When it comes to retirement in Beverley, the saver in you may not allow you to spend.
In fact, “spendaphobia” is a real phenomenon. Many retirees struggle with transitioning from saving to spending.
A US study which examined spending among retirees found “a retirement consumption gap” that revealed many retirees to be spending significantly less than they could afford, based on money accessible from income, pensions, and Social Security.
A Vanguard survey from 2015 revealed similar findings, estimating that retirees with a $100,000 (£75,000) savings minimum reinvested 40 percent of funds withdrawn from retirement accounts, such as IRAs (similar to an ISA) and 401(k)s (similar to a personal pension plan).
So how can you loosen your purse strings and enjoy the funds you have saved for retirement? You can begin by placing less emphasis on spending and more on enjoying your retirement in Beverley. Here are a few suggestions to help you do just that.
Outside experiences
One way in which you can enjoy your retirement is by spending on experiences, as opposed to acquiring more possessions. In a study conducted by the University of Chicago and Cornell, spending on such pleasurable activities as meals out, entertainment, and travel, rather than jewellery, gadgets, electronics, and clothing, promotes more gratitude, pro-social behaviour and well-being. There is no shortage of experiences in and around Beverley, such as the Town Trail or the Elwell Trail, a series of 22 replica paintings by esteemed local artists Mary and Fred Elwell.
“Old tourist couple” (CC BY 2.0) by pedrosimoes7
Online enjoyment
Thanks to the internet, there is a lot of fun to be had in the comfort of our own homes. One way to do that would be to take a long-term interest to another level, such as investing in collectable. Such items can be sourced from numerous marketplaces online, most notably eBay. Online casino games can also provide a lot of fun.
Some sites such as Guts offer not just casino games, in fact, but also poker and sports betting. They also offer numerous bonuses, which change throughout the year and UK based support at Guts is always available. Of course, the Internet also offers a great way of catching up with family, whether through video chat services, such as Skype, or photo sharing on such social media sites as Facebook.
Charity
Another way of spending to increase enjoyment is by helping those in need. A 2015 report from Merrill Lynch revealed that giving, whether through volunteering or financially, can contribute to a more rewarding retirement. The survey found that 70 percent of retirees cited generosity as a significant source of well-being in retirement.
The survey further revealed that retirees were three times more likely to feel happier from helping those in need, as opposed to spending on themselves. So step out and experience life, help out or start a fundraiser for your favourite charity, or support those going through difficult times by answering calls to a helpline – you will have new experiences, meet new people and even learn new skills. Charities in Beverley that you get involved with include Beverley Community Lift and Beverley Consolidated Charity.
Source: Pixabay
Spending and investing at the same time
Here is an option that provides a way of both spending more and investing at the same time. One cause of retirees’ difficulties with spending is that while they have no problem with spending their income, they struggle when it comes to spending capital.
A way to get around this would be to invest a part of your savings into an immediate annuity, which converts a lump sum of your savings into monthly payments. As these lifetime payments come in each and every month in the same way a pay cheque would, you may be more inclined to see it as income and therefore more willing to spend on enjoying your retirement.
The bottom line
The bottom line is that you shouldn’t simply seek financial security, but also ways to enjoy your retirement in Beverley with the resources at your disposal, by exploring ways of shedding your spending inhibitions. Hopefully, the tips in this article will help you to achieve just that.
