Last Updated: Jan. 12, 2026 at 8:41 p.m. ET
First Published: Jan. 12, 2026 at 9:20 a.m. ET
Dear Quentin,
I see a lot of articles on retirement planning that talk about planning for a lower percentage of your current income, with 80% commonly cited from a planning perspective. I’m curious, though, for anyone who has already retired: What have your actual expenses been compared with your preretirement income?
Since we aren’t planning on moving or selling vehicles, I don’t see our housing and transportation expenses changing. I still have a mortgage, but at such a low interest rate that the math doesn’t make sense to pay it off early. I already work from home, so there are no business clothing or commuting costs to be saved.
