Time to Retired

One day, you will retire. You won’t need to go to the office anymore. You won’t have the authority or power you once held. Your income will decrease, and this is a reality. Make sure to check the exact date of your retirement from your payroll records.

Take your full annual leave of 30 days every year. How you spend your leave is a reflection of how you’ll spend your retirement. If you spend it sleeping, watching TV, or doing nothing, your retirement life will likely be the same. As the proverb says, "If you sleep too much, you’ll end up in poverty." Watching TV won’t solve the challenges of retirement. Use your leave to learn a skill or profession that will be useful later. Spend your evenings or weekends learning something new instead of wasting time sleeping, gossiping, or watching TV. Use your time wisely, and you’ll thank yourself in the future.

Invest for your retirement. Your children are not an investment for your retirement. Don’t rely on support from your children, friends, or relatives. This is a risky strategy and may not work out. Be prepared to take care of yourself. Everyone has their own responsibilities, and they may not be able to support you fully. If you end up depending on others, you may lose your dignity and respect.

Start a hobby while you’re still working. This hobby will help you during retirement. You could raise chickens, farm, or start a small business. Learn marketable skills (not useless certificates) that will be useful later.

Think about where you’ll retire. Build your own home. Don’t retire and then struggle with renting or being evicted from government housing. Living under someone else’s mercy during retirement is not ideal.

Who will depend on you? By the time you retire, your children should be over 18 and able to support themselves.

Don’t retire in a big city if you can’t afford it. After 60, living in a big city with limited resources becomes challenging. The language barrier and daily struggles will become harder. If possible, move to a smaller town where your pension can cover your expenses more comfortably.

Own assets that can be rented or converted into cash. Invest in high-dividend shares, grow cash crops, or raise goats and vegetables. These activities not only generate income but also improve your health.

Live a simple life. If you haven’t built a house in your hometown yet, don’t use your retirement money to build one unless you plan to live there permanently or are wealthy enough to afford it. The decision is yours.

The main reasons why retirees die early are:

• Not being mentally prepared for retirement.
• Financial insufficiency.
• Depression.
• Stress, anxiety, uncertainty, and financial pressure leading to hypertension or diabetes.

Your office desk is not permanent. Start preparing for retirement now.