Everyone likes to save money when they can. But it becomes even more important to learn money saving tips for seniors. After all, you want to be able to enjoy your retirement, not stress about finances. Sometimes that can mean being frugal in certain areas of your finances so that you can splurge a little in other areas. Below are six ideas to help save some money and keep your pockets as filled as possible.
While supplemental insurance will be helpful for some families, others may find that it’s more cost-effective if they just pay for long-term care plans themselves. If that’s the case for your family, you may need to start saving sooner rather than later. That way, you already have a good safety net on standby when you need it.
There are many ways you can start saving up for a loved one’s health care costs.
Money saving tips for seniors:
Create a dedicated account for care.
Start by setting up a new account that’s just for these potential health care costs. Whether you opt to invest or just open a personal savings account at your bank, set aside a reserve that is only for the medical needs of your loved one. In doing so, you won’t be tempted to pull from it for other expenses and you can have a more accurate understanding of which services you can afford when you need them.
Stick to a contribution schedule.
U.S. News & World Report states you’ll be more likely to save money if you start small and make the process easier for yourself. Creating a schedule for when you add money to the savings will achieve those goals. Whether you start with $10 a week or 5 percent of each paycheck, pick an affordable amount that you can send to your long-term care fund and a timeline for when those contributions get added. Many financial organizations allow you to set up an auto-debit that will take money from your checking accounts and deposit them directly into your savings on the schedule you choose. After you start to feel more comfortable in your ability to save, consider increasing how much you add each time.
Be conscious of your spending.
The more cautious you are when spending money, the more you’ll have available to save. Time.com says that you don’t have to deprive yourself of any and all luxuries when you’re trying to save, you just need to be more careful with the purchases you make. Use coupons, compare different brands, and consider what upgrades are truly necessary when you’re shopping so you don’t end up spending more money than you need to. You should also examine the kind of purchases you’re making and decide which are necessities and which are perks. You may find that you have routine expenditures you only follow out of habit and not out of an actual, regular need.
Utilize your senior discount.
When you go out to eat or get an oil change, or whatever you may be doing, most businesses offer a senior discount. Sometimes this discount can be a huge percentage off of the original price, and one of the best money saving tips for seniors. Just ask and chances are you’ll be able to get a discount. You’ve earned a discount from years of buying, so why not utilize it to the fullest extent? As a bonus, sometimes you can couple a senior discount with discount clubs you may be part of, like AARP. If you’re a veteran, there may also be a discount for you, too!
Determine whether you’re eligible for veterans benefits.
Veterans and veterans’ survivors who are eligible for a Veterans Affairs pension, and who have documented physical or mental restrictions, may be eligible for an increase in monthly pension benefits, called an enhanced or special monthly pension. To qualify for pension benefits, the veteran must have served during a period of conflict, meet certain age or disability requirements, and meet certain income and net worth limits. A surviving spouse must meet certain criteria as well. A veteran or survivor also may qualify for an enhanced or special monthly pension if he or she is eligible for pension benefits and needs assistance with daily activities or is housebound because of disability.
Wherever you save your money, in the beginning, it’s irrelevant as long as you’re saving money somewhere. What you are trying to do is create a new habit.