Five Terrible Things About Retiring
And How To Avoid Them
I’m kinda hoping you’re installing one or more of the Ten Primage Pillars in your life, as I’m sure they’re going to help you build the foundations of longevity and healthspan.
If you want a refresh, here’s where to reskim them.
Before we get into what’s truly awful about retirement (lol…Primage is The Anti-Retirement Project, right?), here’s a quick poll to test your feelings about all this malarkey.
Thanks for voting!
The sad truth about retirement is that it does not automatically erase stress, boredom, or identity loss; instead, it often magnifies pre-existing psychological struggles. Many retirees experience an "emotional retirement" too late, where they retire to escape work burnout rather than financial or mental readiness, which can lead to feelings of emptiness, loss of purpose, and sudden friction with partners.
So here are my top five beefs with the whole “stopping work” thing.
1. You Face an Identity Crisis
When you leave the workforce, you lose the professional titles, daily routines, and social networks that previously defined your self-worth. I’ve even seen retirement - particularly unchosen through redundancy - described as a bereavement.
Without a structured schedule, individuals can easily slip into aimlessness or depression. Many retirees report a drastic shift in domestic relationship dynamics. Suddenly being home together 24/7 can amplify minor habits into major sources of friction.
2. The Spending Curve
I’ve heard it said that retirees will only need about 80% of their working income, but reality often proves otherwise. The “Saturday effect” can make retirement surprisingly expensive, as every day feels like the weekend.
For insights into how retirement spending fluctuates across distinct phases, check out this breakdown:
The “Go-Go” Years (Ages 65–75)
During early retirement, you are typically younger, healthier, and eager to enjoy newfound free time.
Spending Trend: Total real spending often spikes during these years. Studies indicate that retirees may spend 44% more on discretionary items during the first two years of retirement than in later phases.
Key Drivers: Increased costs for travel, dining out, recreation, hobbies, and home improvements.
Planning Focus: This phase requires intentional “permission-based” planning to enjoy accumulated savings without jeopardising long-term sustainability.
The “Slow-Go” Years (Ages 75–85)
Mid-retirement often transitions into a more routine-driven phase as energy levels and desire for extensive travel begin to wane.
Spending Trend: Discretionary costs decline noticeably. Inflation-adjusted spending drops, and retirees frequently spend 80-90% of what they did in their early retirement years.
Key Drivers: Travel and transportation costs drop, but day-to-day healthcare and insurance premiums begin to consume a larger share of the budget.
Planning Focus: Retirees in this phase typically shift focus toward capital preservation, steady income generation, and legacy planning.
The “No-Go” Years (Ages 85+)
The final phase is characterised by potential declines in physical mobility and independence.
Spending Trend: Discretionary lifestyle spending (such as holidays and entertainment) approaches zero for many people, but total inflation-adjusted costs can rise again to form the right side of the “spending smile”.
Key Drivers: The primary expenditures can become healthcare, assisted living facilities, and long-term in-home care.
Planning Focus: Because the duration of this phase is highly unpredictable, a lot of people lean on the importance of long-term care insurance and having up-to-date estate planning to ensure resilience.
IMPORTANT NOTE: These are aggregated summaries from a cross-section of populations, but you are massively capable of influencing your own health and outcomes.
That’s what Primage is all about…
3. The Hesitation to Spend At All
Even when people save diligently, transitioning to a fixed-income mindset is agonisingly difficult. If you are drawing from a finite pot of savings without a regular paycheck, making withdrawals can trigger a fear-based survival response.
Many retirees hoard their money out of fear of running out, ultimately failing to enjoy the funds they spent a lifetime accumulating.
This is why making new money for yourself is the ultimate antidote!
4. Healthcare Costs and Declining Health
While finances are a primary concern, poor health is often the greatest source of disappointment in the golden years. Aging brings unexpected medical expenses, reduced energy levels, and increased susceptibility to chronic conditions.
Furthermore, studies indicate that full retirement can negatively impact physical health, with research showing an increased risk of mortality following a sudden departure from the workforce.
Driving physical health is your holistic (hate that word…lol) longevity plan, or lack of it.
5. Inflation and the Reality of Outliving Savings
Because life expectancies are steadily rising, your retirement savings may need to last for decades. Especially if you’re devoted to a Primage lifestyle, and determined to create your own mortality table.
Inflation continuously diminishes the purchasing power of fixed incomes, meaning retirees in their 70s and 80s often face higher living costs than they originally budgeted for.
This forces many late-stage retirees to aggressively monitor their portfolios, consider guaranteed lifetime income streams, or - even better…build some new revenue using your glorious talents, wisdom and experience.
You are in your Primage. It’d be a crime to waste it.
Jonny
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Also PS: Let me know what you’d like me to cover in future Primage Bulletins, as we develop our community and direction!