How to Calculate your Retirement Spending

The Real Cost of Retirement

How much money do you really need for retirement? Is your current plan actually aligned with your future spending habits, or are you at risk of falling short? When should you start planning and what are the biggest financial mistakes people make before and after they stop working? These are the questions we answer in today’s episode.

Hosts Keith Matthews and Lawrence Greenberg break down the three distinct phases of retirement spending: the “Go-Go” years, the “Slow-Go” years, and the “No-Go” years. You’ll learn how spending patterns evolve, why most people underestimate costs, and how to avoid common pitfalls by making smarter assumptions.

This episode is ideal for pre-retirees, retirees, and anyone who wants to get ahead of retirement planning. Find out how to calculate your real spending needs, make confident projections, and adjust your strategy with each stage of life. Tune in to get practical advice and clear strategies for a successful and fulfilling retirement.

Factors to consider for Retirement Spending

• Why retirement spending deserves dedicated attention (1:41)
• Calculating your retirement spend rate – the key to peace of mind (2:55)
• The three phases: Go-Go, Slow-Go and No-Go years explained (4:12)
• What drives up spending in the Go-Go years – travel, home upgrades, gifting (4:39)  
• Home maintenance vs. Home upgrades: what to include in your budget (6:05)
• The 1% rule for annual home maintenance – how to apply it (6:40)
• Why attitudes toward homeownership and downsizing keep shifting (8:33)
• Gifting and supporting adult children – new trends and how to plan responsibly (9:18)
• The #1 mistake pre-retirees make: underestimating spending (10:55)
• Lifestyle creep and aspirational spending – how it affects your plan (12:00)
• Why retirement spending often exceeds inflation and what that means for your budget (12:18)
• What changes in the Slow-Go years: health span, routine, and local living (13:02)
• No-Go years: planning for unpredictability and healthcare costs (14:24)
• Assisted living vs. Nursing homes – realistic cost estimates and strategies (16:29)
• Getting detailed: How to build a line-by-line retirement budget (17:44)
• What expenses disappear (mortgage, work, insurance) and what new costs arise (18:32)
• Factoring in large purchases and aspirational spending to avoid shortfalls (20:28)
• How clients feel after using this three-stage budgeting approach (21:01)
• Why rules of thumb like “the 70% rule” often miss the mark (22:07)
• Personal experiences and lessons learned from early planning (23:37)
• Takeaways: Why starting early and revisiting your plan pays off (25:13)

And much more!

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Canadian Retirement: Myths, Realities & Planning Guide
• Pre-Retirement Financial Guide: Ages 50-65
• Retirement Financial Guide: Ages 65+
• Tulett,Matthews & Associates

Be sure to subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. And feel free to drop us a line at lawrence@tma-invest.com or 514-695-0096 ext.112 Follow Tulett, Matthews & Associates on social media on LinkedIn, Facebook, and more! Follow The Empowered Investor on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram