You’re going to need to make sure you’re fully prepared for retirement. But what does it mean to prepare for retirement? Is there a specific set of skills, education, and money that you need to make sure you have? The truth is, it’s really more about the mindset than anything else. So today, we’re going to dive deep into five different homes where you’ll be spending your golden years. In each of these homes, you’ll find a list of things you need to do to ensure you have a good place to live once you hit that milestone age.
Have Your Own Home
The next best thing to having a home is having a dream. It’s the one place where all your hopes, dreams, and aspirations become reality. But unlike the physical house, which is real, your retirement dream is just a figment of your imagination. But with a little preparation, it can be realized. With some planning and a little legwork, you can start to bring your dream home into existence.
Live on Your Own Terms
While retirement may seem like a lifetime away, experts estimate that people can expect to live an additional eight to ten years after leaving the workforce. During that time, they will likely continue to pay for services that were previously paid for with a paycheck. So it’s important to figure out how to pay for those expenses while still maintaining lifestyle. This will help ensure that your money isn’t used up before you’ve fully retired.
Have a House That Works for You
Nowadays, home design is no longer just about practicality. It’s about aesthetics. This applies to both modern homes as well as older ones. When it comes to finding a homes for senior citizens that will work well in your retirement years, there’s a lot more to consider than you may think. For example, the style, age, and size of the home you choose should all be in line with your retirement plan. Additionally, a home’s location is also a big factor, and if you live in a rural area, you may have to adjust your plans accordingly.
Enjoy What You Do for a Living
I would be absolutely thrilled to enjoy retirement in the perfect home with the perfect view. But there are a lot of things that could derail my retirement dream: illness, divorce, a bad economy, and many others. The key is making sure that your retirement dream home is built upon a foundation of financial security, not just one day of happiness.
Feel Safe and Secure
The key word here is “dream.” No matter how much or how little money you’re planning to save for retirement, you need to dream big. Dreaming big means setting aside enough money to retire in style, and you can do that only if you believe that you’ll live comfortably in your dream home. You also need to be realistic about your finances and financial goals, and be willing to make sacrifices to achieve your retirement goals.
“You should always set up a fund to provide for your needs in retirement,” says Susan Moore, a certified financial planner and the founder of Retirement Mentor. “The sooner you start saving, the better off you’ll be.” And that means starting now. That’s because the longer you wait, the higher your costs will be. Start with a small percentage of your income every month, but build it up as your income increases. The earlier you start saving, the bigger the portion you can put away.
All you really need to do to make your dream home a reality is to look at it as if you were already living there. This means looking at your home objectively and honestly without emotion. Next, write down everything you see, feel, and hear about your home. Start by listing all of the features you love. Then, write down what you don’t like. Now, consider what you would want in your dream home and make a list of everything that you would like to see changed. Finally, create a plan of action to execute on all of your lists. If you can, write down everything you do to achieve your dream home and commit to doing those things.