I’m 57. I Retired at 55. Why Am I Still Afraid to Spend Money?

Retirement spending, early retirement, and the fear of spending money can feel strange after decades of saving. I retired at 55, and even with a solid plan, spending from the pile was harder than I expected.

Before I retired, I thought the hard part was saving enough money. But after retiring early, I realized there’s another challenge people don’t talk about enough: learning how to actually use the money you spent decades building.

In my first year of retirement, my fear around spending was probably an 8 out of 10. Now, in my second year, it’s closer to a 4. In this episode, I share the 5 things that helped me lower that fear and feel more comfortable spending in retirement without being reckless.

I talk about:

- Why the fear of spending is often psychological, not mathematical

- Why different buckets of money feel different emotionally

- How a cash runway helps quiet market noise

- Why flexible spending matters in retirement

- How I separate spending into protection, joy, and noise

- Why I don’t want to accidentally live like I’ve already run out of money

The goal isn’t to die with the biggest portfolio possible. The goal is to use your money wisely while you still have the health, time, and freedom to enjoy it.

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DISCLAIMER: This episode is for educational purposes only and reflects my personal experience and research. It is not financial, tax, legal, or investment advice. Always consult with qualified professionals before making major retirement or financial decisions. I am not responsible for any loss or damages resulting from reliance on this information.