No matter how old you are at this very moment, planning for retirement is something that you should start as early as possible. When it comes to retirement, most people only tend to think about saving for retirement. While this is one of the biggest factors you need to consider, it’s not the only thing that will change once you no longer have a full-time income. Whether you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, or you’re still paying off your student loans, here are six additional things you need to consider when planning for your retirement.

  1. Location

When thinking about retirement, it’s a good idea to think about where this will take place. After all, this can have a huge impact on your retirement savings. For instance, if you want to live in a small town when you retire, chances are your spending needs will be pretty minimal, as costs in rural locations tend to be pretty low. However, if you want to live up your retirement in one of the hottest cities, such as New York, then your living expenses will be a lot higher. This means you’ll need to have a lot more put away to enjoy this type of living. Be sure that you think about your retirement dreams and goals and talk about this with your partner. Then, be sure to have a basic understanding of what it costs to live in this location to help you plan.

  1. Insurance

Having access to insurance helps you cover some costs of medical expenses that arise, and this is very important for those in retirement. However, what you need to consider is what type of insurance you’ll need. For some people, their past employer still covers insurance costs after retirement, but for some, it requires you to take out your own insurance policy. If you are shopping around for your own insurance, be sure to compare prices and always read real reviews first to ensure you’re partnering with a company that provides you with all the features and incentives you need to stay comfortable after you retire.

  1. Medications

As you get older, your health starts to deteriorate. This means you’ll need to ensure you have access to the medication you need. If you currently take regular medication, be sure to check with insurance providers about what the cost of this will be on their insurance plan. You can also talk with your doctor to see if there are generic options that would be cheaper for you, or if they have samples they could give you to help reduce the cost. The last thing you need is to retire and realize you no longer have access to the medication you need to thrive.

  1. Essentials

Most people decide to move or downgrade after retirement, and this is a great way to start living more simply. However, when you’re considering retirement, you need to be sure to factor in your essentials. For instance, if you’re planning on moving into a retirement community, you want to know all the rules and regulations before deciding where to go. After all, if you move in and realize you can’t have pets, yet you already have one, it puts you in a predicament. In addition, you also need to know if you need to have two vehicles or can downgrade to one. The more you can figure out ahead of time, the easier retirement will be.

  1. Hobbies

Sometimes sitting around doing nothing can be joyous, but sometimes you need to fill your time with something to do. When you retire, it’s nice to know what type of hobby you want to have so you have a way to spend your time in a way that makes you happy. Maybe take some time to think about the things you like to do, or visit areas in your neighborhood to see if there are groups you could join. Knowing about your hobby ahead of time can also ensure you’ll have money to spend on it.

  1. Work

For some people, retiring doesn’t mean leaving the workforce altogether. Instead, it simply means stepping away from a full-time role into something easier and less stressful. However, the United States government has a cap on just how many hours you can work in order to earn your social security check or other governmental benefits. Be sure to have an understanding of what this cap may be so you don’t put yourself into any type of bad predicament.

Retiring is an exciting time in your life, and having enough time to prepare for everything it involves will make it all worthwhile.