Retirement Debt Pitfalls and How to Get Out of Them

While debt can be an intrinsic aspect of buying a home or purchasing a car, you do not want to be in debt forever! If you reach retirement age and are still in debt, you are setting yourself up for both financial and mental strain during the later years of your life. 

Debt can be especially detrimental in retirement because: 

Interest Increases Debt over Time.

While your income will likely decrease in retirement, interest rates you pay on your loans won’t be taking a break. Thanks to interest, the longer your debt balance exists, the larger it will grow. You don’t want to have to worry about debt repayments: you want to be able to enjoy your retirement savings and spend your days how YOU want! 

You can tackle debt and reduce its sting starting today if you adopt the snowball method of repayment. Identify which one of your debt balances is subject to the highest interest rate. Set a goal of paying this debt down as quickly as possible. In the case of credit card debt, it never hurts to contact your lender. They may be able to help you consolidate your debt to a card with a lower interest rate. 

Continuous Debt Decreases Your Credit Score.

Credit scores still play an important role in retirement. For example, your credit score can affect whether you qualify to rent an apartment or property. If you want to lease a car or need a loan to buy a car, your credit score will play a major role in the interest rate you are offered. Want to pay down your credit faster and avoid the penalties that come with carrying your debt for an extended period? Don’t go into any more debt! Set your credit cards aside until you have reduced your debt and feel on track with your retirement savings. Even then, make sure you do not spend more on credit than you can afford to pay back in a timely manner. 

Debt Repayments Take a Chunk Out of Your Monthly Budget: 

Budgeting is key in retirement. Without a budget, you risk depleting your retirement funds more quickly than you intend. You deserve to retire comfortably; any debt you still carry into retirement is essentially going to limit what you can spend during your week. If you want to eliminate your debt efficiently and set yourself up for your ideal retirement, consider increasing your current income flow. Even a few more hours of work a week can help you earn the funds you need to get ahead of interest and make quality repayments on your debts. For example, a second career can be an ideal way to boost your income. As a result, you will empower yourself to save as much as possible for retirement. 

Even though retirement may still be many years away for you, the financial actions you take today can make a major impact on your future. Find out more at the Syncis Money Blog.