How can I retire if I have no savings?

Asked by: Stanton Satterfield Jr.  |  Last update: February 14, 2026
Score: 4.7/5 (41 votes)

6 Steps to Consider Immediately If You're 55 With No Retirement Savings
  1. Calculate Your Expected Retirement Spending. ...
  2. Fund Your 401(k) to the Max. ...
  3. Open an IRA Immediately and Fund It. ...
  4. Utilize Catch-Up Contributions. ...
  5. Calculate How Much You'll Receive From Social Security. ...
  6. Find the Right Investments for the Next 10 Years.

How do people retire with no savings?

If you retire with no money, you'll have to consider ways to create income to pay for your living expenses. That might include applying for Social Security retirement benefits, getting a reverse mortgage if you own a home, or starting a side hustle or part-time job to generate a steady paycheck.

What do people do if they didn't save for retirement?

Individuals who have not saved for retirement and who still own homes can turn to their homes as a source of income. For some, this could mean renting a portion of their space as a separate apartment. Another option is to take a reverse mortgage on a home, although doing so can be costly and complicated.

What is the $1000 a month rule for retirement?

The $1,000 per month rule is designed to help you estimate the amount of savings required to generate a steady monthly income during retirement. According to this rule, for every $240,000 you save, you can withdraw $1,000 per month if you stick to a 5% annual withdrawal rate.

What if I haven't saved for retirement at 50?

If you didn't make saving for retirement a priority early in life, it's not too late to catch up. At age 50, you can start making extra contributions to your tax-sheltered retirement accounts (called catch-up contributions). Younger workers can only contribute $23,000 to their 401(k)s and $7,000 to their IRAs in 2024.

25 Tips to Living on a TINY RETIREMENT INCOME

17 related questions found

Is 60 too late to save for retirement?

Even though retirement is right around the corner, it's never too late to save, save, save! Continue to increase your saving — with a goal of contributing at least 15 percent, or more, of your earnings. If you own a home, try to pay off your mortgage before you retire.

How to start over at 50 with no money?

How to start over at 50 with no money
  1. Wait it out at your old job if possible. Even if you feel stuck in a job you hate, a regular paycheck will still provide financial stability. ...
  2. Let go of the negative self-talk. ...
  3. Build the new you. ...
  4. Update your resume with transferable skills. ...
  5. Take free courses to improve your skills.

How much in 401k to draw $2000 a month?

According to the $1,000 per month rule, retirees can receive $1,000 per month if they withdraw 5% annually for every $240,000 they have set aside. For example, if you aim to take out $2,000 per month, you'll need to set aside $480,000.

Can you retire at 60 with $300 000?

That depends on your situation. The main drivers include how much you spend and how much retirement income you get. If you have a generous income from pensions or Social Security, $300k might be plenty. But without significant resources, your spending needs to be relatively low.

What do poor people do for retirement?

Older adults with lower incomes have a number of financial options available to help in retirement. Programs such as Medicare, Social Security, food stamps, Medicaid, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are available to those who qualify.

Is it normal to have no savings?

Approximately 30% of people in Britain have no savings. It's vital to save money for emergencies and for retirement. There are various ways to start saving and to improve how you save.

What happens if I can't afford to retire?

Unless you have a secret plan to get free money or you're lucky enough to hit the lottery, not saving enough for retirement will leave you scrambling to get by in old age. At the very least, you'll need to work longer or make serious adjustments to your lifestyle to get by.

What happens to old people with no savings?

You may have to rely on Social Security

Many retirees with little to no savings rely solely on Social Security as their main source of income. You can claim Social Security benefits as early as age 62, but your benefit amount will depend on when you start filing for the benefit.

Where can I retire with no money?

23 Cheap Places Where You Will Want To Retire
  • Decatur, Alabama.
  • Prescott, Arizona.
  • Hot Springs, Arkansas.
  • Grand Junction, Colorado.
  • Punta Gorda, Florida.
  • Sandy Springs, Georgia.
  • Boise, Idaho.
  • Bloomington, Indiana.

What happens if I run out of money in retirement?

Most people who run out of money in retirement continue to scrimp by — living on Social Security income, pursuing a part time job and they have perhaps dramatically cut costs.

Can a retiree live on $3,000 a month?

Top the amount with 401(k) savings, living on $3,000 a month after taxes is possible for a retiree. For those who only have social security benefits to rely on, there are many places where they can retire on their checks both in the USA and around the world.

How to retire at 65 with no savings?

If you are thinking of retiring at age 65 with $0 saved, here are some strategies that you may want to consider:
  1. Create your budget.
  2. Scale back to a part-time job.
  3. Take a look at your home.
  4. Investigate reverse mortgages.
  5. Put off collecting Social Security for as long as you can.
  6. Get a financial team together.

Does a 401k double every 7 years?

One of those tools is known as the Rule 72. For example, let's say you have saved $50,000 and your 401(k) holdings historically has a rate of return of 8%. 72 divided by 8 equals 9 years until your investment is estimated to double to $100,000.

What is the $1000 a month rule?

The savings guideline states that for every $1,000 of monthly income you want to generate in your golden years, you'll need to have $240,000 saved in your retirement account.

What is my social security if I only worked 10 years?

Although you need at least 10 years of work (40 credits) to qualify for Social Security retirement benefits, we base the amount of your benefit on your highest 35 years of earnings.

How do I restart my life with no money?

Steps
  1. Be clear on why you are starting over. ...
  2. Make any moving plans, if necessary. ...
  3. Decide who to keep in contact with. ...
  4. Keep a goal journal. ...
  5. Break down each goal into a series of actionable steps. ...
  6. Seek out exciting, new experiences. ...
  7. Give yourself positive encouragement.

What does life without retirement savings look like?

More and more older people are finding themselves in a similar situation as Baby Boomers reach retirement age without enough savings and as housing costs and medical expenses rise; for instance, a woman in her 80s is paying on average $8,400 in out-of-pocket medical expenses each year, even if she's covered by Medicare ...

How to start over when you have nothing?

How do I start over in life?
  1. Start with reflection.
  2. Examine your value system.
  3. Revisit (and rewrite) your goals.
  4. Work up the courage to change.
  5. Make your next move.
  6. Get a coach.
  7. Keep checking in on yourself.