What happens if you retire with no money?

Asked by: Jackie King  |  Last update: December 17, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (19 votes)

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 if I have no enough money to retire?

You can still live a fulfilling life as a retiree with little to no savings. It just may look different than you originally planned. With a little pre-planning, relying on Social Security income and making lifestyle modifications—you may be able to meet your retirement needs.

What happens to people who 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 if a retired person runs out of money?

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.

Is $4000 a month enough to retire on?

With $4,000 in monthly costs, your retirement funding challenge calls for $48,000 annually. The 4% safe withdrawal guideline proposes that retirement savings can safely produce 4% income per year, adjusted upwards annually for inflation, with little risk of depletion over a 30-year retirement.

How To Retire With No Money Saved

26 related questions found

Can I retire at 55 with $4000000?

You can probably retire at 55 if you have $4 million in savings. This amount, according to conventional estimates, can reliably produce enough income to pay for a comfortable retirement.

How many people have $1,000,000 in retirement savings?

Just 16% of retirees say they have more than $1 million saved, including all personal savings and assets, according to the recent CNBC Your Money retirement survey conducted with SurveyMonkey. In fact, among those currently saving for retirement, 57% say the amount they're hoping to save is less than $1 million.

Do most retirees have debt?

By the numbers: Six in 10 retirees had debt of some kind, according to the EBRI report. Sixty-eight percent had credit card debt, 38 percent had mortgage debt and 34 percent had car loans, the three most common types.

How many retirees have no savings?

20 percent of adults ages 50 and over have no retirement savings at all. 61 percent are worried they will not have enough money to support themselves in retirement. Perhaps most startling, only 40 percent of men who are regularly saving for retirement believe they are saving enough. For women the number is 30 percent.

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 to old people who can t afford retirement homes?

If you're unable to afford a nursing home or assisted living facility, you aren't out of senior care options. Some seniors get by with a mix of family caregivers, in-home care, and adult day health care.

How do people live with no retirement savings?

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.

Can you retire if you never worked?

Even if you never worked under Social Security, you may be eligible to receive a 50% benefit based on your spouse's Social Security retirement benefits. You must be at least 62 years of age and your spouse must be collecting Social Security retirement, or disability benefits.

Is it OK to never retire?

You might not want to stop working no matter how old you get — and that's ok! It all boils down to using your passion as motivation for success so that you can continue doing what you love for as long as possible. So don't limit your retirement dreams just yet — with the right alignment, you may never want to retire!

Is $10,000 a month a good retirement income?

In a world in which the average monthly Social Security benefit is just over $1,792, it may seem like a pipe dream to live off $10,000 per month in retirement. But the truth is that with some preparation, dedication and resolve, many Americans can reach this impressive level of retirement income.

Can I retire at 60 with 300k?

£300k in a pension isn't a huge amount to retire on at the fairly young age of 60, but it's possible for certain lifestyles depending on how your pension fund performs while you're retired and how much you need to live on.

Do most retirees run out of money?

Nearly half of Americans retiring at 65 risk running out of money, Morningstar finds.

Why don't boomers retire?

“For my own personal mental health and well-being, I like being active and working.” Cavedon is part of a growing number of baby boomers, many of whom are college-educated, who continue to work well past 65 not because they can't afford to retire, but simply because they love their work—and don't want to give it up.

How to retire at 65 with no money?

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.

Do most people retire poor?

Not today. Research from labor economist and professor at The New School for Social Research Teresa Ghilarducci shows just 10% of Americans between the ages of 62 and 70 who are retired are financially stable.

What age is most in debt?

Key statistics
  • People aged 40-49 hold the highest amount of debt with $4.21 trillion in total.
  • By 2030, Millennials (born between 1981 to 1996) are expected to have the most total debt at an average of $228,891 per person.

Can you retire if you are debt free?

It's still possible to retire debt-free, although ongoing financial discipline is the key. More and more Americans carry debt into retirement. The amount of debt held by those aged 65 to 74 quadrupled from 1992 to 2022, according to the Federal Reserve.

What is considered wealthy in retirement?

Rich retirees: In the 90th percentile, with net worth starting at $1.9 million, this group has much more financial freedom and is able to afford luxuries and legacy planning.

Is $400,000 enough to retire at 65?

Not factoring in additional income from other sources or taking taxes into account, if you retire at 65 and plan to spread $400,000 across 15 years up to a life expectancy of 85, you'll receive, at minimum, $34,000 annually. This is if you factor in 2% inflation and an annual yield of 6%.

Does net worth include home?

Your net worth is what you own minus what you owe. It's the total value of all your assets—including your house, cars, investments and cash—minus your liabilities (things like credit card debt, student loans, and what you still owe on your mortgage).