Now that you are older and wiser, are you concerned you will outlive your money?

Do you find that your IRA, 401(k), and/or pension payouts are not enough to reasonably sustain you? What about your monthly Social Security check?

Do you notice that even with all the scrimping and saving you did as a whippersnapper, you now spend beyond your means?

If so, you’re not alone.

According to a survey conducted by Indexed Annuity Leadership Council, 25 percent of Americans are worried they will outlive their income.

Perhaps, like many other people, you didn’t prepare for your golden years as well as you probably should have. Maybe you invested well, but then—right out of left field—you lost big in September 2008, when the stock market crashed.

Perhaps your nest egg was completely depleted or it took you up until now to recover, or maybe you haven’t recovered from the loss.

Unfortunately, first world problems happen all the time, and we Westerners need to always be prepared for the fiascos of Wall Street. The economy is constantly changing and the stock market is a total crapshoot; it’s not easy to keep up with the signs of the times. (It’s even more trying to keep up with the Joneses.)

There are ways to recover, however. But before we get into the details of money management in retirement, take a moment to answer these questions:

When it comes to your money mindset, what pops into your head?

Are there any limiting beliefs up there?

If you have self-limiting beliefs around money, bring them into your current awareness. They’ve most likely been lodged inside your brain since you were a child. What you may not realize is your belief system is programmed by the outdated thoughts of your former self . . . and they are no longer valid.

It isn’t where you came from; it’s where you’re going that counts. 

Ella Fitzgerald

Perhaps in the past, you felt guilt, remorse, anger, or fear about money. Maybe you still do and that’s why you’re reading this . . . but none of those negative emotions need be true of your current situation. In order to transform your financial health, you are going to have to retrain your stubborn, old brain.  

What does your ideal lifestyle look like?

• Get into a relaxed, meditative state and take a few moments right now to do a “Future Self” visualization.

• Close your eyes and imagine being in the presence of your Future Self (yourself several years from now), living an ideal life.

• Notice where you are and what the surroundings look like. Use all your senses to get a good feel of the place.

• Greet your Future Self and notice the way your Future Self returns your greeting, welcoming you into this time and place. Become fully aware of this person. What does (s)he look like? Notice how (s)he is standing or sitting, what (s)he is wearing.

• Notice how you feel while in the presence of your Future Self. 

• Move into a conversation with your older, wiser self. Perhaps your Future Self offers you something to drink or eat. Really settle in and make yourself comfortable.

• Begin your conversation by asking questions. What do I need to pay attention to most right now in my life?

• Take a moment now to hear the answer.

• Now ask: Knowing what you now know, is there one piece of advice you can give me?

• Listen to what your Future Self has to say.

• Now ask your Future Self your own question. Wait for the response.

• When you are ready, bring your visit to a close. Thank your Future Self for sharing the insight and wisdom with you.

• Say goodbye and leave the scene.

• When you’re ready open your eyes and write down the answers your Future Self gave you.

Please feel free to use the comments section below to share your answers and/or your visualization experience with the NeuroGym community. We’d love to hear from you! 

Now that you know what your Future Self is up to, it’s time to return to the present moment and get back to work. Are you ready to figure out what you have and what you need in order to make your dreams a reality?

(EDITOR’S NOTE: If you’re ready to shift your money paradigm and mindset download this  training on how to identify and eliminate the “hidden money story” holding you back from financial freedom.)

Take care of your money, once and for all.

When it comes to retirement planning there’s a lot to it, and the adjustment may be challenging at first. It may feel scary knowing that you no longer have a steady stream of income from your job . . . and will instead be tapping into the money you’ve worked so diligently to save.

But instead of feeling remorse or guilt about the past or anxiety about the future, it’s the perfect time to keep things positive and do some serious research.

You’re going to have to do your arithmetic before you can develop a good retirement plan of action.

If you haven’t already, do the research on how to budget, manage, and invest your money wisely.

This may require you to develop an entirely new skill set. You have time to read now that you’re retired, right?

In other words, don’t just depend on a financial planner or advisor . . . learn how to take control of your money on your own. (If you do want to hire a professional, make sure you find one who has your best interests in mind and who works on a fee-only basis. This may require you to interview several candidates.)

