Move to a Cheaper Locale
With families today being so far flung it's a much easier decision to pick up stakes and move to a lower cost-of-living region. After all, the kids have already relocated for their marriage or career — or might soon do so. Your moving might actually get you closer to them, to say nothing of letting you enjoy the climate and social environment of your dreams. "Half of my clients now consider moving as part of their retirement plan," says Evelyn Zohlen, a financial planner in Huntington Beach, Calif. She says one client couple moved from the west coast to Dallas, where they bought a similar house for half as much money and pocketed the difference. They were able cut living expenses by more than 20% without lifting a finger. The move alone will stretch the couples' retirement income to 30 years from 20 years without affecting their lifestyle, Zohlen says. The other consideration is income taxes, and there are currently seven states that levy don't have any: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.