Join Early Retirement Today
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Do you still save each month if you are retired?
Old 08-21-2014, 10:15 PM   #1
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Ally's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: West Tx
Posts: 1,392
Do you still save each month if you are retired?

My husband recently retired and I hope to in a little over a year. I keep running our retirement budget numbers, because I have the bag lady syndrome. I still budget to save a couple thousand a month after retirement, even though we have a retirement fund and my husband has a good pension. I can't imagine not still saving, but then I wonder if most people stop once they retire? I think I have an overly anxious personality!


Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum
Ally is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 08-21-2014, 10:40 PM   #2
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
martyb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bossier City
Posts: 2,183
I've been retired a couple of months now. For those two months, we haven't saved anything extra. However, starting next month, I hope we're able to continue to fund our 2 Roth IRA's at Vanguard. Otherwise, no additional savings. I do however hope my TSP continues to grow. I have not begun taking any withdrawals and don't plan to for the time being. Oh yeah, forgot to mention that while I've retired, wife will work for 2 yrs and is still contributing 30% to her 401k. Don't know how I could forget about that....guess I'm an old senile retired guy....lol. 30% of her income only amounts to $7550 a yr, though.
__________________
“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”
-John F. Kennedy

“Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?” - Edgar Bergen
martyb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2014, 10:54 PM   #3
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Telly's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,395
What is the definition of "Saving" when in retirement?

If both spouses are retired (i.e., no wages income), and pension output plus/or SS exceeds living expenses, then I can see the overage not spent as "saving".

But if any kind of capital liquidation is going on, or dividends or cap gains are coming out as cash, then "savings" is moot, right?

The concept of "saving" while in a working environment is clear, but I'm trying to figure out what it really means in a complete retirement situation.
__________________
-- Telly, the D-I-Y guy --
Two fools dancing on the hands of time
Telly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2014, 03:26 AM   #4
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Midpack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 21,148
Quote:
Originally Posted by Telly View Post
What is the definition of "Saving" when in retirement?

If both spouses are retired (i.e., no wages income), and pension output plus/or SS exceeds living expenses, then I can see the overage not spent as "saving".
I couldn't wrap my head around saving in retirement either. I guess if you have a surplus of regular retirement income after spending (pension/annuity, Soc Sec), the difference could be considered saving. Otherwise you're not "saving," you're just spending less than you can theoretically afford to spend. Our WR is thankfully very low, but "saving" is not a line item in our budget/spending. But maybe I'm missing something...
__________________
No one agrees with other people's opinions; they merely agree with their own opinions -- expressed by somebody else. Sydney Tremayne
Retired Jun 2011 at age 57

Target AA: 50% equity funds / 45% bonds / 5% cash
Target WR: Approx 1.5% Approx 20% SI (secure income, SS only)
Midpack is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2014, 03:55 AM   #5
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
RunningBum's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 13,183
No, I don't save. My investments are growing but I don't make more in dividends and interest than I spend nor was that ever my goal. Could be once I collect SS and my small pension and possibly RMDs if I haven't fully converted my tIRA to Roth I will be, but I see no reason to budget for it, other than for vacations, capital replacement, major repairs, and other irregular expenses.
RunningBum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2014, 04:30 AM   #6
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,277
I do not "save" each month but I do like seeing my net worth grow and my spending to be lower than my 'budget'. It just adds comfort and confidence. The concept of saving however makes sense to me if the goal is to leave an inheritance or charitable donation as a parting gift. While the amount left behind may not be predictable and/or require a formula, spending during your life time must take the donation into consideration. I see this as a form of savings.
savory is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2014, 05:39 AM   #7
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
athena53's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,306
I retired in May and we haven't had to pull money out of the investments yet because I was paid through July 1 (including unused vacation), DH gets SS and I have a $10K/year pension. Over the long run, we'll need to draw down 2 to 3% of our investments annually (will be less when I collect SS but plan to wait till 70) and I'm comfortable with that.

At this point, I'm not sure what "saving" would mean. I could take more out of the investments than we need every month and then put it back in, but what would be the point? If we spend under budget for the month, it just means it will be a little longer before we have to take more out of the investments.
athena53 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2014, 06:20 AM   #8
Full time employment: Posting here.
Lakedog's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 982
Although I have averaged spending only around 50% of my pension over the 6+ years years I have been retired, I really had no plan to save in retirement. I am happy with my lifestyle and spend without worrying too much about expenses so the savings just happened without much thought.
Lakedog is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2014, 06:48 AM   #9
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Crownsville
Posts: 3,695
Quote:
Originally Posted by Midpack View Post
I couldn't wrap my head around saving in retirement either. I guess if you have a surplus of regular retirement income after spending (pension/annuity, Soc Sec), the difference could be considered saving. Otherwise you're not "saving," you're just spending less than you can theoretically afford to spend. Our WR is thankfully very low, but "saving" is not a line item in our budget/spending. But maybe I'm missing something...
That's how I'm going to end up, as SS and my meager pension aren't going to cover basic living expenses. So I'm going to have to draw down on what I've already saved up. Oh, and I guess I'll be spending dividends as well, whereas right now they're getting reinvested.

