It’s good to be careful with money, but retirement is also about enjoying what you’ve worked for. Some people stay in saving mode so long they forget how to spend. That kind of thinking can slowly wear you down. If life doesn’t feel as full as it should, here are 13 signs it’s time to ease up.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock.
You won’t replace old, worn-out shoes or clothes
Yes, those jeans with the hole in the knee are fine “because they still technically work.” And yes, that sweatshirt with the broken zipper “is still totally fine to wear.” But if comfort and dignity are not in the definition of thrift, what is? Hoarding worn-out clothes and shoes that are clearly at the end of their usable life is a sign of an extreme fear of spending money.
You won’t turn on A/C or heat
Saving on utilities is a necessity and a good practice. But if you are often uncomfortably cold in the winter months or drenched in sweat during the summer, it’s not budgeting, it’s abuse. It is possible to keep your energy bills in check while not neglecting your basic needs for comfort and human decency.
You’ll skip social gatherings to avoid spending
If you’re always saying no to dinner, drinks, and other social events because you don’t want to spend money on the commute or bring a dish, you are depriving yourself of more than food and drinks. Loneliness can be a gradual process that you don’t even realize is happening, and this fear of spending money can start to edge you out of your social life.
You put off important medical/dental work
Saving money by avoiding routine medical and dental visits (and perhaps delaying necessary treatment) is like robbing Peter to pay Paul. Yes, you can save some money now, but you are postponing pain and increased medical/dental bills down the road.
You refuse to upgrade safety-related home features
Stubbornly continuing to use that rickety stepladder, or not buying bathroom grab bars “because they’re too expensive,” is penny-wise and pound-foolish. Worse, your reluctance to spend money where safety is concerned is setting you up for avoidable accidents with very high price tags.
You eat the same bland meals every day
If you have reached the point where food has become a means to get nutrients or stay alive (nutrition at the lowest possible cost), something has gone badly wrong. Food is fuel, to be sure, but it is also meant to taste good and be enjoyed.
You’re using ancient electronics that stress you out
Can’t get comfy with a 20-year-old TV or can’t read small print on a phone screen, but won’t spring for a new one? Or maybe you’ve got an older computer that’s so slow, just loading the browser makes you feel ancient. There’s a pride that makes you hang on to these old clunkers, but if these things make life more difficult for you, or keep you from doing things or being around people, that’s a small sign you need to ease up a bit.
You don’t visit your kids/grandkids
If your answer to your children/grandchildren’s invitations is always “maybe next time” because of the high price of airfare or gas, you may be missing out. They’re only young once and there is no do-over. Waiting for the “right time” may cost you memories you can never get back.
You won’t pay for help even when you’re overwhelmed
If you’re out there mowing the lawn with a bad back or trying to fix your laptop with duct tape and guesswork, it might be time to ask yourself why. Saving money is one thing, but pushing through pain or frustration just to avoid spending anything? That’s not healthy.
You never touch your “fun” money
You have a budget that you’re happy to spend on fun, but if it’s a bottomless pit you’ve never dipped into, you might be in an invisible prison. Retirement is about more than just being safe. It’s about having joy. You have a “fun” budget for a reason.
You drive a car that makes you nervous
Driving an old car that makes noises or that breaks down a lot may feel like you’re being a saver, but if you’re getting anxious whenever you turn the key, that’s a hidden cost. Safety and peace of mind are worth more than a few months of savings.
You obsessively compare prices without buying anything
If you find yourself in the endless cycle of researching prices but never actually buying anything, that might be a sign that you’re paralyzed by fear of spending. You may lose out on savings in the long-run as prices continue to rise.
You feel guilty after spending, even on basic things
Purchasing something shouldn’t feel like a moral failing. If even modest, reasonable expenditures cause you anxiety or regret, that’s not sensible money management; it’s a sign your money mindset may have grown too constrained for a happy retirement.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us on MSN.