39 Careless Ways Retirees Waste Money

You’ve worked hard all your life, so you deserve to enjoy yourself in retirement. However, when you live on a fixed income, it’s important to keep track of where every dollar is going and not spend money carelessly. I spoke to financial experts and business leaders to find out the most common ways retirees waste money — so you know what not to do and can make better decisions that enable your retirement savings to last well into your golden years.

Last updated: Sept. 3, 2020

Investment Fees

A financial advisor can be a great asset when it comes to retirement planning, but make sure you’re not paying them higher fees than you need to be.

“Investment fees can run 1-2% of your assets. For retirees with a million dollars invested that’s $10-20k a year,” said speaker, writer, teacher and financial coach Jillian Johnsrud. “If you’re only getting an hour check-in per year, that’s an expensive phone call. If you’re using an advisor, make sure you’re getting service that matches the cost.”

Missing Out on Senior Discounts

Finding places that offer a senior discount might take a little research, but the pay-off is worth it.

“One of the ways retirees waste money is not taking advantage of the senior discounts available,” said Steve Gickling, founder of ETLrobot. “From restaurants to travel and entertainment like movies and museums, there are all types of senior discounts available. It just requires some research like checking online blogs, directories and sites like AARP for where to find these deals.”

Opting For New Electronics Over Refurbished Ones

You might be tempted to buy the latest iPhone model as soon as it’s released, but your dollars are better off being spent elsewhere.

“Retirees waste money buying new Apple devices when they could save 30-80% buying renewed devices that are one to five years old and that meet all their needs,” said Brian Burke, founder of Sell Your Mac. “Technology costs continue to go up, and saving money on each tech cycle can lead to significantly more money in the long term.”

Not Focusing On Their Health

Sure, signing up for a gym membership and buying fresh produce might cost more than sitting on the couch and eating frozen meals, but not keeping your health on track will have much greater costs in the long run.

“The largest cost to many retirees is healthcare, and it’s a direct result of most people not maintaining a healthy lifestyle,” said author, entrepreneur, business coach and mentor Todd Herman.

Remodeling Their Home

Making unnecessary upgrades to your home can be a big waste of money — especially if you make early withdrawals from your retirement savings to fund these projects.

“The worst thing a retiree can do is take their hard-earned money out of their retirement accounts early to do a remodeling project or make a large purchase,” said Jon Bradshaw, president of Appointment. “It’s important to make sure that retirement money can last because there are no new income sources that can replace those funds. It’s better to forego those kinds of projects or purchases.”

Supporting Adult Children

“We all love our kids but when they become adults, it’s time for them to support themselves,” said Stephen Dalby, founder and CEO of Gabb Wireless. “Retirees can waste a lot of their money if they continue to support their kids into their adult years. With short-term circumstances, it can make sense to help them out, but it’s a mistake to do it for the long term.”

Carrying Credit Card Debt

Charging more on a credit card than you can pay off can be a major source of money issues in retirement.

“Carrying any credit card debt is a huge money waster for retirees,” said Renee Johnson, editor-in-chief of The TechReport. “I might even go as far as to say retirees should forego credit cards because they are on a fixed income and should just live within their monthly income. Otherwise, it becomes too easy to put things on credit and then have to pay out more money for paying it back over time thanks to the interest charges.”

Consider making all purchases in cash if possible or only using a debit card.

Overspending on Cars

Mark Charnet, founder and CEO of American Prosperity Group in Pompton Plains, New Jersey, said that there’s no good reason to buy a luxury car in retirement.

“Let’s face it, a $25,000 car and a $100,000 car will [both] take you between points A and B. Is the luxury of the more expensive car worth jeopardizing your financial future? I don’t think so,” he said.

Having Multiple Cars

In addition to forgoing luxury cars, retirees should consider downgrading to a single vehicle if they have more than one.

“Unless you are a car aficionado and can fund this hobby, it’s a money waster for retirees to have multiple vehicles,” said John Occhipinti, CEO of Naturebox. “Instead, having just one vehicle means one or no car payment, as well as lower insurance, maintenance and fuel costs. That money can be better spent on other monthly expenses.”

