Take A Leap Of Faith On Leap Year
- By Angie Lim
Things to Sacrifice Now for a Comfortable Retirement
When it comes to retirement planning, there's one thing that everyone can agree on: the sooner you start, the better. That's because the earlier you begin saving for retirement, the more time your money has to grow. But if you're like most people, you probably don't have a ton of extra cash sitting around that you can set aside for your retirement fund. So, what can you do to make sure you're on track for a comfortable retirement?
1. Build a Retirement Fund
One of the biggest sacrifices you'll need to make is saving regularly into a retirement fund. This may mean setting aside a small chunk of your income each month, but it will be worth it in the long run.
A good way to start with your retirement fund is to invest in a retirement insurance plan. These kinds of plans encourage you to make monthly payments towards your fund, allowing you to grow your savings faster.
2. Live Below Your Means
During our working years, it can be tempting to spend everything we earn – after all, we’re young and life is for enjoying, right? However, if we want to ensure a comfortable retirement, it’s important to start saving early and to live below our means. This may mean making some short-term sacrifices, but they will make early retirement possible for you. By setting aside money each month, we can build up a nest egg that will provide financial security in our golden years.
Start by taking a close look at your budget and see where you can cut back on expenses. Maybe you can give up your daily coffee habit or switch to a cheaper cell phone plan. Even small changes can add up over time and free up more money for retirement savings.
3. Pay Your Debts
You need to also pay off your debts as soon as possible. This will save you a ton of money in interest charges over time. There are two ways to go about this: you can either pay off the debt with the highest interest rate before moving to the next highest one, or you can start paying off your smallest debt and work your way up. Either method works. What’s important is you’re working to pay off your debt, so you don’t have to worry about it come retirement.
It may seem difficult to do now but your future self will definitely thank you for working hard to pay off your debts.
4. Miss Out on the Latest Trends
It can be tempting to run out and buy the latest and greatest gadget as soon as it hits store shelves. However, there are a few good reasons to resist the urge. For one thing, new gadgets are often released at premium prices that drop after a few months. By waiting, you can get the same product for less. Or you can skip the latest release entirely. If your current model is still working fine and doesn’t show signs of wear and tear, it’s best to stick with it and switch to a newer model only if you really need it.
By making some sacrifices now, you can ensure a more comfortable retirement down the road. So, start planning today and you’ll be glad you did when it’s time to hang up your work shoes for good.