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Phil Osagie
Updated Jan 30, 2026
An overwhelming 92% of U.S. retirees report that rising costs are eating into their nest eggs, according to findings from the Schroders 2025 U.S. Retirement Survey.
Even the most carefully crafted retirement plans can be derailed by today’s uncertainties.
The good news? These practical money moves can help increase stability, reduce financial stress, and stretch your retirement dollars — helping you stay on track no matter what the markets or world events throw your way in 2026.
1. Pay off high-interest debts
Picture your retirement: sipping coffee in the morning sun with financial peace, or staying up late worrying about debt and expenses?
Unfortunately, most Americans aren’t in that worry-free position: 97.1% of retirement-age adults still carry non-mortgage debt, and over 93% of them have outstanding credit card balances. Auto loans follow at 37%, according to LendingTree.
Debt is particularly damaging in retirement because there’s no paycheck to lean on. As Dave Ramsey puts it, “the only good debt is a debt that is paid off.”
One of the first and smartest steps you can take when carrying high-interest debt is to direct any windfalls — such as tax refunds, required minimum distribution (RMD) overages, or inheritances — straight toward paying down your balances.
Another effective strategy for easing the burden of high-interest debt is to consolidate your balances into a lower-interest loan or a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC).
With home values higher than ever, you can make your home work harder for you by making the most of your equity. The average homeowner sits on roughly $302,000 in equity as of the first quarter of 2025, according to Cotality.
Having access to your home equity could help to cover unexpected expenses, pay substantial debt, fund a major purchase like a home renovation or supplement income from your retirement nest egg.
Rates on HELOCs are typically lower than APRs on credit cards and personal loans, making it an appealing option for homeowners with substantial equity.
With Figure you can unlock low rates in minutes. The application is entirely online, so there’s no waiting around for an in-person appraisal.
If you carry a large debt balance and don’t have access to a HELOC you may also want to see if you qualify for a debt relief program to help clear a significant portion of your debt.
With Freedom Debt Relief, you can speak with a certified debt relief consultant for free, who can show you how much you can save by partnering with them.
If you're eligible, they can negotiate settlements with your creditors until all of your enrolled debt is resolved.
2. Strengthen your emergency fund
A new year seems the perfect time to reassess your financial safety net, starting with an emergency fund. Once the steady rhythm of a paycheck is gone, surprise expenses like medical treatments, appliance failures or family needs can hit retirees harder.
That’s why retirees are generally advised to keep 6-12 months of living expenses in readily accessible cash, compared to the standard 3 to 6 months for working adults.
Growing your emergency fund doesn’t have to be difficult. Setting up small, automatic transfers — even in retirement — can steadily increase your reserves without disrupting your lifestyle.
An easy way to keep adding to your emergency fund is by automatically saving your spare change with Acorns. When you make everyday purchases, Acorns rounds up the price to the nearest dollar and invests the difference for you in a smart investment portfolio.
For example, if you buy coffee for $4.30, Acorns will round up to $5.00 and automatically save that 70 cents. These small amounts can add up significantly – just $2.50 in daily round-ups could accumulate to $900 per year, helping you build your emergency fund without thinking about it.
Plus, if you sign up now you get a $20 bonus.
You might also consider stashing your emergency funds in a high-yield cash account so your money can work harder for you.
A high-yield account like a Wealthfront Cash Account can be a great place to grow your savings, offering both competitive interest rates and easy access to your cash when you need it.
A Wealthfront Cash Account currently offers a base variable APY of 3.30%, and new clients can get a 0.65% boost during their first three months for a total APY of 3.95%. That’s ten times the national deposit savings rate, according to the FDIC’s January report.
With no minimum balances or account fees, as well as 24/7 withdrawals and free domestic wire transfers, your funds remain accessible at all times. Plus, Wealthfront Cash Account balances of up to $8 million are insured by the FDIC through program banks.
3. Invest with stability and income in mind
“The poor and the middle class work for money. The rich have money work for them.”
