How to Retire the Cheapskate Way: The Ultimate Cheapskate's Guide to a Better, Earlier, Happier Retirement

And, you know, a light just came on,” she says. “It made us realize that there’s a whole wide world out there, and even though we live in a small town in Mississippi where most people don’t do this sort of thing (world travel), we could actually go out there and see it … but only if we didn’t have debt and if we set our priorities on what we really

For the biggest savings on funeral expenses, consider “direct cremation” (i.e., cremation without embalming or a casket, and with no formal viewing or ceremony with the body present—a memorial service can always be held later, with the ashes present).

it conditions you to live on a fixed, limited amount of money; think of it as “test-driving” your retirement lifestyle/budget.

Public speaker If you have something worthwhile to say (who doesn’t?) and enjoy speaking in front of groups, there are all types of public speaking opportunities available, dealing with every subject matter imaginable.

Assuming that you’re employed and have had healthcare coverage prior to age sixty-five, be sure to talk with your employer’s benefits administrator in advance of your sixty-fifth birthday to determine how any employer-provided health-care plans may impact your decisions and options regarding participation in Medicare.

Experts in decluttering and home organization generally give a thumbs-up to Marv’s “five crates” approach, or some similar system of sorting items into categories, including: “Trash,” “Save,” “Sell,” and “Giveaway.” Many decluttering authorities even endorse Marv’s creation of a “Who Knows?” category—a place to set some things aside at least tempor

Time to Capture Missed Savings Opportunities

If you can’t afford to pay for it now, you simply can’t afford it.

many lines offer so-called “repositioning cruises” at dirt-cheap fares. In general, you need to be able to travel in the spring or fall to find these deals, depending on the destination/routing. Check with individual lines for any repositioning cruises they may offer, or websites like www.cruisedeals.com.

Take out a piece of paper (or several) and just start writing down everything—and I mean everything—you enjoy doing in life. Don’t get bogged down by trying to keep it organized, or profound, or something that will ever be seen by anyone other than you.