Making Spontaneous Purchases

Careful planning is key to having a happy, financially sound retirement and making an impulse purchase can derail those plans.

“Spontaneous expenses happen with family and hobbies that they get excited about. If they don’t plan correctly, these expenses can catch up to them where it’s too late to fix,” said Anthony Clervi, chief people officer at UNA.

Find Out: How Long $1 Million in Retirement Will Last in Every State

Falling Victim to Scams

“Scams, fraud and identity theft are targeted at retirees more than 35 times more than other age groups,” said Kevin Prince, founder and CEO of StratoZen, a leading cybersecurity firm. “Scammers can micro-target individuals, and have sophisticated systems and legitimate sounding personnel ready to drain the bank accounts of unsuspecting retirees.”

The best way to avoid losing money to a scam is to educate yourself. You can sign up for email alerts about common scams by visiting ftc.gov/scams.

Making Long-Term Investments

Retirees don’t have the same timeline as younger investors do to see returns, so they should build and adjust their portfolios with this in mind.

“I see retirees start to invest in things they shouldn’t,” said Robert Glazer, founder and CEO of Acceleration Partners. “The problem is that much of the investment landscape is meant for the long term rather than the more limited time retirees have. When they make these investments and then see their retirement funds get squeezed, they don’t have the same amount of time to recoup those losses as someone that’s still working.”

Not Downsizing

“Your home is your castle, but as you age, you need to downsize that castle, or it will start draining your retirement funds,” said Chalmers Brown, chief technology officer at Due. “Although you want room for the kids and grandkids, you also don’t want to spend money on cleaning and maintenance on those additional rooms and large yard. Find a smaller place that offers more maintenance-free living and save that retirement money for something else.”

Or Even Worse, Upgrading Their Home

“Too often we find people want to buy a big home a couple of years from retirement or when transitioning into retirement, which is the complete opposite strategy [of what] we recommend,” said Michael Lackwood, founding principal of New York-based Spring Delta Asset Management, who also recommends downsizing in retirement.

Buying ‘Deals’ Without Doing Any Research

Before you pay for a “senior deal” on travel or another big purchase, make sure it’s actually going to save you money.

“Many retirees end up wasting money on ‘senior deals’ that are not actually deals,” said Michael Gleason, co-founder of ATM.com. “They can often find better pricing or negotiate better deals instead of the senior ones advertised.”

Shopping as a Hobby

“Retirees tend to have a lot more time on their hands. With that time, they may find themselves browsing and spending money at the mall or filling up their cart online,” said serial entrepreneur John Rampton. “It’s often for stuff they don’t really need, but it’s something to do. It would be better to find and develop hobbies to fill that time that may still require a little money, but not as much as mindless shopping.”

Having Other Costly Hobbies

Shopping isn’t the only hobby that can be a money suck.

“Everything must remain within moderation, and that goes for any costly hobbies you may enjoy,” said Lackwood.

Before deciding you want to take up scuba diving or yacht racing, make sure the money you will need to fund these activities won’t blow your retirement budget.

Buying Insurance They Don’t Need

“Many retirees carry unnecessary insurance products that they continue paying for but can’t get any value from,” said Nate Nead, managing director of Investment Bank. “Drop life insurance products and disability insurance when you are no longer working or focused on providing for kids that are still living at home.”

Or Overspending on Insurance They Do Need

For the insurance plans you do need, make sure you’re getting the best rates possible.

“Whether it’s auto, home, health or life insurance, retirees are likely overpaying for their insurance,” said Leslie Tayne, founder and head attorney at debt solutions law firm Tayne Law Group. “As far as auto insurance goes, make sure to periodically check other insurance companies to make sure you’re still getting a good deal on your policy. Depending on your state of residence, see if discounts are available for completing a defensive driving course. For reducing your home insurance policy, let your insurance company know that you retired. Many insurance companies offer a discount for retirees. Finally, make sure that your beneficiaries are up to date with your life insurance company — for example, if your spouse passed away or you remarried. You can likely decrease coverage if your spouse passed away, if your mortgage is paid off or if your children are adults. It’s essential to have the policies reviewed periodically to ensure that you have the best rates and the appropriate insurance for your needs in retirement.”