Once I'm forced to start taking RMDs, I guess if I don't spend all of the distribution, I might turn around and invest it. So I guess that could be considered saving?
Andre1969 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2014, 06:49 AM   #10
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
pb4uski's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sarasota, FL & Vermont
Posts: 36,204
It takes a while to get used to drawing after so many years of saving. We are ER and have not started my pension and are a few years away from SS being available to us (though we intend to defer to 70) so we have no income other than dividends and LTCG from taxable accounts, which is about 1/4 to 1/3 of what we spend each year. However, due to the robust stock market returns and our 60/40 AA our tax-deferred and tax-free accounts are growing faster than our taxable accounts are declining so our total retirement savings are growing so it has made the transition to withdrawal mode much more comfortable.

I'm still funding our HSA but that will end as we only had qualifying coverage for the first half of 2014. Since we have no earned income we can't fund Roths anymore but we do Roth conversions.
__________________
If something cannot endure laughter.... it cannot endure.
Patience is the art of concealing your impatience.
Slow and steady wins the race.

Retired Jan 2012 at age 56
pb4uski is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2014, 07:17 AM   #11
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,288
I have saved my butt off while working like the rest of you but I have to admit that for the life of me I cant understand why anyone would continue to save and/or not spend the money they budgeted in retirement (especially if they have a pension).

We are retiring in Jan, and our family budget is more than doubling. Why? Because we saved and sacrificed for the last 25 years so we could be financially independent and not be reliant on anyone. We got here and we have excess money to spend beyond what our normal lifestyle has been and we are going to spend it with no regrets or guilt. We will still have a nice chunk to leave to our heirs. I have no idea why we would continue to save and not enjoy what we have worked so long and hard for.
utrecht is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2014, 07:24 AM   #12
Full time employment: Posting here.
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 507
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ally View Post
My husband recently retired and I hope to in a little over a year. I keep running our retirement budget numbers, because I have the bag lady syndrome. I still budget to save a couple thousand a month after retirement, even though we have a retirement fund and my husband has a good pension. I can't imagine not still saving, but then I wonder if most people stop once they retire? I think I have an overly anxious personality!


Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum
We stopped saving, traveling and enjoying the money we saved
SJ1_ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2014, 07:52 AM   #13
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,679
When I was still working, I considered any reinvested dividends or cap gain distributions part of any additional "savings." So, even while retired, I count that the same way as I did before. For example, I generate about $40k in investment income and spend $24k so I save $16k, or 40%.
__________________
Retired in late 2008 at age 45. Cashed in company stock, bought a lot of shares in a big bond fund and am living nicely off its dividends. IRA, SS, and a pension await me at age 60 and later. No kids, no debts.

"I want my money working for me instead of me working for my money!"
scrabbler1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2014, 07:56 AM   #14
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Ally's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: West Tx
Posts: 1,392
Thanks, everyone. I guess I still think about saving for several reasons. One, we won't have to draw from our investments yet, so maybe could save more for the long term. Second, my mom had Alzheimer's and although my parents had lots of money saved, by the time my mom died, there was very little money left for my dad. We had to help him sell some of his things (antiques, art) to pay for his care. Both of them were able to stay at home with daily caregivers, but still, it was scary to try to help him manage his expenses and when there wasn't enough money.

It's hard to make the mental adjustment to spend what you have saved, after all the years we scrimped to save what we did!
Ally is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2014, 08:02 AM   #15
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Senator's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Williston, FL
Posts: 3,925
Quote:
Originally Posted by martyb View Post
I hope we're able to continue to fund our 2 Roth IRA's at Vanguard
I believe you can only fund a Roth if you have earned income. Otherwise, only a IRA conversion may be allowed.
__________________
FIRE no later than 7/5/2016 at 56 (done), securing '16 401K match (done), getting '15 401K match (done), LTI Bonus (done), Perf bonus (done), maxing out 401K (done), picking up 1,000 hours to get another year of pension (done), July 1st benefits (vacation day, healthcare) (done), July 4th holiday. 0 days left. (done) OFFICIALLY RETIRED 7/5/2016!!
Senator is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2014, 08:03 AM   #16
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 11,401
The withdrawal phase, by definition, is the antithesis of saving. If the withdrawal is less than budgeted, that's nice, but it's not saving. I like to put money in my TFSA (tax free savings account) and I withdraw from other accounts in an amount that allows me to do so, but I don't call it saving; I call it reallocating assets.

