Start with this rule of thumb
As you're deciding when to retire, you'll need to think about how much money you're likely to spend each year.
Financial planners often tell people to plan to spend 75%–85% of their current income once they retire. It's an estimate based on the fact that, once you retire, you should be spending less on:
- Payroll taxes.
- Debt, assuming you paid much of it off before retiring.
- Retirement savings.
- Everyday expenses like gas and clothes for work.
However, this "rule" doesn't work for everyone. Don't forget to consider any additional expenses you might be expecting, like:
- Expensive travel or other lifestyle purchases (for example, a boat or second home).
- Higher-than-average health care expenses.
- College tuition or other gifts to family members.
If you foresee any of these expenses in your future, you might need to increase your target to 100% or more of your current income.
Social Security (and potentially a pension) will give you some income, but the rest will need to come from your savings.