(If you do want to hire a professional, make sure you find one who has your best interests in mind and who works on a fee-only basis. This may require you to interview several candidates.)

Take action and be fully committed to your plan.

Once you know everything there is to know about how not to run out of money before you’re ready to take your last breath, give yourself a list of action steps.

• Reprogram your brain for a healthy money mindset.
• Pay off credit card debt. (Start with the one with the highest APR).
• Create a detailed, balanced budget and stick to it.
• Save and invest your money.
• Get all your ducks in a row: create a will, decide on long-term care insurance, set up a durable power of attorney for health care (DPAHC), establish a living trust, etc.
• Develop healthy habits.
• Stay motivated.
• Live in the moment.
• Enjoy your new, successful lifestyle!

When it comes to your financial well-being, you’ve got to be completely honest with yourself. It’s important to get clear about what you need and what you need to do.

You must know exactly how much money you have and exactly how much you spend.

The first step is to figure out your actual net worth. To do this, you may want to use a retirement calculator. (They are especially useful if you are newly retired or about to retire.)

Here are a few (with good reviews) to choose from. The calculations may be a reality check on how much you currently have to spend over the course of your lifetime.

The T. Rowe Price Retirement Income Calculator is a good one for those of you already in retirement. All you have to do is enter your income sources such as Social Security, pensions, brokerage accounts, annuities, assets . . . and it projects the likelihood that your current plan is sustainable through life expectancy; it even provides suggestions (such as reduced spending) to maintain your current situation.

Get out of debt now . . . it’s an emergency!

There is no point in saving for retirement if you have debt. If you have a current balance on any of your credit cards, you need to do everything possible to pay it off. If you want to buy something, you cannot view using your credit card as an option.

You may be dying to buy that $1,400 telescope, and that’s fine, but budget for it and save for it and pay for it with cash that you actually have. Paying more interest on your credit cards than you are accruing in your savings or brokerage account is ludicrous, and can be detrimental to your retirement.

The more rigorous debt payoff method you implement the better. Every dollar you manage not to throw away builds your skill at saving money and learning to spend it more efficiently.

Anna Newell Jones, author of The Spender’s Guide to Debt-Free Living: How a Spending Fast Helped Me Get from Broke to Badass in Record Time, was a major over-spender (her family had $100,000 in debt!). Luckily, they were able to overcome financial strife by making a plan and taking immediate action. Anna explains how they did it on her blog, And Then We Saved.  

If she can do it, so can you! You can pay off your debt. And it is imperative that you start today. Pay off your credit cards and move on . . .

After your credit crisis has passed, you should start stabilizing your finances. Most importantly, your spending should be less (preferably much less) than your current income.

Bankruptcy expert and current U.S. Senator, Elizabeth Warren, outlines in her book, All Your Worth, that 50 percent of after-tax income should go to your needs; 30 percent should go to your wants such as clothes, travel, eating out, and entertainment; and 20 percent should go to savings.

Get balanced with what comes in and what goes out.

This 50/30/20 budgeting structure can serve as a foundation to build up your retirement fund for the lifestyle you want. There are plenty of other budgeting systems that typically share the same goals: to help you move away from living check to check, payout to payout—vulnerable to every little economic setback.

With your incoming and outgoing numbers in front of you, create a balanced budget spreadsheet online in Google Drive or on your computer in Excel. Another option is to find and download a budgeting app to help you manage your money . . . if you’re into apps.

If you still have credit cards at this point, use them lightly or only in case of emergency. Do not, however, use them to build up debt again. You should pay off your cards in full every month, since carrying a balance does not help you save.

Once you’ve gone through your budget, look at it as a sort of wake-up call. Most people should be saving at least 10 percent of their income and putting it into various retirement and/or savings accounts.

If you’re not doing that—or even if you are—you need to look at this budget to see where you can do a better job of cutting back on spending and adding to your savings.

You may have lost big with investments or made mistakes in your youth that have left you with the bare minimum, but that was the past . . . this is now. It is time to come to grips with what is.

If you discover you have no place to cut back, you’ll have to look long and hard at the big-ticket items on your budget: mortgage/rent and/or car. It may be time to downsize and opt for new living arrangements and public transportation.

There are many wise ways to spend your time and save your money.

