One concept that should be a part of the fabric of our being is save, save, save during the last five years of our federal work career. Hopefully you have been contributing to your TSP since you began working, but certainly the last 5 years before retirement is a time you should save like never before. These last 5 years should be seen as preparing to come into the home stretch of your retirement years.
If you don’t spend money then you should be saving money. The spending you should be doing during the five years prior to retirement should only be for paying those expenses you must – rent/mortgage, utility bills, food, and other must-pay, mandatory items. No extra unnecessary spending should take place during this time.
You are saving now so that you don’t have to pay later and find yourself unhappy, and unsecured in your retirement years. Be frugal during the last five years of your work life, after all you have worked for 20 to 30 years and you should have acquired most of the things you needed and wanted.
When you are contemplating retirement you should scale way back on your spending so that your debts are reduced significantly. The only large debt that might go into retirement with you is unfortunately a mortgage.
Every time you think about spending during the last five years of your retirement, think about how much you want to live in comfort and security and Save ferociously.
P. S. Always Remember to Share What You Know.
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