5 Retirement Splurges You’ll Wish You Didn’t Make—and What to Do Instead

Retirement is supposed to be your reward after decades of hard work, saving, and sacrifice. But for many retirees, the first few years of newfound freedom come with costly mistakes—splurges that seemed like a good idea at the time, but later led to regret and financial anxiety.

Let’s explore five of the biggest retirement splurges retirees often regret—and what you can do to avoid falling into the same trap.

1. Boats, RVs, and Dream Vehicles

The allure of adventure is strong, especially when you’ve finally got the time and money to enjoy it. But the reality is that boats, RVs, and similar “toys” are depreciating assets. Maintenance, storage, insurance, and underuse often turn what was supposed to be a dream into a financial drain. Before buying, run the real numbers—how often will you use it? What will it cost over time? If your plan can’t withstand those costs, consider renting instead.

2. The “Forever” Dream Home

Many retirees rush to buy their dream home—often larger or in a more expensive area than they need. But lifestyle changes, health issues, or family dynamics can quickly make that dream feel like a burden. A smart move is to trial the location first or downsize into something more manageable and financially flexible.

3. Emotional Gifting to Family

Helping family can be deeply fulfilling, but giving away large sums right after retirement can be risky. Your financial future needs to come first—you can’t help others if you later become dependent yourself. Instead of lump sums, consider structured or conditional gifts that won’t jeopardize your long-term stability.

4. Timeshares and Vacation Properties

These often come with hidden costs, limited usage, and resale challenges. While they sound like a good middle ground between luxury and accessibility, timeshares rarely hold value and often create more headaches than memories. Explore travel clubs or Airbnb-style stays instead.

5. Early Lifestyle Inflation

After working hard and living frugally, it’s tempting to upgrade everything—new cars, new clothes, new hobbies, new gadgets. But these early-stage spending increases can snowball quickly, leading to a shortfall later in life. Your retirement may last 30+ years—be strategic about when and where you spend.

So What Should You Do?

The key isn’t to deny yourself joy—it’s to plan for it intelligently. As Leibel often says, "Retire smarter, not just richer." You can have the experiences you want without blowing your financial future, but it takes honest evaluation, objective planning, and, sometimes, professional guidance.

Already made one of these splurges and regret it? Don’t panic—and don’t try to immediately undo it in an emotional panic. Instead, assess the situation calmly. Can the asset be used or sold later for more value? Are there creative ways to reduce the ongoing cost?

Whether you’re preparing for retirement or already in it, the most valuable thing you can do is build a plan that supports your lifestyle, dreams, and peace of mind—without fear of running out of money.

Ready to make smarter choices with your retirement money?

Book a free consultation with Leibel Sternbach today at https://www.yields4u.com/pages/book