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Money & Retirement

Budgeting and everyday money management

A fixed income leaves little room for error, but it also makes planning simpler: the money coming in is steady, so the job is to give every bill a place. A monthly budget on Social Security or a pension starts with the bills that keep a roof, food, and medicine in place, then fits the rest around them.

The guides in this category show a simple monthly budget you can keep on paper, how to plan for costs that land once or twice a year, and how to build a small emergency fund a few dollars at a time. You will also find plain talk about debt in retirement, which payments to protect first, and which local and national programs can lower a bill.

Guides in this category

Start here: Building an Emergency Fund in Retirement.

Building an Emergency Fund in RetirementHow to build an emergency fund on a fixed income in retirement: how much to aim for, where to keep it, and how small steady deposits add up.Managing Debt After RetirementHow to manage debt on a fixed income: list what you owe and what each debt costs, pay the high-rate balances first, use free nonprofit credit counseling, and spot debt-relief scams.

Continue on Care and Living Guide

Care costs — See what care costs and how families pay for it.

Free local help

Three national programs connect you to help in your own community, at no cost:

Eldercare LocatorFind your local Area Agency on Aging and aging services near you.BenefitsCheckUpA benefits check from the National Council on Aging.State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)Free, unbiased help with Medicare questions from trained local counselors.

More in Money & Retirement

Retirement and Social SecurityClaiming ages, spousal benefits, and working in retirement, explained in plain terms.Paying for future careWhat future care costs, what Medicare does not pay, and how families plan ahead.Financial caregiving and fraud preventionHelp a parent with money safely, keep records, and spot scams before money is lost.

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