A guide to creating a retirement budget -Business Standard

Planning for the future is as easy as planning a trip. Start with these five steps

Retirement means taking things easy. But in order to have a happy one it is never a good idea to be complacent about the planning. Finance institutions like HDFC Bank  offer tailor-made innovative pension plans to provide financial security for a happy retired life without compromising on living standards. 

Experts, in fact, recommend that retirement planning should start from the day you start earning. Presenting six steps to help retire in comfort.

1. Budget for retirement

Knowing post-retirement expenses is crucial to retirement planning.

Two ways to do it: 

a. Estimate the retirement fund

Every individual needs roughly about 70% to 80% of pre-retirement gross income. Sooner one starts, the better it is. That way even after the paychecks stop coming, life doesn’t. 

It’s a good idea to consult a financial advisor on how to create a monthly budget. Many reputed financial firms, like HDFC Life, have formulated retirement expense worksheets, so the help needed to pencil out a budget for retirement is just a click away. 

b. Create a detailed monthly budget for retirement

Some expenses, such as those on clothing and entertainment, come down. Others, such as transportation, medicine and insurance, go up. Typically, during the initial retirement years, people spend more on travel and leisure activities, and later, more on health. It is important to note that everyone’s situation is different, so what works for one individual may not work for another. 

How to come up with an estimate?

Start with your current spending pattern: Use your monthly take-home pay as a starting point, and then ask a few questions. 

• What amount gets currently deposited to your account after all deductions for taxes, retirement plans, insurance, etc. are done?
• What expenses will have to be paid out-of-pocket post retirement?
• Any major home repairs or automobile purchases required?
• Are there any expenses that will decrease post retirement? Are there any major expenses that may occur post retirement? Like child’s marriage

One must carefully deliberate, evaluate and add up all the expenses you’re likely to incur after retirement, especially during the first year of retirement. Then, adjust it to reach an affordable and yet comfortable retirement lifestyle.

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