Is it time to take a cue from 'The Golden Girls'? More single older Americans feel the sting of housing costs than couples. Here are 3 ways to manage the extra expenses

Downsize housing and transportation

If you’re a homeowner, one way to slash housing costs across the board while pocketing extra cash is by downsizing your living situation.

Moving into a smaller house or a condo could be a tidy way to cut down on the cost of utilities, home insurance and property taxes, while the profit can be used as an additional safety net or for investment purposes.

In addition, if you own multiple vehicles, you could cut down to just one to save on care and auto insurance costs, or if you have a high-priced vehicle, such as a sports car, you could possibly also save by downsizing your vehicle. If you’re able and want to go the extra mile, consider public transportation or simply walking as your primary means of transportation.

Invest in real estate without the headache of being a landlord

Imagine owning a portfolio of thousands of well-managed single family rentals or a collection of cutting-edge industrial warehouses. You can now gain access to a $1B portfolio of income-producing real estate assets designed to deliver long-term growth from the comforts of your couch.

The best part? You don’t have to be a millionaire and can start investing in minutes.

Learn More

Move to a cheaper state

Many older adults move to new states for the sun and the fun, but older Americans may want to relocate to save money.

Mississippi, Oklahoma and Alabama all require annual incomes under $47,000 to live comfortably as a single, according to a recent GOBankingRates study. So, if your Social Security benefits or pension don’t quite rack up to $112,000 a year — the amount needed to live in Hawaii — consider moving to one of those cheaper states.

If you’re also worried about things like access to health care and public safety, Bankrate also recently released a study of the best states for retirees based on different categories.

Take a cue from ‘The Golden Girls’

If you don’t want to move, but struggle to afford staying where you are, you still can make life a little less expensive. All it takes is a little help from some friends.

Take a cue from “The Golden Girls” and move in with a friend or three. This can effectively cut down on housing costs between each person and possibly other costs as well.

Living with roommates has become more common among Americans aged 65 and up. Around 913,000 of them live only with roommates who aren’t relatives – nearly double the amount since 2006, according to the JCHS report.

So why not rent with friends? It’s an opportunity to split both household and health-care costs, depending on the arrangement you have with your roommates.