Retirement brings with it all kinds of changes, and there are some things worth buying to help you deal with those changes, or even live your retirement to its fullest.
A retirement relocation trial stay
There’s something you should do before selling your house and heading somewhere ‘perfect.’ You’ve got to book a normal stay first. Yes, skip going to a resort or a long weekend where everything still feels special, and try renting a regular apartment for a few weeks instead.
Buy groceries and see what the place costs on an ordinary day. You never know how your finances and attitude might change when you retire, so it’s well worth purchasing a trial stay. It’ll save you from a lot of second-guessing later.
An adjustable bed base
You probably think that your bed is fine. It might be perfectly acceptable for when you’re working, sure, but when you retire, it’s a different story. You’re older, for one, and you might be sleeping more, too. That’s why you should invest in an adjustable bed.
It’ll allow you to raise your head and change positions without needing to pile up pillows that’ll eventually slide onto the floor. Try looking for a model that comes with separate controls or an emergency-lowering feature. Those are lifesavers when you’re of retirement age.
A rolling indoor-outdoor utility cartÂ
It looks boring. A rolling utility cart is one of those things you probably don’t even realize you need, but you’ll soon find that it’s something you use every day. You can put everything on there, whether that’s keys or laundry. No need for repeated trips back and forth.
Whatever kind you buy, make sure to stack it with the things you use most often. It’ll keep the things you need within easy reach and reduce the number of household hazards lying around. No, it’s not glamorous, but yes, it is practical.
A lightweight folding mobility scooter
Most boomers know they should buy a folding mobility scooter. A lot of them wait too long to do it. You’re best off purchasing one before it feels ‘necessary’ because it’ll give you time to choose one without stressing.Â
You’ll have the time to compare the total weight and check the size fits in the trunk. That’s stuff you don’t want to do while you’re panicking. Don’t forget to lift the scooter yourself before paying, salespeople make that part look suspiciously easy.
A home-maintenance membership
A home-maintenance membership is exactly what it sounds like. You pay one company, and they’ll do everything for you, like furnace checks and plumbing visits, as well as seasonal maintenance. No need to keep a drawer full of business cards.
These kinds of things matter a lot for retirees because you’ll be getting to the age when doing home repairs becomes a lot more difficult for you. You really don’t want to risk any accidents when you’re older. Getting one company to sort it all out just makes sense, really.
A smaller, cheaper retirement car
Your daily commute disappears when you retire, and it doesn’t take long for a big car to feel like too much. You don’t need all that vehicle for grocery runs and doctor appointments. Instead, try buying a smaller retirement car because it’ll cost less to insure and fuel.
It usually costs less to maintain, too, although the prices do vary, of course. You’re probably not going to be doing as much driving when you’ve retired, so there’s really no need to hold onto a giant gas guzzler unless you really need it.
A personal emergency-response device
Forget what you might’ve heard because a personal emergency-response device doesn’t necessarily mean you’re frail or housebound. You’d be surprised at how many people own them. Not because they’re weak, but because they live alone or spend a lot of time in the garden.
There are so many stylish and high-tech options out there, like ones with GPS and two-way calling. Some even come with automatic fall detection. There’s no shame in owning one. It’s better to have one of these devices and not use it than to have a fall and need one.
A prepaid funeral plan from a regulated provider
Time for a slightly darker one. Yes, it’s about time you bought a prepaid funeral plan, even though you still have plenty of years ahead of you. You deserve to choose the details of what’s going to happen instead of leaving it all up to your relatives to guess.
Just make sure you’re careful with who you buy a plan from, it should only be a regulated provider. Ask where the money sits and whether prices are guaranteed.
A medical-record organization service
You never know how many hospital portals and pharmacy apps you’ll have to deal with when you retire. A medical-record organization service can save you from all that. It’s a service that’ll collect copies and scan old records before sorting them by date.
It’ll also create one medication list for you, nice and clear. Having one of those systems will make the whole procedure of getting medicine a lot easier for you. At least, the paperwork side will be easier. The medicine itself won’t be any easier to swallow.Â
A senior railcard or discounted transit pass
When you retire, you’ll go to all sorts of different places at random times, just because you can. A senior railcard or reduced-fare transit pass comes in handy for that. They make any little trips cheaper, along with the bigger ones.
The discounts you receive do depend on the local transit agency, of course, but it’s well worth investing in a pass. You won’t have to drive yourself everywhere and can focus on actually enjoying your golden years instead. Sounds pretty great, honestly.
A lifetime senior national-parks pass
So many seniors don’t know about the discounts they can get on lifetime national parks passes. Eligible U.S. citizens and permanent residents can get one for around $80, and it covers entrance or standard amenity fees at a lot of federal recreation sites.Â
There are different rules for different places, though. Some sites charge by the vehicle, and the pass usually includes the cost of passengers in the passholder’s car. For the places that charge per person, the pass covers the holder and up to three adults. Get a pass and get out there.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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