Are you getting close to retirement and feeling worried that you can't afford to retire? You're not alone. If you're a Baby Boomer, here are tips to help you boost your nest egg and make your money last—and reasons to stop worrying about retirement.

1. You Can Keep Working

About a third (35%) of Baby Boomers expect to be working during retirement, according to the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies (TCRS).

"[Baby Boomers] are overturning long-standing assumptions about working until age 65," wrote TCRS president Catherine Collinson, "calling for dramatic changes in current employment practices and proving that retirement and working are not mutually exclusive.”

Some people want to work in retirement because they enjoy what they do. Others see work as a necessity, due to the income it brings in.

Fortunately, "you can❀ work and receive full Social Security benefits just as long as you are 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:full retirement age," says Mark Hebner, founder and president of , in Irvine, California. (You can keep working before that as well; your benefits just might be temporarily lower, depending on your income.)

You may also want to shift to fewer hours or more flexible hours.

The biggest barrier could be your current employer. In the TCRS survey, employers paid lip service to the invaluable contributions of their older workers. However, the older workers weren't always so sure about their employer's real level of commitment. In fact, only 69% of Baby Boomers considered their employers to be "age-friendly." So🥃 you may need to take a chance and look elsewhere.

2. You Can Start to Freelance

You might want to consider building a freelance career. And you don't have to go quit your day job to get started.

Present your skills on any of the many websites that match freelance professionals with clients and test the waters. There are many opportunities that are now at your fingertips, thanks to the i♌nternet.

3. You Can Lower Your Cost of Living

Your lifestyle may well have been established decades ago when you had a successful career, a family, and a comfortable home. Take a look around you and consider: Is this where you want to be for what you're now beginning or anticipating in the future? 

Your priorities may now be quite different. Being in a good school district may not be important anymore. Being near cultural attractions and recreational facilities may be. Your home probably has too much space—and too much stuff. The stairs may be a challenge for your knees. And, really, mowing the lawn isn't as easy as it used to be.

Find a new way of living that's right for you now. It will probably cost less, taking🌳 a little of the pressure off.

"Research has indicated that most retirees end up needing only 60-80% of their preretirement income in retirement," Hebner says. "Looking to further downsize can eliminate mortgage payments—which is one of the biggest expenses for most investors—property taxes, and even the stress that comes with owning a large home."

4. You Can Retire Abroad

The Social Security Administration sends payments to beneficiaries outside the U.S.

Living abroad isn't just about cheaper living; it's also about living well. There are many places around the world where Americans can live at a fraction of the cost.

"Living overseas is becoming a smarter choice for many retirees, especially those living on a tighter fixed income," says financial planner Carlos Dias Jr., founder and managing partner of in Lake M🐓ary, Florida. "European countries such as Portugal have lower-cost expenses, such as food, healthcare, and even energy. Even though taxes are a bit higher than in the U.S., sales tax is often included in the price of goods, which is actually lower than here."

The Bottom Line

Your retirement may look like something different than you imagined. For one, you don't necessarily need to fully retire. You can cut back your hours at your current job or embark on a new venture as a freelancer. You also might retire abroad. 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Consider your many options and go from there.