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8 Costly Money Mistakes To Avoid Especially if You’re Over 65

Don’t let these avoidable mistakes eat into your hard-earned savings.

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Updated Nov. 14, 2024
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If you want to avoid wasting money, you may need to change some financial habits when you retire.

Some things you did earlier may no longer work since you have less time and fewer resources to correct them.

Here’s a look at some money mistakes to avoid in retirement.

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Not knowing where your money goes

fizkes/Adobe senior couple reviewing domestic bills

If you haven’t used a budget, you may find the need arises later in life. Budgeting can be especially beneficial in retirement, as there is no longer a steady paycheck, and you’ll need to maximize your retirement savings.

Using a budget could also help you inventory your expenses and see if there are areas to cut back, such as subscriptions or cheaper insurance options.

Not knowing your priorities

Tamani Chithambo/peopleimages.com/Adobe Doubt for mortgage payment

You want to know your priorities for money so you can better budget. You can set goals that you want to reach when it comes to your money.

Goals can give you something to work for and help you figure out how to budget. You know what kind of life you want to live in retirement. You then need to create a budget and spending plan that aligns with your wants.

Not having an emergency fund

Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Emergency fund jar with money

When it comes to retirement, cash flow is going to be different than it was before. At the same time, you’re likely to experience unexpected expenses. That makes an emergency fund a valuable tool.

You can easily start one by setting aside some money at random intervals or certain predetermined times. If you have a budget and a good inventory of your expenses, it can make it easier to manage unexpected costs with your emergency fund.

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Instant gratification

whyframeshot/Adobe Serious stressed asian senior old couple worried about bills

You might be used to making impulse purchases. You may see something you want and then go for it. This kind of instant gratification can be hard on your finances.

Again, if you have a budget, you can add some money for these things. You could review your budget to see how much money you’re spending on these impulse buys.

Keeping up with others

Peter Maszlen/Adobe senior man thinking

Your budget doesn’t look like the one for your neighbors, so it probably won’t support the same kind of spending.

It can be tempting to make purchases when we see others have things we really want during retirement. This can quickly drain money that would be better used elsewhere.

One way to avoid this is to take a day or so to think about a purchase you want to make because you see someone else has it. You may change your mind.

Improperly using credit cards

alexialex/Adobe Credit cards and dollars

Here is something easy to do at any age. You make purchases with your credit card or take out loans and then often just pay off the minimum. But that means you’re paying for interest rather than making a dent in your debts.

You can turn to your budget and look at your credit and loan expenses to see how much it’s costing you. Then, you can make a plan to manage your debt better.

Failing to use more conservative investments

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Once you reach a certain age, it’s wise to look at the risks involved with your investments. You may be unable to use the riskier investments you previously had wisely.

You could still keep money in the stock market, but you’ll also want to think about short-term access to your cash. You probably want to have a strategy that protects you from big losses.

Not looking at your housing choices

Prostock-studio/Adobe Senior Couple Relaxing Sitting

You may want to take the time to consider your housing situation. You may have lots of equity in your home but little cash. The ongoing costs of a house may be too much for you in retirement.

You could look at downsizing to a smaller house or other living option to eliminate some money stress. This could also give you some extra money to invest for additional income.

Bottom line

Rawpixel.com/Adobe happy senior couple cooking in kitchen

As you age, you may need to be careful about avoiding certain money mistakes. To this end, it could be helpful to create a budget and examine your spending and investment choices.

You may want to consult a financial advisor to help you determine how to best use your money and enjoy a stress-free retirement.

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Author Details

Chris Adam

Chris Adam is a seasoned personal finance, technology, and general assignment journalist. As a broadcast and digital journalist, he's served as a leader in network and local newsrooms. Some of his favorite topics to write about include investing, shopping, retail, and stocks.