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12 Financial Moves New Empty Nesters Must Make

As you move into a new season of life, it’s time to update your finances.

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Updated Sept. 24, 2024
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Becoming an empty nester can be an exciting time full of new adventures, plans, and goals. It’s also the perfect time to examine your finances and set yourself up for a stress-free retirement.

So as you prepare for this big life change, here are some key financial moves new empty nesters must make.

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Review your budget

K Abrahams/peopleimages.com/Adobe senior couple consulting finance advisor

Kids can be expensive. According to a 2017 study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, raising a child through the age of 17 typically costs more than $230,000.

When your last kid moves out, it should free up a decent amount of cash each year. Take this chance to review your budget and see where you can use that money to start investing or find other ways to maximize your financial goals.

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Meet with a financial advisor

bernardbodo/Adobe senior couple reviewing bills together

Becoming an empty nester marks the perfect time to check in on your overall financial health.

Getting professional advice from a financial advisor might help you decide on the best ways to allocate your money during these last few years before retirement.

Consider downsizing your home

NDABCREATIVITY/Adobe senior couple moving in new home

Now that fewer people are living in your home, you may be able to downsize and shed some of your expenses. Larger homes typically come with higher bills for lawn care, utilities, and property taxes.

Swapping your current home for something smaller might reduce these costs. If you've lived in your home for a while, you might even reap enough profit when you sell to put some extra money toward retirement savings.

Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt

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Use your extra savings to pay down debt

Prostock-studio/Adobe senior couple reading bills at home

Reducing or eliminating your debt can put you in a better financial situation.

Whether you have credit card debt, medical debt, car loan debt, or mortgage debt, using your extra cash to pay off these balances will improve your monthly cash flow. Paying down balances will save you money on interest, too.

Start saving more for retirement

Charlize D/peopleimages.com/Adobe senior woman signing documents

Here is some good news if you are at least 50: You can use catchup contributions to max out your retirement accounts.

The IRS limit on 401(k) contributions for 2024 is $23,000. However, those 50 or older can add $7,500 for a total of $30,500.

Once you have maxed out those accounts, you can still invest money in savings or other investment accounts to fund your retirement.

End unlimited financial support to your children

fizkes/Adobe mother and daughter laughing together

Many empty nesters still financially support adult children, but this can put the parents’ own financial health at risk. So, it might be time to make a change.

Start by having a conversation with your children and mapping out how they can achieve financial independence. This may take some lifestyle adjustments or creative planning, but it will help them create their own financial security.

Once you have withdrawn financial support, you can direct that money to other places.

Start thinking about an estate plan

Andrey Popov/Adobe Couple Doing Taxes together

Now is the time to establish an estate plan. This plan should include your will, beneficiary designations, power of attorney, and any other information your family needs to know if you die or become unable to make decisions for yourself.

If you already have an estate plan, you probably need to update it now that you no longer have minor children living at home. It’s also a good idea to share your estate plan with your adult children to prevent any feelings of surprise or resentment after you die.

Set up — or bulk up — an emergency savings fund

Andrii Zastrozhnov/Adobe senior woman reviewing bills in kitchen

An emergency savings fund should be kept separate from your other accounts. Consider using a high-yield savings account for this fund so you can earn a little interest.

The exact amount you need will vary based on lifestyle and expenses, but a good general recommendation is to save enough to cover expenses for three to six months.

Review your insurance needs

klavdiyav/Adobe swap party for try on clothes

As your family dynamic changes, so does your need for insurance.

Take a look at your car, homeowners, and life insurance policies. You may need to change your coverage amounts or terms or update the beneficiaries. You might even save some money after making these adjustments.

Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account

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Reduce clutter and sell what you don't need

witsarut/Adobe coins jar with emergency fund label

This is the perfect time to clean out the basement or crawl space and get rid of anything you are not using. Having a garage sale is always an option, but consider listing and selling in online marketplaces too.

If you have been keeping scrapbooks, collections, or other valuable memorabilia for your children, you can give it to them now to enjoy — and free up some space in your home.

Resist the temptation to splurge

apichon_tee/Adobe woman using card for shopping online

Consider the long-term impact of your spending before you splurge by using your newfound funds.

Renovating the house or buying a shiny new sports car may sound great, but excess spending now could negatively impact your standard of living during retirement.

Account for extra expenses

VadimGuzhva/Adobe woman cleaning house using gloves

There are plenty of ways that becoming an empty nester can help you get ahead financially. However, don’t forget about additional expenses that might pop up.

If your child formerly was helping with household chores, you may need to hire help to keep up with the housework. You may also need to increase your travel budget to account for weekends and holidays spent visiting your kids at their new home.

Bottom line

N Lawrenson/peopleimages.com/Adobe senior couple drinking coffee in kitchen

Financial advice such as “save more money” and “get out of debt” may sound unexciting, but these principles are helpful for many people, including empty nesters.

As you enter your golden years, you want to review your retirement plan. Parents often put their kids first, but now is the time to take your financial health seriously.

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