Being Overly Generous

“Although it’s a good thing to donate to charities, you don’t have to contribute to every one that reaches out to you,” said Jason Powell, real estate and securities attorney at Estate Investing. “As a retiree on limited monthly income, select one or two to contribute money to and then focus on other ways you can help those other nonprofits. With more time on your hands, you can do volunteer work. Not only does it not cost you anything, but it also provides an enriching experience.”

Buying Brand-Name Prescriptions

Brand-name prescriptions are a waste of money for retirees, said Josh Chou of Shave.net.

“Often, they may have multiple prescriptions, which can add up quickly,” he said. “There is no real need to have a prescription brand when generic can do the same thing but save you considerable money.”

Owning Two Homes

If you have a second home, consider selling it before retiring — otherwise, it can turn into a money pit.

“The maintenance and real estate taxes can be too much to maintain,” Lackwood said. “Also, tax laws around real estate have been less favorable for second homes. Sell the second home and use the proceeds for hotels and home rentals on various family trips.”

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Collecting Social Security Too Early

Even if you’re able to start collecting Social Security, it’s best to hold off on claiming your benefit as long as you can to max out how much you get.

“Don’t start collecting your Social Security too early,” said Yenn Lei, head of engineering at Calendar. “If you do, you’re essentially wasting money. That’s because you are leaving money on the table that you could have had if you just waited another year or so. It’s a big difference, too, because if you wait until you are 70 instead of taking the money at 62, you could get approximately 30% more.”

Not Making the Most of Their Social Security Claim

Collecting too early isn’t the only money-wasting Social Security decision retirees can make.

“Sometimes retirees, unfortunately, lose a spouse and don’t realize that if that deceased spouse is older than 65, the living spouse can collect on their deceased spouse’s Social Security while they are still working,” Lackwood said. “After the living spouse retires, they will need to choose the higher of the two Social Security payments to receive for the remaining years of their life.”

Forgoing Medicare and Long-Term Care

Some retirees waste money on self-insuring for healthcare instead of buying long-term care and supplemental Medicare, Lackwood said.

“Consider opting for all the supplemental Medicare to ensure you aren’t paying out of pocket for too much when more could be covered,” he said. “Also, incorporate long-term care that integrates with life insurance, allowing individuals to offset the expensive cost of nursing care while not wasting the premium spent if you never need long-term care.”

Frequently Dining Out

The occasional fancy restaurant meal is fine, but when it becomes a habit, this could mean trouble.

“Although you have worked and saved what feels like all your life, eating out five times a week is probably the lavish lifestyle that finds you outliving your money,” Lackwood said. “Cooking helps you not only save money, but also most likely live longer.”

Subscribing To Services They Don’t Use

Whether it’s an of-the-month club or a streaming service, retirees could be mindlessly spending money every month for something they’re not getting the most out of.

“Go through your subscription services that no longer make sense or aren’t used and cancel them,” Lackwood said. “Stop wasting money.”

Buying Unnecessary Warranties

You shouldn’t feel obligated to buy a warranty for every device and appliance you own.

“Retirees are often victims of warranty ‘scams’ for things like TVs and other household goods that lead to unnecessary spending,” said Clarence Bethea, founder and CEO at Upsie. “Salespeople at big-box stores have historically pushed warranties at the point of purchase because they drive profit. These plans are marked up as much as 900%.”

According to Consumer Reports, extended warranties are almost never worth the money, with the one exception being a warranty for your smartphone.

Paying More Taxes Than They Need To

“When it comes to retirement planning, most people are focused on their annual 401(k) savings, investment returns and budgeting, but they do not plan for their taxes in advance,” said Stoyan Panayotov, CFA, senior advisor and founder at Babylon Wealth Management. “Ultimately, we all have to pay taxes, but with proper advance tax planning, retirees can avoid unpleasant surprises and keep more money for themselves.”

Buying Financial Products They Don’t Understand

“Another costly mistake by retirees is buying financial products, such as annuities, that they do not understand,” Panayotov said. “Many times these products come with large upfront commissions and annual fees, surrender charges and restrictions. Worst of all, those products rarely meet their personal and financial goals and priorities. Before buying a product, make sure that you fully understand all benefits, restrictions and associated expenses.”

