There is a popular adage that goes something like: “In the end, we only regret the chances that we did not take.” And no, this article is not about having to live only once that you have to try everything and anything under the sun. On the contrary, this is about having only one life to live that you have to be very careful and wise on how you spend your time, energy, and money.
As a matter of fact, one of the ways on how we can guarantee that we are using our money wisely is by preparing for our retirement. But before we get to the nitty-gritty of it, ask yourself first: “Why bother?” A lot of people have the “I’m going to die anyway” mentality. Some would say, “Who knows when my time will come, so why worry about the future?”
But what if the future DID come?
Apparently, the COVID-19 pandemic has proven to us how crucially important it is to be wise and disciplined about where our money goes. Globally, millions of people suffered financially, lost their jobs, and closed their businesses. The ones who managed to survive and stayed afloat in their boats are people who have long invested their money and have long planned their retirement. When the crisis hit us, they know exactly where to pull out their money.
Aside from this, having a retirement plan means putting all your energy to good use while you are still in your most active years. So when the time comes that you are not able anymore, you can still live your best life, all thanks to the young and wise you. No regrets.
What are the ways that you can plan for your retirement?
1. PUT THAT MONEY AWAY
Of course, the very first thing you need is to make a decision first and then stick to it. Once you have decided that you’re going to stick to securing your future, you have to finally start investing in it. Obviously, you need to set aside money today so you can use it in the future. And I’m not just talking about having a piggy bank to fill up with coins (although nothing wrong with that.) I am talking about placing your money somewhere it will grow and produce more than how much you’ve planted. But you need to develop a habit of setting aside money.
2. GET INSURED
There is no point in saving money if you don’t get it protected. When you have life insurance, you can have peace of mind that the money you’ve been saving is kept somewhere nobody else can take away. Somewhere you yourself won’t feel tempted to use. Aside from that, certain insurances allow you to grow your money over time. At first, you might feel like this is an added expense or forced savings. But come to think of it. Not only were you able to save for the future, but you also have an actual investment. Not only will you have peace of mind, but you will also feel relieved when unforeseen circumstances happen and you have more than enough money to use.
3. ESTABLISH A RETIREMENT FUND
It is safer to say that nobody should rely only on Social Security services. Inflation is inevitable. The amount you will benefit from it might be insufficient for your actual needs by the time you retire. So the best solution is to explore as many options as possible. You may contribute to your employer’s retirement plans through a defined contribution or a 401(k) plan. While you are still strong and healthy enough to be an employee, do not take this opportunity for granted.
4. EXPLORE OTHER OPTIONS
There are many other opportunities to grow money such as investing in the stock market, mutual funds, and real estate. If you have a passion for business, starting as early as possible can give you another stream of income. The more streams of income you have, the more you can invest, the more you can harvest in the years to come.
Planning for your retirement is not that easy but it is a must. It is a very critical decision that must not rely on whether you feel like doing it or not. The most important thing here is to have a vision of the kind of future that you desire and commit yourself to making it a reality every day. You only live once, so you better do it right. Remember, the things that we regret are not the ones that we did but the ones that we did not do. Do your future self a favor and prepare for your retirement as early as today.
