--- title: What Expenses Are Higher during Retirement? description: Perhaps you’ve managed to set aside funds into a pension or retirement plan to help support you once you’ve stopped working. Just as important is understanding what expenses are higher during retirement before you reach, and pass, your last day on the job. image: https://www.realized1031.com/hubfs/retirement-1367867682.jpg --- [![Realized 1031 Exchange Marketplace](https://www.realized1031.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/Brand/Logo/Realized/Realized-Logo-Black.png?width=240&height=80&name=Realized-Logo-Black.png "Realized 1031 Logo") ](https://www.realized1031.com/) - [Wealth Management Gap](https://www.realized1031.com/the-wealth-management-gap) - [Our Process](https://www.realized1031.com/how-realized-works) - [Financial Advisors](https://www.realized1031.com/advisor) - [Resources](https://www.realized1031.com/resources) - [The Company](https://www.realized1031.com/about-us) - [Articles](https://www.realized1031.com/blog) [Register](https://www.realized1031.com/marketplace) [Log In](https://www.realized1031.com/login) - Better Business Bureau Rating: **A+** - [FINRA BrokerCheck](https://brokercheck.finra.org/firm/summary/22333) - [Call](tel:1-877-797-1031) **(877) 797-1031** # What Expenses Are Higher during Retirement? Posted Sep 2, 2022 ![retirement-1367867682](https://www.realized1031.com/hs-fs/hubfs/retirement-1367867682.jpg?width=750&height=392&name=retirement-1367867682.jpg) Retirement generally means stepping away from a day-to-day job you might have had for years, or even decades. It also means stepping away from a steady wage and/or salary.   Perhaps you’ve managed to set aside funds into a pension or retirement plan to help support you once you’ve stopped working. Just as important is understanding what expenses are higher during retirement before you reach, and pass, your last day on the job.  ### The Four Categories If you google “higher expenses during retirement,” you’ll come up with more than 76 million hits. [Blackrock does a good job](https://www.blackrock.com/us/individual/education/retirement/building-a-retirement-budget) of breaking these pending expenses into the following four categories:  1. ** Essential Expenses** Essential expenses are mostly monthly costs, and can include housing, transportation, groceries, and medical/health care. These are the “always” costs of retirement.  On the one hand, your housing costs [could be lower when you retire](https://www.fidelity.com/viewpoints/retirement/spending-in-retirement). At this point, the mortgage might be paid off (eliminating one expense). At the same time, downsizing into a smaller, less expensive living space can also occur. But [housing costs are increasing](https://www.fool.com/retirement/2019/06/10/heres-what-the-average-retiree-spends-on-housing-e/#:~:text=The%20average%20retiree%20spends%20%2416%2C723,taxes%2C%20maintenance%2C%20and%20repairs.), as are the costs to maintain a home.    Health insurance costs could increase. You could be swapping your employer-sponsored health care coverage for Medicare. While the basic Medicare premiums don’t cost a thing, there are deductibles and Medicare Part B, which is the medical insurance “add-on.” The [average monthly premium for Part B](https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/medicare-basics/what-does-medicare-cost) is $170.10.  Also on the rise? Healthcare expenses. [Estimated annual health care costs](https://www.annuity.org/retirement/health-care-costs/) (excluding long-term care) for a 65-year-old couple retiring in 2024 is $16,155 – which could be an issue for those on a fixed income.   1. ** Discretionary Expenses** Discretionary expenses—also known as variable expenses—include entertainment, hobbies, dining out, travel, gym memberships, and charitable donations. Retirees have more time on their hands and will likely put more money toward these “extracurricular” activities. Unlike essential expenses, you have more control over these discretionary expenses and can cut back when needed.  1. ** One-Time Expenses** You might find that car maintenance expenses and your clothing budget shrinks, as you no longer need to commute to work or buy professional clothes. Potentially canceling these out are one-time expenses, which can range from helping to put a grandchild through college, to planning a funeral for a spouse.   The [average cost of a funeral](https://www.lhlic.com/consumer-resources/average-funeral-cost/) can be between $7,000 and $12,000 – and this doesn’t include a cemetery burial, headstones, or services. Honoring a loved one’s passing can be expensive.   1. ** Taxes** Just because your job goes away doesn’t mean taxes disappear. You still might have to factor in property taxes (if you own a home), as well as federal, state, and local income taxes.   There are also [taxes on withdrawals from your IRA or 401(k)](https://www.finra.org/investors/learn-to-invest/types-investments/retirement/managing-retirement-income/taxation-retirement-income#:~:text=Taxes%20on%20Pension%20Income&text=You%20will%20owe%20federal%20income,year%20you%20receive%20the%20money.). Unless yours is a Roth IRA (during which you were taxed at the time of the contribution), you’ll owe federal income tax at a regular rage on the distributions. What if you decide not to take those distributions? [You are required to start taking](https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/retirement-plans-faqs-regarding-required-minimum-distributions#:~:text=You%20generally%20have%20to%20start,than%20the%20minimum%20required%20amount.) withdrawals from your IRA or other defined contribution plan when you reach 72 years old. The exception is a Roth IRA, which doesn’t require withdrawals until after the death of the owner.  ### Expenses and the Golden Years Retirement can pave the way for new experiences and different ways of living. The retirement years can also mean unanticipated higher expenses. As such, when considering what’s needed for retirement income, it’s a good idea to honestly assess the costs you could incur.  This material is for general information and educational purposes only. Information is based on data gathered from what we believe are reliable sources. It is not guaranteed as to accuracy, does not purport to be complete and is not intended to be used as a primary basis for investment decisions. It should also not be construed as advice, meeting the particular investment needs of any investor. Realized does not provide tax or legal advice. 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Just as important is understanding what expenses are higher during retirement before you reach, and pass, your last day on the job. The Four Categories If you google “higher expenses during retirement,” you’ll come up with more than 76 million hits. Blackrock does a good job of breaking these pending expenses into the following four categories: Essential Expenses Essential expenses are mostly monthly costs, and can include housing, transportation, groceries, and medical/health care. These are the “always” costs of retirement. On the one hand, your housing costs could be lower when you retire. At this point, the mortgage might be paid off (eliminating one expense). At the same time, downsizing into a smaller, less expensive living space can also occur. But housing costs are increasing, as are the costs to maintain a home. Health insurance costs could increase. You could be swapping your employer-sponsored health care coverage for Medicare. While the basic Medicare premiums don’t cost a thing, there are deductibles and Medicare Part B, which is the medical insurance “add-on.” The average monthly premium for Part B is $170.10. Also on the rise? Healthcare expenses. Estimated annual health care costs (excluding long-term care) for a 65-year-old couple retiring in 2024 is $16,155 – which could be an issue for those on a fixed income. Discretionary Expenses Discretionary expenses—also known as variable expenses—include entertainment, hobbies, dining out, travel, gym memberships, and charitable donations. Retirees have more time on their hands and will likely put more money toward these “extracurricular” activities. Unlike essential expenses, you have more control over these discretionary expenses and can cut back when needed. One-Time Expenses You might find that car maintenance expenses and your clothing budget shrinks, as you no longer need to commute to work or buy professional clothes. Potentially canceling these out are one-time expenses, which can range from helping to put a grandchild through college, to planning a funeral for a spouse. The average cost of a funeral can be between $7,000 and $12,000 – and this doesn’t include a cemetery burial, headstones, or services. Honoring a loved one’s passing can be expensive. Taxes Just because your job goes away doesn’t mean taxes disappear. You still might have to factor in property taxes (if you own a home), as well as federal, state, and local income taxes. There are also taxes on withdrawals from your IRA or 401(k). Unless yours is a Roth IRA (during which you were taxed at the time of the contribution), you’ll owe federal income tax at a regular rage on the distributions. What if you decide not to take those distributions? You are required to start taking withdrawals from your IRA or other defined contribution plan when you reach 72 years old. The exception is a Roth IRA, which doesn’t require withdrawals until after the death of the owner. Expenses and the Golden Years Retirement can pave the way for new experiences and different ways of living. The retirement years can also mean unanticipated higher expenses. As such, when considering what’s needed for retirement income, it’s a good idea to honestly assess the costs you could incur. This material is for general information and educational purposes only. Information is based on data gathered from what we believe are reliable sources. It is not guaranteed as to accuracy, does not purport to be complete and is not intended to be used as a primary basis for investment decisions. It should also not be construed as advice, meeting the particular investment needs of any investor. Realized does not provide tax or legal advice. This material is not a substitute for seeking the advice of a qualified professional for your individual situation.", "articleSection" : [ "Retirement Income" ], "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "email" : "marketing@realized1031.com", "image" : "", "name" : "The Realized Team", "url" : "https://www.realized1031.com/blog/author/the-realized-team" }, "dateModified" : "2022-09-02T16:00:00+0000", "datePublished" : "2022-09-02T16:00:00+0000", "description" : "Perhaps you’ve managed to set aside funds into a pension or retirement plan to help support you once you’ve stopped working. Just as important is understanding what expenses are higher during retirement before you reach, and pass, your last day on the job. 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