An amazing and happy retirement is 20% money and 80% everything else.
Getting your money right is a great start but you certainly can’t stop there.
Here are 7 things that happy retirees do (most of which cost $0).
Get Organized
The happiest retirees have their life in order. This includes their money, relationships, and their home.
It can be very hard to relax and enjoy retirement if there is a high level of chaos in different areas of your life.
A great place to start is by organizing your home which generally includes donating/throwing away all the things you really don’t need/want anymore.
This will help give you the mental space to enjoy retirement at a higher level.
Get Rid of The Worry Tasks
There are some tasks that are just stressful.
Doing the tasks seems stressful and not doing the tasks also seems stressful.
One task in the category is getting estate documents done.
People know they need to do it but most are nervous to get started. And most people feel guilty until they get it done.
Life is too short to have this sort of thing looming over your head.
Get your estate documents done now so you can move on and enjoy your life.
You can use a local attorney or an online service like LegalZoom.com.
Get Social
We all need some amount of socializing/friendship in our life and without it retirement can be lonely.
How are you going to find friends in retirement?
Some people find community at church, hobby groups, or even just family.
Stay Young
Retirement is only as good as you are healthy.
Afterall, we experience everything through our body and when our body gives out then your options in retirement go way down.
Happy retirees get ahead of this through exercise or some version of staying active.
Some hike, some hit the gym, and some play pickleball.
What are you going to do to stay young?
Schedule Up
Without the structure of a 9-5 job, everyday can feel like a Saturday.
But if you aren’t careful you can fall into bad habits like sleeping, eating, and drinking too much.
The happiest retirees know that they need to create some structure/schedule for themselves so that they can fit in all the things they want to do.
There is no need to schedule every minute in retirement but one thing is clear: The happiest retirees manage their time very well.
Know When To Bring In a Pro
I am a big fan of DIY but there is a point where your life simply gets better when you bring in a pro to help.
For example, if you hate filing your taxes every year then it may be worth hiring a pro to take that worry away.
Or maybe getting help from a landscaper would free up more time for you to do what you enjoy especially during those hot summers.
One of the biggest reasons federal retirees hire my firm to be their financial planner is so that they can worry less and do more of what they love.
Dollar Wise
The happiest retirees manage their finances well as that allows them to do all the things they want to do in retirement.
A common practice of those that manage their money well is to always get 3 quotes (from 3 different vendors) for any large purchase.
This may include buying a vehicle, redoing the kitchen, or buying that sail boat.
The simple act of shopping around a little can easily put thousands of dollars in your pocket.
