9 money mistakes people make in retirement

How to keep your finances on track once you leave the workforce

When you’ve worked hard all your life to build up your nest egg, the last thing you want to do is fritter it away too quickly. In this article, we look at the common money mistakes people in retirement make, and how you can do your best to avoid them.

Not taking control of your super

It’s important to know what your options are for getting access to your superannuation when you retire. You can take it as a lump sum, an allocated pension or an annuity. Learn more about accessing your super and then speak to a financial adviser to find out what’s right for you.

Not knowing your entitlements

Don’t make the mistake of not knowing what payments you’re eligible for in retirement. This may include government benefits, such as the Age Pension, carer’s allowance or disability support through to concessions on health and travel.

Spending like you’re still working

Dipping into your savings or your super money regularly will soon whittle away your hard-earned savings. Find out about ways to manage your money in retirement to help you free up your cash flow and keep an eye on your expenses.

Not managing your investments

Just because you’re retired, doesn’t mean you should be complacent about your investments. It’s important to consider your personal situation. If you have investments with AMP, you can go to My AMP to view or manage your investments.

Not managing your debts

Consider all your options for reducing your debts, as you may not have enough funds to last you through your retirement. Be careful about paying too much interest on your debts. If you need to pay off your home loan, make sure you’re aware of how selling your home or investment property affects your entitlements.

Spending your retirement savings on the kids

If you plan to give money to your children (or grandchildren) to help them out financially, be aware of how gifting or going guarantor might affect your tax and your lifestyle in retirement.

Letting your insurance lapse

It’s tempting to reduce your outgoings in retirement by cutting back on things like insurance. But before you do, consider that almost 62% of AMP insurance claims were made by people over age 50 in 2017¹.

Taking expensive holidays

Make sure your choice of destination fits within your overall budget, bearing in mind you need your money to last the distance in retirement.

Buying a new vehicle

When you retire it’s very tempting to use your super to buy a new car to last you through your retirement. If you’re serious about watching where your money goes, you might want to think about making your current vehicle last a bit longer, but you’ll need to weigh up the maintenance costs versus buying another one.

Your retirement is in your hands, so try to make the most of the money you’ve got and invest wisely to make it last. But don’t forget to take care of your health to give yourself the best chance of going the distance in retirement.

_{1 AMP claims paid 2017.}