How to Avoid Freedom 85 - Tips to Retire Debt Free
by Julie Jaggernath
High consumer debt levels, possible interest rate increases within about a year, historically low savings rates and talk of pension changes in Canada; the message is that Canadians need to change how they plan financially for retirement. Or more accurately, many people need to stop putting off actively planning for retirement.
In a recent poll, it was found that nearly half of Canadians are worried about how they’ll deal with their debts once they retire, so many are looking at if and when they can afford to retire completely. The same poll also found that:
- 33% of respondents will be working at age 66 because they need to
- 47% are worried about debt in retirement
- 19% reported having difficulty controlling or managing debt
If you’re at least 5 – 10 years before retirement and you’re wondering if you can afford to retire, now is the perfect time to deal with your debts and get out of the habit of relying on credit.
Tips to Make Retirement Debt Free
Start planning as early as you can
Pay off credit cards, lines of credit and overdrafts. Carrying debt into retirement will limit your ability to stop working, to travel, to help your kids with your grandkids, and to manage health related costs. Right now interest rates are still low. Before they go up, look at what you can do to take advantage of the economic uncertainty and guarantee yourself some good results.
Plan to actually pay off your mortgage
Mortgage refinancing has become all too commonplace. You can’t go on refinancing your home indefinitely and when it’s no longer an option, it becomes a real possibility that you’ll be forced to sell your home. Avoid worrying that you’ll be faced with this decision by establishing a budget that lets you repay your debts before you retire, meets your routine monthly expenses and sets money aside for later.
Consider your lifestyle
Look for ways to spend on what’s truly important to you, not just to keep up with the Jones’. Avoid all-or-nothing choices. Spending, budgeting, paying off debt and planning for the future is best done with a balanced approach.
Share your plan with your family
If your kids depend on the bank of mom and dad, help them understand your decision to live within your means. They’ll appreciate it later when they don’t need to become your financial lifeline.
Sometimes it can be easier said than done, so if you don’t know where to start with building a budget that helps you plan for retirement, we can help!