12 Ways to Retire on Less - by Harriet Edleson (Paperback)

About the Book

Using checklists, questions, and practical tips, Edleson walks readers through 12 steps to planning and preparing for retirement that work with any budget and focus on the resources at hand. Not every retiree will have an enormous nest egg, but every retiree would like to be c...

Book Synopsis

Learn how to save and prepare for retirement no matter your age or your income.

12 Ways to Retire on Lessoffers a roadmap for anyone seeking financial security and peace of mind for their retirement years ahead, regardless of savings or income in the present moment.
In a time when fewer retirees have the kind of pension many of their parents had, those looking to retire can be especially vulnerable. But here, the author outlines those steps people can take to ensure their security and enjoy those activities they look forward to in the future. Offering case studies and actionable steps in the form of bullet points, questions and lists, the book focuses on the importance of planning and analyzing one's total financial picture in the context of goals, hopes, and dreams.

Review Quotes

"Edleson helps map out a proactive, purpose filled and deliberate retirement. These steps help readers understand many of the details which are faced in retirement.Andrew J. Feldman, CFP, president, AJ Feldman Financial" --Andrew J. Feldman, CFP, president, AJ Feldman Financial

"This book provides wonderful suggestions about how to make the most out of retirement by ensuring that your dollars go as far as possible in terms of budgeting, finding fulfillment, and making choices about work, Social Security, housing, and travel. I learned quite a bit." --Wade D. Pfau, PhD, CFA, RICP, professor of retirement income at The American College and founder of RetirementResearcher.com

"Harriet Edleson has written a concise guide for those who have not budgeted nor saved enough to continue their current lifestyle when they retire, or who do not have any retirement benefits other than some level of social security. Her book 12 Ways to Retire on Less, is a good primer for those who are not on track to be able to maintain their current lifestyle when they retire. She provides a guide to help the 40% of the population between 55 and 64 years of age who do not have retirement accounts. This book is an imperative for anyone who questions if they will have "enough" as well as those who may feel fairly comfortable, but would like to learn how they can retire on "less." It is well written, straight forward and a compelling read." --Margaret Wylde, CEO, ProMatura Group, LLC

"Because of my work as a retirement coach, I read more books on retirement than most people. I found 12 Ways to Retire on Less to be a breath of fresh air. It's a well-written, no-nonsense, comprehensive guide to planning for retirement in today's challenging environment.... It's a pragmatic, reality-check on retirement today that shows how there are still ways to make it work. The strength of the book is on how to make savvy moves to optimize your resources in funding what for many people promises to be a longer retirement than previous generations enjoyed. However, my favorite parts of the book were when Edleson goes beyond those core financial topics to emphasize the importance of keeping the dreams you have for retirement in focus.... I recommend this book as a valuable resource that will help you reframe how you're thinking of your next chapters and retire smarter." --Retirement Wisdom

After years of writing about retirement for magazines and newspapers, Bethesda journalist Harriet Edleson pulled together the advice she's learned in 12 Ways to Retire on Less: Planning an Affordable Future (Rowman & Littlefield, May 2021). She encourages readers to create a budget, consider the best time to claim Social Security, and carefully review housing options--which will likely be their biggest expense. "People are fearful of running out of money in retirement," says Edleson, who is a regular contributor to Marketwatch.com and The Washington Post. "If you plan, then you will be more likely to know what you have coming in, how much you are spending, how much you are earning, what is your guaranteed income, and you can sleep better."

Because of my work as a retirement coach, I read more books on retirement than most people. I found 12 Ways to Retire on Less to be a breath of fresh air. It's a well-written, no-nonsense, comprehensive guide to planning for retirement in today's challenging environment.... It's a pragmatic, reality-check on retirement today that shows how there are still ways to make it work. The strength of the book is on how to make savvy moves to optimize your resources in funding what for many people promises to be a longer retirement than previous generations enjoyed. However, my favorite parts of the book were when Edleson goes beyond those core financial topics to emphasize the importance of keeping the dreams you have for retirement in focus.... I recommend this book as a valuable resource that will help you reframe how you're thinking of your next chapters and retire smarter.

Edleson helps map out a proactive, purpose filled and deliberate retirement. These steps help readers understand many of the details which are faced in retirement.Andrew J. Feldman, CFP, president, AJ Feldman Financial

Harriet Edleson has written a concise guide for those who have not budgeted nor saved enough to continue their current lifestyle when they retire, or who do not have any retirement benefits other than some level of social security. Her book 12 Ways to Retire on Less, is a good primer for those who are not on track to be able to maintain their current lifestyle when they retire. She provides a guide to help the 40% of the population between 55 and 64 years of age who do not have retirement accounts. This book is an imperative for anyone who questions if they will have "enough" as well as those who may feel fairly comfortable, but would like to learn how they can retire on "less." It is well written, straight forward and a compelling read.

This book provides wonderful suggestions about how to make the most out of retirement by ensuring that your dollars go as far as possible in terms of budgeting, finding fulfillment, and making choices about work, Social Security, housing, and travel. I learned quite a bit.

About the Author

Harriet Edleson is an expert on baby boomer retirement strategies. She has written the Retiring feature for The New York Times and the Where We Live feature for The Washington Post. A former staff writer/editor/producer for AARP and contributing writer for Kiplinger's Retirement Report, she began her writing career at Gannett Westchester (NY) Newspapers and the Houston Chronicle. She lives in Bethesda, Maryland. Learn more at her website, Howtoretireonless.com.