lower-fee funds.

Try to save as much money whenever possible.

4.Take advantage of your tax breaks.

Make sure you are taking advantage of all tax breaks available to you.Retirement savings accountssuch as 401(k)s and IRAs offer a variety of tax advantages.

Check with your human resources department to see if there are any employee benefits you're not taking advantage of.

5.Balance that portfolio!

Balance your portfolio once a quarter to make sure it reflects your current age and ideal risk level.

For a 30-something, that might mean 70 percent in stocks and 30 percent in bonds and other, more-conservative securities.

For a 60-something, it might mean the reverse combination.

Advertisem*nt

6.Look at the way you live.

Explore lifestyle changes that could boost yourpersonal savings rate.

Does it make sense to live with other family members in a cross-generational household?

Will it make sense to do so in the future?

If you can save some money by living at home to pay off loans, then do so.

Advertisem*nt

7.If there's a will, there's a way!

Write a will at some point in your 20's or 30's, and also consider creating durable power of attorney and healthcare proxy documents.

You'll be in good shape later in life knowing you have a plan of action already in place.

8.Be insured for your family's sake.

Make sure you have an appropriate amount of life insurance, especially if family members depend on your income.

If you or a loved one suddenly die, you want them to be financially safe and secure so they can stay on their feet even after a tragic loss.

17 Tips For Making Your Money Last A Lifetime (1)

Flickr / Sally

9.Save until you're satisfied.

Increase your savings rate over time until you reach your goal percentage. For a 20-something without a pension, the goal percentage might be 20 percent of one's income.

Automate savings through your bank accounts or paycheck.

10.Minimize debt.

Minimize the amount of debt that you carry, especially high-interest debt, such as credit card debt. If you do carry such debt, make a plan to aggressively pay it off.

If you don't go after your debt right away, it could end up weighing you down for the rest of your life.

Advertisem*nt

11.Factor in the family.

Review the support you currently provide to family members, such as parents or adult children, and consider whether it is negatively affecting your own financial security and ability to save.

If it is, consider whether it makes sense to provide such extensive support, or if there's an alternative.

12.See if long-term care is right for you.

Consider whether you should buy long-term care insurance.

Those with assets worth more than $50,000 might find that long-term care insurance allows them to afford assisted living or nursing-home care, should they need it.

Advertisem*nt

13.Check out a pension alternative.

Investigate whether purchasing an annuity would provide extra financial security in the future.

People without pensions can benefit from the steady payouts that annuities provide.

14.Stay working after retirement.

Develop a plan to continueworking in retirement, whether it's in your current field or a new one.

If you are approaching retirement, start taking steps to implement that plan, such as getting more training or certifications.

Advertisem*nt

15.Utilize your pension power.

Maximize Social Security paymentsby delaying benefits until age 70, if possible.

If you can wait it out with your saved money, and by working even when you retire, you'll be able to make a lot more from the government and really prosper in your golden years.

16.Does charity make sense?

Consider if you would like to donate any money to charity and if so, make plans to do so.

You could get good tax breaks if you donate the right way, and perhaps you could go the Bill Gates route and donate billions.

Advertisem*nt

17.Avoid the scams.

Guard yourself against scams by avoiding offers that sound too good to be true, sharing your Social Security number and other personal information online or with strangers, and reporting any suspicious charges on your bank accounts or credit cards.

Kimberly Palmer

17 Tips For Making Your Money Last A Lifetime (2024)

FAQs

How long will $300,000 last for retirement? ›

Summary. $300,000 can last for roughly 26 years if your average monthly spend is around $1,600. Social Security benefits help bolster your retirement income and make retiring on $300k even more accessible. It's often recommended to have 10-12 times your current income in savings by the time you retire.

What is the 40 rule money? ›

40% of income should go towards necessities (such as rent/mortgage, utilities, and groceries) 30% should go towards discretionary spending (such as dining out, entertainment, and shopping) - Hubble Money App is just for this. 20% should go towards savings or paying off debt.

How long will $1 million last in retirement? ›

Around the U.S., a $1 million nest egg can cover an average of 18.9 years worth of living expenses, GoBankingRates found. But where you retire can have a profound impact on how far your money goes, ranging from as a little as 10 years in Hawaii to more than than 20 years in more than a dozen states.