People with pensions that are more than sufficient to meet their needs are able to save. My mother was one such person. She had two generous pensions and was able to live comfortably, added to her savings every month, and never withdrew a penny.
Meadbh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2014, 08:09 AM   #17
Moderator Emeritus
W2R's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,467
My spending money in retirement from has been like a paycheck. Most of my spending money comes from my annual withdrawal, which is done strictly according to my pre-determined withdrawal rate. I don't consider my nestegg to be something I can (or would) tap into for unlimited spending. Saving in retirement makes a LOT of sense to me.

I generally do not spend all of my allotted spending money, especially during months when no unusual high expenses arise. I save the excess from those months to use later in the year when big ticket items need to be replaced, or some other unusual big expense arises. If I do not have some extra left over from previous months, I am unlikely to splurge on some unnecessary but expensive discretionary item. These are examples of short term savings in retirement.

I always have several thousand left over at the end of the year, which I effectively return to Vanguard. This could be considered long term savings. However, I am trying to reduce that amount because I can't take it with me, as the saying goes.
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.

Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
W2R is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2014, 08:14 AM   #18
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,679
Quote:
Originally Posted by W2R View Post
My spending money in retirement has been like a paycheck. I don't consider my nestegg to be something I can (or would) tap into for unlimited spending. Saving in retirement makes a LOT of sense to me.

I generally do not spend all of my allotted spending money, especially during months when no unusual high expenses arise. I save the excess from those months to use later in the year when big ticket items need to be replaced, or some other unusual big expense arises. If I do not have some extra left over to spend from previous months, I am unlikely to splurge on some unnecessary but expensive discretionary item.

I always have several thousand left over at the end of the year, which I effectively return to Vanguard. This could be considered long term savings. However, I am trying to reduce that amount because I can't take it with me, as the saying goes.
I have a spreadsheet I use to project my expenses for the whole year. I have many months with lower expenses as well as a few with bigger ones so I have to carry forward surpluses in the low months to cover me for the higher months. What's a little odd is that many of those larger, infrequent expenses occur in the same months, such as car insurance, income taxes, and a trip to the dentist, all in April and October. But the spreadsheet comes in handy, enabling me to see when I have "real" surpluses I can invest back into my brokerage account.
__________________
Retired in late 2008 at age 45. Cashed in company stock, bought a lot of shares in a big bond fund and am living nicely off its dividends. IRA, SS, and a pension await me at age 60 and later. No kids, no debts.

"I want my money working for me instead of me working for my money!"
scrabbler1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2014, 08:20 AM   #19
Moderator Emeritus
W2R's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,467
Quote:
Originally Posted by scrabbler1 View Post
I have a spreadsheet I use to project my expenses for the whole year. I have many months with lower expenses as well as a few with bigger ones so I have to carry forward surpluses in the low months to cover me for the higher months. What's a little odd is that many of those larger, infrequent expenses occur in the same months, such as car insurance, income taxes, and a trip to the dentist, all in April and October. But the spreadsheet comes in handy, enabling me to see when I have "real" surpluses I can invest back into my brokerage account.
Exactly. So, just as when working for a paycheck, a retiree can and sometimes does save money in retirement that can be used a little bit later in the year or else re-invested at some point.
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.

Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
W2R is offline   Reply With Quote
Do you still save each month if you are retired?
Old 08-22-2014, 08:24 AM   #20
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Mulligan's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 9,343
Do you still save each month if you are retired?

Quote:
Originally Posted by utrecht View Post
I have saved my butt off while working like the rest of you but I have to admit that for the life of me I cant understand why anyone would continue to save and/or not spend the money they budgeted in retirement (especially if they have a pension).

We are retiring in Jan, and our family budget is more than doubling. Why? Because we saved and sacrificed for the last 25 years so we could be financially independent and not be reliant on anyone. We got here and we have excess money to spend beyond what our normal lifestyle has been and we are going to spend it with no regrets or guilt. We will still have a nice chunk to leave to our heirs. I have no idea why we would continue to save and not enjoy what we have worked so long and hard for.

I have been retired for four years living fully off my pension. Unlike you though, Utrecht, I was not as vigilant in the savings while working. So I feel compelled to continue saving at least $1000 a month probably for the next 15 years, until I am 65. Retiring young with a small asset base is the reason I do this. Teeth falling out, old age malady prescriptions, nursing home, etc. are all reasons I feel I need to continue saving. I still live my normal lifestyle and am not really constrained by this saving though. But I assure you I would blow it and have a good time doing it if I didn't feel it was more important to build up my asset base.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Mulligan is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
How much can I spend each month? nun FIRE and Money 8 09-16-2011 02:48 AM
Less than a month to age 27, using my money shovel to save. yaosio Hi, I am... 11 07-13-2011 04:40 PM
How do you know you are retired if you are still working ? Moemg Life after FIRE 19 12-19-2010 07:11 PM
Fun You Miss by Paying off CC Each Month mickeyd FIRE and Money 1 10-23-2009 06:03 PM
Lock in electric rates or continue month-to-month? soupcxan FIRE and Money 47 08-02-2008 10:25 PM

» Quick Links

 
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:16 PM.
 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.