Why You Might Answer Yes to the Question, Should I carry some Debt into Retirement
Sometimes life just gets in the way. The best-laid plans are foiled by early retirement. People get laid off from their jobs, are forced to retire early because of health or downsizing. If you find yourself in this situation and you still carry a mortgage, chances are you will carry it into retirement as well.
Many people decide to go on trips when they retire. Some will spend money on the house to freshen it up. There are many ways to spend money and if we are not careful it means we carry it into retirement as debt.
Debt in retirement does not always have to be a bad thing. Obviously we would prefer not to have any debt. Manageable debt that is declining over time through monthly payments is okay. Debt that is used for investments is obviously higher risk, but it can have a tremendous payback.
For most people, if you have debt, try to repay it as quickly as possible. Pay down the highest interest rate debt first. Renegotiate your debt to arrange for lower interest rates and fewer fees. Avoid missing payments. If you must, downsize your home and expenses to focus on reducing your debt as quickly as possible. Avoid spending money that you do not have. Prepare for the day when an emergency will eat up a lot of your savings.
For more about debt reduction in retirement, click here.