How long will $400,000 last in retirement? ›

Safe Withdrawal Rate

Using our portfolio of $400,000 and the 4% withdrawal rate, you could withdraw $16,000 annually from your retirement accounts and expect your money to last for at least 30 years. If, say, your Social Security checks are $2,000 monthly, you'd have a combined annual income in retirement of $40,000.

What is the average 401k balance for a 65 year old? ›

$232,710

What percentage of retirees have $3 million dollars? ›

According to EBRI estimates based on the latest Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, 3.2% of retirees have over $1 million in their retirement accounts, while just 0.1% have $5 million or more.

What is the rule number 1 of money? ›

Rule #2: Never forget rule #1.” This is perhaps one of the most famous Buffettisms, and it emphasizes the importance of protecting your capital. Buffett is known for being a value investor, which means he looks for undervalued companies and buys them at a discount.

What is the rule #1 of money? ›

Buffett is seen by some as the best stock-picker in history and his investment philosophies have influenced countless other investors. One of his most famous sayings is "Rule No. 1: Never lose money.

What is the 4 money rule? ›

The 4% rule limits annual withdrawals from your retirement accounts to 4% of the total balance in your first year of retirement. That means if you retire with $1 million saved, you'd take out $40,000. According to the rule, this amount is safe enough that you won't risk running out of money during a 30-year retirement.

How many people have $1,000,000 in retirement savings? ›

However, not a huge percentage of retirees end up having that much money. In fact, statistically, around 10% of retirees have $1 million or more in savings.

How much money do most people retire with? ›

The average retirement savings for all families is $333,940 according to the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances.

How do millionaires live off interest? ›

Living off interest involves relying on what's known as passive income. This implies that your assets generate enough returns to cover your monthly income needs without the need for additional work or income sources. The ideal scenario is to use the interest and returns while preserving the core principal.

What is the average Social Security check? ›

Social Security offers a monthly benefit check to many kinds of recipients. As of December 2023, the average check is $1,767.03, according to the Social Security Administration – but that amount can differ drastically depending on the type of recipient. In fact, retirees typically make more than the overall average.

Can I retire at 62 with 300k in my 401k? ›

$300k is sufficient for many people to retire, in part because you can avoid some of the biggest tax hurdles that may arise for more wealthy retirees. That said, whether or not it's enough depends on your circ*mstances (spending levels, location, health, and more).

Can I retire at 62 with $400,000 in 401k? ›

However, a popular approach is to invest in stocks and other growth assets while saving up, then convert your portfolio into an annuity upon retirement. With $400,000, if you buy an annuity at age 62 and then retire, you might expect monthly payments of around $2,400 for the rest of your life.

Can I retire at 60 with 300k? ›

£300k in a pension isn't a huge amount to retire on at the fairly young age of 60, but it's possible for certain lifestyles depending on how your pension fund performs while you're retired and how much you need to live on.

Is $300,000 a lot of money? ›

Although $300,000 is a lot compared to the median household income in the United States of ~$76,000 in 2023, it's not an outrageous sum of money. Once you pay taxes and look at the realistic income statement I've put together for this article you'll see the income is reasonable.

How long does the average retiree live? ›

According to their table, for instance, the average remaining lifespan for a 65-year-old woman is 19.66 years, reaching 84.66 years old in total. The remaining lifespan for a 65-year-old man is 16.94 years, reaching 81.94 years in total.

How much money do you need to retire with $100,000 a year income? ›

So, if you're aiming for $100,000 a year in retirement and also receiving Social Security checks, you'd need to have this amount in your portfolio: age 62: $2.1 million. age 67: $1.9 million. age 70: $1.8 million.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Reed Wilderman

Last Updated:

Views: 5348

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (52 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Reed Wilderman

Birthday: 1992-06-14

Address: 998 Estell Village, Lake Oscarberg, SD 48713-6877

Phone: +21813267449721

Job: Technology Engineer

Hobby: Swimming, Do it yourself, Beekeeping, Lapidary, Cosplaying, Hiking, Graffiti

Introduction: My name is Reed Wilderman, I am a faithful, bright, lucky, adventurous, lively, rich, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.