What real retirees regret most

Jim_SamsonWe often dream of the perfect retirement scenario where we have plenty of money, we’re living in a paradise of sorts, and we don’t have a care in the world. But then comes reality for most retirees…

Today I want to give you a warning message. I don’t mean to scare you or cause you to worry, but rather I want you to be able to avoid the mistakes that others have made in order to retire how you want.

Here are the biggest regrets of real retirees…

Retiring too early

For one reason or another, many retirees regret getting out of the workforce too early.

For some, it’s because they didn’t realize how much cash they would need in retirement, so they wish they could have stayed at work a while longer in order to build up funds.

For others, it’s the simple want for that sense of community and purpose at the heart of the regret.

Think about which of those is important for you, and consider staying in the workforce in some capacity longer than originally planned if it’s right for you.

Waiting to travel

While nobody here is telling you to spend a ton of money early in retirement, it’s important to think about traveling sooner rather than later. That’s one of the biggest regrets of retirees, after all.

This stems from the fact that travel is simply more enjoyable when you’re more mobile, so doing it at a younger age makes all the sense in the world.

Not planning for down time

Another big regret is not having an idea about what to do with yourself in retirement. Many retirees encourage having a purpose and having something to do every morning after getting out of bed.

Think about volunteering, joining clubs, taking up a part-time job, or something else to keep you active and happy.

Taking social security too early

This common regret is something that directly affects your quality of life in retirement. Taking social security benefits as soon as possible versus taking it as late as possible is a difference of several hundred dollars per month right now. Consider waiting.

Don’t have these same regrets when you’re well into retirement…

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