Taking Too Many Vacations

Retirement means more time to travel — but travel costs can quickly add up.

“Replace a vacation with a staycation in order to save money for a much bigger vacation every few years,” Charnet said.

Another way to save is to go on organized senior group trips that have reduced rates.

“As a bonus, you’ll meet a few new great friends as well,” Charnet said.

Not Reviewing Their Investment Portfolio

A “set-it-forget-it” approach to investing might work when you are younger, but it is not the best strategy for retirees.

“Review your portfolio for fine-tuning adjustments at least once a quarter, or once a month if you really want to be informed of what money is going out, versus what is being replaced from the performance you are receiving,” Charnet said. “Develop and maintain a great relationship with your financial advisor, and if you don’t have one, get one as soon as possible.”

Cashing Out Their Pension

“Taking a lump sum on your pension could sound tempting — who wouldn’t want the extra money in the bank earning interest? Unfortunately, doing so could cost you thousands of dollars that your financial advisor receives as a commission,” Tayne said. “Before making significant financial decisions, make sure you take your time, don’t feel pressured, and read the fees and fine print to make sure that it’s the appropriate time to withdraw funds.”

Paying Too Much for Their Cellphone Plan and Other Utilities

Cellphone bills have become increasingly expensive, and retirees could be paying for unused data and other extras unknowingly. They could be overpaying for cable and other bills, too.

“Be sure to ask your carrier if they offer a discount for seniors or retirees,” Tayne said. “T-Mobile and Sprint both have an exclusive plan for customers 55+, and it never hurts to ask if you’re on another carrier. Cable companies and satellite television providers are also notorious for slowly increasing your bill over time, or offering promotional pricing for a one- or two-year period. Even if you are under contract, you can call and ask if you can get a better rate or downgrade your TV package.”

Paying Bills With Checks

You might not think twice about paying all your bills by mail — especially if you’ve been doing it for decades — but it’s one more way retirees could be throwing money away.

“The cost of a stamp is $0.55, and checks aren’t typically free either. Additionally, there’s a cost to purchase envelopes,” Tayne said. “Paying bills by mail can add up each month, so for a less expensive and more environmentally friendly alternative, consider the company’s online bill pay service. Another bonus to switching over your payment method is the option to turn on automatic payment each month.”

This can save you on ever having to pay late fees, too.

Starting a New Business

Some retirees start a new business or side hustle to continue to earn income after leaving their 9-to-5. In some cases, this can be a smart money move, but in others, it can be costly.

“This is, unfortunately, one of the biggest potential drains on a retiree’s finances,” said Craig Kirsner, MBA, author, speaker and president at Stuart Estate Planning Wealth Advisors. “The fact is that most businesses fail, so starting one in retirement is typically not a good idea, no matter how good the business idea sounds.”

If you’re determined to start a business in retirement, do the math first to make sure that your money will balance out the money you expend. Consider launching a business you can do from home and without special equipment to keep overhead costs low.

Making Risky Investments

When you’re retired, you should have less risk in your portfolio than before you left the workforce.

“Make sure you have the right risk for you because if you lost 50% of your retirement assets, you have to then earn 100% just to break even,” Kirsner said.

Kirsner recommends speaking with a fiduciary financial planner before making any major investment decisions.

Buying a Boat

A boat can quickly sink your retirement savings.

“Everyone thinks they want a boat until they realize it can be extremely difficult and expensive to maintain,” said Alano Massi, MBA, CFP, managing director at Palm Capital Management, LLC. “When you try to sell it, you’re lucky if you get sixty cents on the dollar. Rent a boat, use it, then give it back to the rental company at the end of your day to deal with the baggage.”

Not Differentiating Between ‘Wants’ and ‘Needs’

In essence, retirees waste money when they don’t take the time to differentiate between their wants and their needs. Allowing for a few “wants” every once in a while is fine, but that shouldn’t be where the majority of your money goes.

“Before making a purchase, especially an expensive one, ask yourself, ‘Do I really need this item, or just want it?’” Charnet said.