If you are one of the lucky ones who can still consider retirement then you may want to consider downsizing a few things in your life that will make those golden years a little easier to handle.  Let's face the cold hard facts, this is a country that just plain enjoys everything big, and it seems the bigger the better.  With the state of the economy today these big items will continue to cost more and more in the future.  Here are a few tips that will help you with retirement.  Remember when retiring it is all about "cash flow".
Consider downsizing your home.  That's right, your home, the palace, the four thousand plus square feet, three story, two plus air conditioning units and three car garage, all sitting on one plus acres of land.  Now if you are like most retirees it is just the two of you, why are you still taking care of a large home.  By downsizing you can reduce your monthly obligation in some cases by as much as forty percent.
Donate and deduct on your tax return.  Have you taken a good look at all the "stuff" you own?  Ask yourself a couple of hard questions, do you really need all of it?  If the answer is no, (and it is) first try a garage sale, if you don't sell all your stuff there then consider donating it to a charitable organization.  You will be able to use the deduction on your next tax return, just as good as money in the bank.  You may want to consider putting some of the items on Ebay, this is a consideration also for retirees, a great home based business.
 
Consider relocating.  There are places that just cost less to live, you should consider moving to one of these areas.  If you remember the old Andy Griffith series and how laid back the little town of Mayberry was, there are still places like that today, you just need to look for them. A lot of retirees consider moving to an urban area and using public transportation.  In Europe most people walk where they need to go in the town, this is also great for you health too.
 
Consider your present communications and what you are paying for it.  Most people today are under a contract and in most cases paying more then they should.  There are cell phone plans today that you only pay as you use the phone.  If you still have hard wired phones in your home you may want to consider a company like Vonage or Lingo, these are phone services that only cost around thirty dollars per month.
 
Consider dumping the second vehicle.  When husband and wife are both working you need two vehicles, but now that you both are getting ready to retire you may want to dump the second one.  Less maintenance and fuel, not to mention insurance.  If you truly need ow vehicles consider a car or small used truck that will get you from point A to point B, you are now looking at a total price of around twelve to fifteen thousand dollars.
 
Retirement can be a pleasure or a nightmare, depending on your current financial situation and your monthly cash flow.  If you work on it prior to retiring you will find those golden years enjoyable.

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