You’ve probably heard this advice, “Spend your money wisely.” Well, now that you are retired or near retirement age, you have to be completely in charge of how you spend your money . . . if you want to live comfortably within your means. And you need to be totally in control of any impulsive spending and/or compulsive spending.

How to Curb Spending:

1. Stop shopping online using your credit card.

This cannot be emphasized enough. If you shop online, use PayPal instead (a free and secure way to make purchases). Just link your bank account to your PayPal account, and the purchase price will be automatically deducted from your account. And as tempting as it may be, don’t use the $1,200 in PayPal credit. That money doesn’t exist.

2. Pay with cash.

Cash may become obsolete in the future (as it is in Sweden), so enjoy it while you can! When you go out into the world, take the cash you need to make your planned purchases. Going grocery shopping for the week? Take a few twenties with you, and leave your debit and credit cards at home. 

3. Always make a shopping list.

Don’t wing it. And especially don’t leave home without a list if you’re hungry. Actually, try to avoid going to the grocery store unless you’ve just eaten your biggest meal of the day. Figure out what you want to eat ahead of time and make your corresponding list. Stick to it! Don’t buy on impulse.

4. Find the best deal.

You are probably going to get a better deal somewhere other than Whole Foods or Lazy Acres. Shop around and find healthy organic food . . . that is actually affordable.

5. Don’t buy something just because it’s on sale, cheap, or such a great deal. It still costs money!

This will require discipline, but you must train your brain to ignore promotions that seem too good to be true. Your only considerations should be whether you really need it and if the price fits within your budget.

6. Instead of further fueling your spending sprees by coming up with excuses, use your overspending mistakes to inspire you to do better.

Empower yourself to overcome overspending! Your retirement lifestyle depends on it. If you need more encouragement in this arena, try this Innercise that uses proven psychology and the latest advancements in neuroscience to help motivate you to put your goals into action. And with repetition, it will help you keep the motivation part of your brain alive and active.

7. Resist wasteful habits.

Little indulgences add up fast. Here are some ways you can save more money:

• Make coffee at home instead of buying a double latte and a pumpkin muffin every morning. You’ll save about $25 a week.

• Buy a water filter and fill a reusable water jar instead of buying bottled water.

• Make your lunch at home and save another $50 a week.

• Don’t smoke, and save thousands of dollars a year. (Not to mention the lungs and heart you’ll save as well!)

• Don’t gamble.

This last one may or may not be easy to do. But you have a better chance of being struck by lightning than winning the lottery.

If you spend $200 a year on the state lottery from age 60 to 110, you will have $10,000 less to spend during retirement. And if you put that $10K into a Certificate of Deposit (CD) or another low-risk investment account at age 70 (with a 5.2% interest rate), you’ll have just over $20K extra to spend when you’re 90. Then again, you may win the lottery. Gambling is pretty much the same as traditional models of asset allocation; however, neither of these provides what the majority of retirees need: cash flow.

8. Adventure into the unknown.

Travel abroad! Perhaps being an expat is in the cards for you now that you are of retirement age. Supposedly, there are places in the world where $200K in retirement savings will last you 30 years. This may or may not be true; it most likely boils down to your lifestyle, but it may be worth checking out.

The cost of everyday living and the price of healthcare are much lower in Latin American and Asian countries. Europe is a bit more expensive, but the housing costs in Spain are still fairly reasonable.

9. Become an entrepreneur.

Here’s an opportunity figure out how to make more money. Are you handy, artsy, and/or crafty . . . and wondering what to do after retirement?

If you still have it in you, and you want to continue to work, why not start your own business? Creating your own start-up may be just the thing for you to do.

Be wise now that you’re old. Learn how to stop spending so much. You want to outlive your money, don’t you?

Need even more ideas on how to manage and save money for retirement? Read the Budget Diet blog to learn how to cut your spending by $400 a month. It’s a great resource for those of you who need to pay attention to every penny. And for an idea on how to productively spend your money, check out this Penny Hoarder flowchart.

Invest in your life to design your ideal future.

For the most part, investing should be viewed as a solo venture. It involves a lot of personal preference, and it takes a long time to learn the language and organize the numbers. Going the route of the bond ladder, deferred income annuities, reverse mortgages, and traditional diversification may be right for you, or it may not.

