6 Smart Money Moves I Made Before Retiring
These money moves helped me build wealth, eliminate debt, and enjoy life on my terms.
- Daisy Montero
- 3 min read
A few years before I retired, I was sitting at my work locker one afternoon, staring at a stack of bills and wondering how ready I really was for life after the plant. I knew the paycheck wouldn’t be coming in forever, but I also knew I hadn’t taken all the steps I needed to. That moment pushed me to get serious about planning ahead, not just hoping everything would fall into place.
If you’re thinking about retirement, it’s easy to wonder if you’ve done enough. I’ve been there. Today, I’m sharing six smart money moves I made before retiring—moves that gave me peace of mind and set me up for a more comfortable future.
1. Treated My Future Self Like a Priority
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Saving for retirement was not just about numbers. I made sure to put my future needs first, even when it meant spending less in the moment. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I ever made.
2. Stopped Letting Debt Control My Life
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Carrying debt felt like dragging a heavy weight. Paying off early gave me the freedom to use my money the way I wanted. Retirement became easier because I was not stuck making payments.
3. Made My Money Work While I Slept
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Letting money sit in a regular savings account was not enough. Investing in stocks, real estate, and other income sources gave me steady growth over time. My money kept growing even when I was not working.
4. Learned That Less Stuff Means More Freedom
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Owning too much made life complicated and expensive. I started focusing on what really mattered instead of buying things I did not need. Retirement felt lighter because I was not tied down by unnecessary expenses.
5. Created a Life That Did Not Need a Full-Time Job
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Retirement was not just about quitting work. I built small income streams that kept money coming in without taking up my time. Having options made all the difference in how I enjoy life now.
6. Planned for Problems Before They Happened
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Unexpected expenses can ruin retirement if there is no plan. I made sure to have health coverage, emergency savings, and a long-term care plan in place. Preparing ahead gave me peace of mind when I needed it most.
These moves weren’t complicated, but each one helped me avoid unnecessary financial stress when the time came to hang up my work boots. I didn’t wait for a perfect moment—I just took steady, practical steps.
Here’s how you can start right now:
Pay down high-interest debt: I focused on clearing my credit card balance before retirement. For example, I stopped using the card for non-essentials and doubled my payments until it was gone.
Max out retirement contributions: I increased my 401(k) contributions to take full advantage of my employer match. I treated it like a non-negotiable bill every month.
Downsize unnecessary expenses: Mary and I reviewed every bill, cutting out extras like cable packages we no longer watched. We saved over $100 a month just by switching to basic plans.
Estimate retirement healthcare costs: I researched Medicare options and set aside extra savings specifically for premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Create a detailed post-retirement budget: Before leaving work, I wrote down exactly what we’d need each month—mortgage, groceries, insurance—and checked how it matched up to my projected income.
The sooner you start making these moves, the more confident you’ll feel when retirement rolls around. Simple actions today can make all the difference tomorrow.