Aging is a fact of life, but its effects are different for each person. Some seniors need constant medical help, while some people well into their 60s can still hold jobs and walk up to two to five miles every day. Everyone hopes to be part of the latter group, but it takes a lot of work. Whether you're only in your 30s or nearing retirement age, there are things that you can do to prepare for retirement.
1. Settling financial matters
Money will always be an issue. Not everyone has millions' worth of savings in their bank account and prepping – whether for a disaster or retirement – requires money. Retirement is a particularly tricky age because it becomes more difficult to secure money. Here are some things you can do today to settle this issue:
- Start saving up – There's no way around it. If you hope to have money to sustain you once you've retired, you need to start saving up today. Find ways to cut back costs and budget your money accordingly.
- Settle your debts before retirement – Many people have debts, such as car payments, mortgages and student loans. When applying for these, choose shorter plans that you can finish paying before you retire. You may cut back expenses on a lot of things, but this can give you a bit of peace knowing that everything is settled before retiring.
2. Lower your cost of living
One of the key ideas behind a prepping lifestyle is self-sufficiency. This doesn't only apply to survival scenarios, but also retirement. If you think about it, a lot of the preparations for disaster can help you cut back on costs. Consider the following:
- Energy use – Modern society is highly dependent on electricity. All the machines and devices that shape people's lifestyles rely on electricity. One of the key ways to cut back on power usage is investing in alternative energy, such as solar power and wind power. You must also consider stocking up on fuel and a generator. Another thing that you can do is optimize electrical systems to make them more energy-efficient. Preparing these things now will give you one less thing to worry about after retiring.
- Food – One of the best ways to cut back costs on food is to grow them yourself. This includes building a garden and raising animals. And the best time to do that is before retirement. Like any skill, you need a lot of practice before you can master it. By the time you retire, you will have a working knowledge of what to do and how to do it properly. Additionally, you'll be more active and experience the benefits of being exposed to nature.
3. Set up emergency plans
Consider the worst scenarios like accidents and a sudden evacuation. Aside from the usual items in your bug-out bag and vehicle, consider your special needs as well. Ask the following questions for a guide:
- Do you have any special medication? How will you store them?
- Is there a medical history in your family? Some people are more prone to developing certain diseases as they age.
- Where will you stay in case you need to evacuate?
- In the event of death or medical incapacity, who will handle your documents and will?
These are not pleasant to think about, but you must take these into account.
4. Take care of your health
The best thing to invest in is arguably your health. Many seniors spend a lot of money on medical bills and medications, creating a huge dent in their savings. Get a check-up today and take some tests to find out which factors of your overall health you can improve. If there are any risk factors – like genetic predisposition or higher levels of certain compounds – make the choice to adjust your lifestyle to a healthier one. It will be difficult as you may be forced to stop eating some types of food and do things you'd rather not do (like exercise). Take comfort in the fact that your future self will thank you for it.
Retirement can be a period of rest and peace – if you start preparing for it today. Learn more about the prepping lifestyle and kill two birds with one stone at Preparedness.news.
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