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10 Money Mistakes Even Smart Retirees Make (And How to Fix Them)

Last updated Nov. 5, 2026 | By Team FBZ

Nothing is more terrifying than the thought of running out of money in retirement. You've worked hard your entire life, and the last thing you want to do is to have to go BACK to work.

But money traps are all too common for retirees. You could be wasting hundreds, potentially even thousands every year by overlooking these common money mistakes.

Don't worry — it's never too late to correct the course! You could get started as soon as today with some of these tips to help protect your nest egg.

Full-Priced Repairs: Don't let home repairs drain your bank account

Did you know if your air conditioner stops working, your homeowner’s insurance won’t cover it? Same with plumbing, electrical issues, appliances, and more. Not being able to make repairs could leave you in a bad situation — but a home warranty could protect you against surprise expenses.1

Whether you’re a brand-new homeowner or you’ve owned your home for years, a plan from Choice Home Warranty could pick up the slack where homeowner’s insurance falls short.

If a covered system in your home breaks down, you can call their hotline 24/7 for assistance to get it repaired. They have a network of over 15,000 technicians that can assist you, making sure any issue can be taken care of swiftly — without breaking the bank.

Not sure if it’s for you? Rest easy: they were named one of the "Best Home Warranty Companies" by US News 360 Reviews and were awarded Best Company's 2020 Consumer's Choice Award. For a limited time, you can get your first month free when you sign up for a Single Payment home warranty plan.

Get a free quote

Scams and Fraud: American adults lost $47 billion to scams and fraud in 2025

That's right. According to a new report, American adults lost $47 billion to scams and identity fraud in 2025.

But you can safeguard your data with all-in-one scam and fraud protection services from OmniWatch, which comes with up to $2,000,000.00 in identity theft insurance,2to cover eligible losses and fees should you experience them.

Plans start at $11.99 per month and can include comprehensive protection like 24/7 monitoring and alerts, dark web scanning to identify breached personal data (like your SSN and banking info), antivirus and VPN apps for device security, and expert restoration services at no extra cost.

Right now Omniwatch is offering a free dark web scan to check for vulnerabilities. Before you make your next online purchase, protect what you’ve built for a fraction of what it could cost you if your data were compromised.

Start your free dark web scan here here

Overpriced Home Insurance: Switch your home insurance and you could save a ton of money

If you have home insurance, you need to see the recent rates available to you. There’s a good chance you’ll want to switch your policy if you see a better rate.

The best way to check for up-to-date rates: Get multiple policy quotes from a variety of home insurance providers. Too many homeowners skip this step — not realizing that they could save potentially $1,000s over the lifetime of owning their house.

Provide Home Insurance is a company that matches you with a variety of home insurance options to meet your home insurance needs … including lower overall cost or better overall coverage.

Just answer a few questions, and they will find options that are right for you.

Enter your zip code to get started

Over 50? Join AARP today — because if you’re not a member you could be missing out on huge perks. When you start your membership today, you can get discounts on:

  • Restaurants (save up to $450 per year!)
  • Meal deliveries
  • Airfare, Hotels, Cruises and Rental Cars
  • Eyeglasses and even prescriptions that aren’t covered by insurance

Plus you’ll also get insider info on social security, job listings, caregiving, and retirement planning.

How to become a member today:

  • Click the link below, select your free gift, and click “Join Today”
  • Create your account (important!) by answering a few simple questions
  • Start enjoying your discounts and perks!

Get 25% off your AARP membership, making it just $15 the first year with auto-renewal

Ignoring Your Home’s Equity: Access funds with a home equity line of credit

If you’re a homeowner, a HELOC may be one option to compare. Use this tool to find companies offering homeowners access to funding.

LendingTree's network of lenders specialize in HELOCs (home equity line of credit). A HELOC is like a credit card that lets you access funds from your home, possibly without crazy interest rates. No, it’s not for everyone. But it’s a way to leverage the value of your home to get funding.

Get started by using LendingTree’s free simple HELOC matching tool. The key to making a HELOC work is comparing rates and terms, and this tool does that for you. Answer a few questions and you can compare options in a few minutes.3

Getting quotes and checking rates doesn't affect your credit. Lenders consider several factors, including credit score and home equity.

See how much funding you could get

Ask this company to pay off your late tax debt

Past-due tax debt is overwhelming. It weighs on your mind and causes massive anxiety. You end up emotionally and physically drained. Even worse when the IRS starts sending letters threatening wage garnishment and huge fines.

Guardian Tax is designed specifically to help you get out of tax debt faster and could even eliminate or reduce some of the debt you owe. While most tax companies just put you on a payment plan and file your taxes for you, they talk to the IRS directly, and could help you pay off your tax debt faster while potentially reducing what you owe.

Guardian Tax is BBB accredited, and as long as you can afford a simple monthly payment associated with your debt each month, they could help you eliminate it faster than you thought possible!

Important: Not everyone will qualify. To take advantage of this special program you must owe more than $10,000 in past-due taxes.

Fill out this form to get started