You have to be the one to figure out what’s best for your financial longevity.

According to the financial advisor and planner, Erin Botsford, “Traditional asset allocation models using systematic withdrawals usually work well in markets that are going up, but they can be devastating for retirees in markets that are going sideways or down.”

Botsford believes in what she calls, “Lifestyle-Driven Investing.” She works with clients to help them create their “Preferred Lifestyle” and build a purposeful and strategic investment portfolio where they never have to wonder why they own the investments they own. (The Big Retirement Risk)

Exercise for growth.

Figure out your investment growth over time, work out the interest on your IRA(s), calculate the growth of your CD(s), and estimate how long it will take to save for your retirement or a luxury item with this savings calculator.

Use it to figure out how much you need to save each month to meet your money growth goals.

And if you’re done investing in the volatile stock market and ready to throw in the towel when it comes to managing your stock portfolios, good for you.

We all want to age gracefully.

When we’re young we think we will be young forever. But now that we’re not basking in the glow of youth, the goal is to simply age well and enjoy life to the fullest. The ultimate intention is to live a life that is stress-free and comfortable . . . with a little travel, leisure, and adventure sprinkled in there.

Aging gracefully may mean different things to different people. But we can probably agree on these three goals:

1.      Be healthy and make the most of Medicare or Medicaid.
2.      Stay financially strong and independent so your family won’t be burdened.
3.      Have fun and laugh a lot!

Getting sick costs a lot in time, money, energy, and missed experiences. You can avoid many illnesses by respecting your body and using common sense. Be a healthy elder.

• Exercise for an hour a day. (Take up tai chi and gardening!)

• Avoid unhealthy snacks and other poor eating habits.

• Cook with spices (turmeric, black pepper, cumin, cayenne, cinnamon, etc.).

• Eat fresh food. Leafy greens, mushrooms, potatoes, cauliflower, other vegetables, herbs, beans, brown rice, and whole grains are healthy and cost less than processed and convenient packaged foods.

• Eat a variety of foods to maintain balance.

• Get plenty of rest.

• Don’t use harmful substances.

• Get regular check-ups by your doctor.

(You have time to go for long walks, bake bread, take naps, and read in the doctor’s office now that you’re retired, right?)

So what does it really mean to live within your means?

The answer to this question will have to be determined by you alone. You are the only one in charge of your finances and health. Building your knowledge and taking control of your financial situation will empower you.

If it feels overwhelming, start by transforming your mindset around money and success; get clear about what you need to do, and take action.

There are many money mindset myths floating around out there. And even though cash flow is considered king, you cannot allow money to rule your life. The goal is to get control over your money so that you can put it where it belongs: in the background.

Remember, you’re taking action so your lifestyle can improve.

Think of money management as something that’s fun rather than stressful. If you have spent most of your adult life worrying about money, it may feel a little strange to let go of your money anxiety, but do it anyway . . . let go and let be.

No more lying awake at night wondering if your Social Security check is going to clear before the mortgage payment. No more torturing yourself over whether you can afford something. You know the answer. 

If you have the cash, then you can buy it. And best of all, no more wondering whether you’ll get ahead. You have created a solid plan to build your savings, and before you know it, you will be accumulating wealth.

The future is wide open.

Maybe you are now considered a senior citizen. Elderly. An adorable “cotton head” who gets special discounts on public transportation, movies, and cruise ship travel. But how do you see yourself? What are you doing? Where are you going? Close your eyes for a minute and imagine . . .

The sky’s the limit.

Perhaps you’re in Pebble Beach playing a round of golf or cruising to Mexico on a chartered sailboat. Maybe you see yourself as the CEO of a microbrewery—built from your beer-drinking hobby, or out bird watching with your grandchildren, or volunteering at the Community Resource Center.

It all sounds good, doesn’t it? There are successful retirement stories out there, so why not strive to be one of them? And may you be happy and healthy in your golden years. Go out there and rule your retirement!

What’s next?

Find out what happened to Valerie Ketjen during her journey through our Winning the Game of Money program.

And sign-up for the free mini-workshop. It will help you to change your negative thought patterns around money, which will hamper your progress . . . while helping you to achieve your goals in the process. Click the button for free instant access!

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Please leave your comments and/or questions in the space below.