Retire With Purpose - The Retirement Podcast 542: By the Numbers: From Fear to Freedom — Learning How to Spend in Retirement
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Jan 9, 2026 Struggling to spend in retirement? The hosts tackle why many retirees underspend despite solid financial plans. They explore the emotional barriers that arise from lifelong saving habits and how these habits impact spending choices. Strategies to boost spending confidence are discussed, including practical 'spending experiments' to test new financial behaviors. The conversation emphasizes the importance of aligning personal identity with spending to encourage a more joyful retirement experience. Tune in for insights on navigating this complex emotional landscape!
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Confidence Matters More Than Perfect Knowledge
- Many retirees underspend because they lack confidence in their financial plan and its ability to handle risks.
- Reaching about an 8 or 9 understanding (not a 10) often suffices to spend with confidence.
Great Depression Shapes Lifelong Frugality
- Marshall shares his grandmother's Great Depression experience that created lifelong frugality and identity.
- That upbringing explains why some retirees find meaning in stretching every dollar.
Frugality Can Be Purposeful And Satisfying
- Underspending can be an intentional expression of values, identity, or comfort rather than deprivation.
- Advisors should affirm value-aligned frugality when it genuinely fits the client.
