Helping Underspenders And "Savers" Understand They CAN Spend More
Episode 437 of the Retirement Starts Today podcast, hosted by Benjamin Brandt CFP®, RICP®, titled "Helping Underspenders And "Savers" Understand They CAN Spend More" was published on January 26, 2026 and runs 19 minutes.
January 26, 2026 ·19m · Retirement Starts Today
Episode Description
Can you relate to this statement: "They've done everything right financially… but still can't bring themselves to spend the money they've saved."
In today's Retirement Headline, Meghaan Lurtz explains why underspending in retirement is usually rooted in psychology, not math.
Lurtz shares several common barriers:
- Fear of future dependence
- Doom forecasting
- And an Identity tied to being a saver
Resource:
- Article by Meghaan Lurtz: "Helping Underspenders And "Savers" Understand They CAN Spend More With 4 Stages Of "Experiments"
Listener question:
"If I plan to retire at 65 1/2 or 66 and sign up for Medicare before 65 - but not for Parts B and D (because of my employer provided insurance) - will I have to pay a penalty to get Parts B and D (and Supplements) at a later date when I actually retire?"
Listen in to learn about creditable coverage and how penalties can stack up on themselves.
Connect with Benjamin Brandt
- Subscribe to the This Week in Retirement: http://thisweekinretirement.com
- Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com
- Work with Benjamin: https://retirementstartstoday.com/start
Follow Retirement Starts Today in:
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or iHeart
Get the book!
Retirement Starts Today: Your Non-financial Guide to an Even Better Retirement
Similar Episodes
Apr 8, 2026 ·30m
Mar 20, 2026 ·20m
Feb 27, 2026 ·17m