By Volodymyr @ Adobe Stock

When you graduate from work to retirement, youโ€™re doing something youโ€™ve done before, like going from school to your working lifeโ€”youโ€™re taking one of lifeโ€™s big steps. And thereโ€™s only a handful that are more stressful.

Retirement is a big change from working life. You got used to your working life, seeing your colleagues and doing your work. You saved. You had money coming in the door. You spent money. Now, all of a sudden, when you retire, you can feel like youโ€™re lost at sea.

Donโ€™t be. You worked too hard to get here. Your Survival Guy knows how youโ€™re feeling because you tell me in our conversations whatโ€™s on your mind. You tell me you donโ€™t want to spend too much of your money, but you need to spend it to survive.

Yes, there are rules to follow, like how much you draw, but part of this is art, not science. You donโ€™t always know how much you need, and some years will be leaner than others. Spending can change with the seasons, and like the changing seasons, thereโ€™s an adjustment period. Thatโ€™s OK, you got this.

Action Line: Youโ€™ve learned how to save, now itโ€™s time to learn how to spend. When youโ€™re ready to talk, email me at ejsmith@yoursurvivalguy.com. And click here to subscribe to my free Survive & Thrive letter.

Readย the entire series here.

Originally posted on Your Survival Guy.