Rich Dad, Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki made this point to highlight the importance of investing with stability and income in mind — especially as you approach or enter retirement. A thoughtful retirement portfolio balances growth with protection.
Low-cost index funds offer broad market exposure with minimal fees, while dividend-paying stocks can generate steady income. Bonds, Treasuries, and brokered CDs bring stability and predictable interest, and certain annuity products can provide additional guaranteed income. The key is to safeguard your nest egg while keeping it productive.
If you’re looking for other options to fund your retirement, you might consider investing directly in precious metals.
Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, combining the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold. This can make it an attractive option for those looking to potentially hedge their retirement funds against economic uncertainty.
Priority Gold is an industry leader in precious metals, offering physical delivery of gold and silver. Plus, they have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and a 5-star rating from Trust Link.
If you’d like to convert an existing IRA into a gold IRA, Priority Gold offers 100% free rollover, as well as free shipping, and free storage for up to five years. Qualifying purchases will also receive up to $10,000 in free silver.
To learn more about how Priority Gold can help you reduce inflation’s impact on your nest egg, download their free 2026 gold investor bundle.
Whether you have a self-directed IRA or a gold IRA, it's important to revisit your asset allocation on a yearly basis with a vetted financial advisor so you can make adjustments as needed to stay aligned with your changing goals and risk tolerance.
A knowledgeable financial advisor can help you develop a personalized plan designed to optimize investments, navigate taxes and help ensure a comfortable retirement.
Platforms such as Advisor.com simplifies the process of finding a financial advisor you can trust. They can match you with several vetted fiduciary advisors who are evaluated based on their credentials, education, experience and pricing.
4. Cut fixed costs that keep growing
In retirement, predictable expenses like insurance premiums, property taxes, and utility bills can quietly grow over time, slowly eating into your savings.
Keeping a close eye on these costs in 2026 — and looking for ways to reduce them, such as refinancing, bundling policies, or comparing providers — can help preserve your income and give you more financial flexibility.
One area where many people can save significantly is home and car insurance.
Regularly shopping around and comparing rates between home and car insurance providers can make a big difference in your retirement budget.
OfficialHomeInsurance.com can take the hassle out of shopping for home insurance. In just under two minutes, you can explore competitive rates from top insurance providers, all in one place — and potentially save an average of $482 per month.
With OfficialHomeInsurance.com, you can easily find the coverage you need at a price that can fit your budget.
But saving on home insurance is just the start. Car insurance is another major monthly expense — and rates have been climbing. Between 2020 and 2025, motor vehicle insurance costs rose by an astonishing 55%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
OfficialCarInsurance.com lets you compare quotes from trusted brands — including Progressive, Allstate and GEICO — to make sure you're getting the best deal. The free tool takes into account your location, vehicle details, and driving history to find you the lowest possible rate.
Deals start at just $29 per month, and you can switch over your policy in only a few minutes. Plus, the process is 100% free and won’t affect your credit score.
A quick daily check-in of your accounts can show you exactly where your money is going.
An app like Rocket Money can easily flag recurring subscriptions, upcoming bills and unusual charges by pulling in transactions from all your linked accounts.
This can help you cut unnecessary costs, and then you can manually redirect savings straight into your retirement fund. No spreadsheets, no guesswork, no stress. Small habits like this can make a big difference over time.
Rocket Money’s intuitive app offers a variety of free and premium tools. Free features include subscription tracking, bill reminders and budgeting basics, while premium features — like automated savings, net worth tracking, customizable dashboards, and more — make it easier to stay on top of your retirement contributions and overall financial goals.
More money moves to make in 2026
Acorns
Micro-investing app
Automatically save or invest your spare change.
Longbridge
Reverse mortgages
Tap into your home equity to pay off debt or fund a renovation.
Arrived
Real estate investing
Buy shares of homes and vacation rentals for as little as $100.
Phil Osagie
Conversion Copywriter
Phil is a writer at Moneywise, bringing a strong background in public relations, financial communications and copywriting. Educated in Cambridge, U.K., he has created content for several blue-chip companies, combining clarity with strategic insight.
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