Items to Stock Up On Before You Retire

Retirement is a goal for millions of people, but of those millions of people, very few truly go as far as they need regarding retirement planning. You can have your retirement accounts all lined up, your investments in a good position, and your travel plans in order, but there’s more to retirement planning than that.

Stocking up on the right items before you call it a career is a great way to save some money in the future while not forfeiting the things that you need in your day-to-day life.

If you’re thinking about retiring soon, or even if it’s a distant dream right now, building up a stockpile of these items can help you avoid financial stress in the future.

Medications

While your insurance policy probably won’t let you get your prescription medications more than a few days early, there’s nothing wrong with starting to stockpile a few before you retire. This is especially true if you’re going to be without insurance for a month or two while you wait for Medicare or your chosen plan to kick in.

Many states have laws that prohibit filling controlled substances early, but for things like blood pressure medications, cholesterol medications, and antacids, you can often get them three to seven days before your previous bottle is empty.

If possible, try to get 90-day supplies of your medications, as those are often eligible for earlier fills.

Also, if you take any over-the-counter (OTC) medications regularly, stocking up on them is a great way to save some money in the future. Most of those medications have lengthy shelf lives, so adding an extra bottle of ibuprofen or acetaminophen to your shopping cart when you're grocery shopping gives you a great buffer for the future.

Finally, consider grabbing some general healthcare and hygiene supplies. Bandages, mouthwash, toothpaste, toilet paper, paper towels, and other items that you’re going to use for the rest of your life rarely if ever expire.

Not having to buy these items out of your retirement income leaves more money in your monthly budget when you transition to life on a fixed income.

Non-Perishable Foods

Many people assume that stocking up on non-perishable foods means you’re a doomsday prepper, but it’s actually a great way to get ready for life after your career is over.

Canned foods and dry goods, such as rice and beans, last for years before expiring, and even if you don’t plan on living at or below the poverty line after you retire, not having to buy these items is another great way to cut back on the things that you have to buy with your retirement earnings.

While you don’t want to buy more food than you can possibly eat, and you should avoid overstocking because eventually, everything goes bad, there’s nothing wrong with making sure that you have some non-perishable staples in your pantry.

Home Maintenance Supplies

When you spend more time in your home, you’ll probably be more apt to notice some things that need to be fixed or maintained.

With this in mind, buying household cleaning supplies like dish detergent, bleach, floor cleaning items, and more can help you avoid paying for these things, which can get quite costly when you’re no longer earning money from work.

It’s also a good idea to get things like batteries and lightbulbs, both of which last for years. Think about the “little” things that you need to keep your house running the way you want it to, and make plans to get them before you retire.

While these items aren’t astronomically expensive, anything that you can avoid buying after you retire allows you to save money when you’re unlikely to be earning as much.

Comfortable Footwear and Clothing

You’re probably looking for the day when you can stop putting on business attire and leave your house every morning.

With this in mind, depending on your personal clothing preferences, you may start dressing very casually in your daily life. With this in mind, invest in some comfortable clothes that you can wear around your house, when you go out to dinner with friends, and other places.

It’s also a good idea to buy some comfortable shoes for your new chapter of life. Whether you plan on walking your block every day, or you’re going to join a local gym to keep yourself active, having some comfortable shoes is crucial.

You don’t have to break the bank on your post-work wardrobe, but make sure you don’t have to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe when your working days are over.

Travel Supplies

One of the most common goals that people have for their retirement is to travel. Whether you want to see the world or you’re just planning on hitting the open road and traveling the United States, travel supplies can get quite costly over time.

If you wait until you’ve retired to start purchasing these travel essentials, you may find yourself unable to do all of the things that you want to do.

Sit down and make a list of everything that you’ll need to travel the way that you want to travel. Portable chargers, clothing organizers, and new luggage may all be things that you’ll need. Start buying those while you still have a job. This will allow you to funnel all of your post-working income into travel accommodations, tickets, and other more enjoyable things.

Enjoy This Next Chapter

Retirement is one of the most life-altering steps that people take. Going from a full-time employee to a person who makes their own schedule and their own rules is an amazing feeling.

Stocking up on a few essentials can help you enjoy this next chapter even more.