Most retiree will never draw down their portfolio?

[brett]

After four years of early retirement I am surprised at how my personal expenditures have decreased. Especially on food and clothing. Still cleaning out my downsized closet but DW seems to taking over the space and making up for my dislike of shopping.

We plan to assist both of our children at some point. But not now. They need more experience with money and they need to go through some challenging times in order to understand what money is all about and how to manage it. Hope to leave them each a retirement nest egg since they will not probably have the financial resources that we have been fortunate to enjoy.

 

[athena53]

After four years of early retirement I am surprised at how my personal expenditures have decreased. Especially on food and clothing.

DH and I have spent $276 on clothing year-to-date! Food is down for us, too, and I'm not sure why; it may be that we buy more at Costco.

 

[Big_Hitter]

Don't we all vape now?

only if you drive a modified subaru

 

[kcowan]

My objective to ramp up our expenses to meet the income generated each year. So far I have failed. But staying at high end hotels in Europe sure helps. Le Royal in Luxembourg was 338 euros a night! But the Hyatt Regency on the Rhine in Cologne was "only" 160.

 

[haha]

I spent the first 35 years of my life spending whatever I go my hands on, then I did an about face and decided that I liked the potential energy of unspent money, better than the crap that money buys, Although I never regretted direct pleasure spending for me or the family.

Unless you make a very good salary you have to make choices, and my choice was similar to that made by many others here- save, and spend on pleasure, but avoid keeping up with neighbors because it was not very satisfying for us. So we had good fun, and also saved a reasonable amount.

I would hate to try this today, today is really a different landscape in so many ways.

Ha