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Planning for Travel, Freedom, and What’s Next: How Spending Changes Over Time Thumbnail

Planning for Travel, Freedom, and What’s Next: How Spending Changes Over Time

Our spending habits don’t stay the same forever. As life changes, so do priorities—and how we use our money should shift right along with them.

In early career years, most of us are focused on building: buying homes, raising kids, saving for college, growing retirement accounts. But as we move into new chapters—whether it’s an empty nest, semi-retirement, or full retirement—the focus starts to shift. You might want to travel more. Or spend less time working and more time doing the things you love. Maybe it’s about simplifying life—or finally upgrading a few things you’ve put off for years.

So how do you plan for those changes? And how do you make sure your money is aligned with the life you want going forward? Here are a few things worth thinking through:

1. Rethink Spending to Match New Priorities
When your lifestyle changes, your budget should too. That might mean cutting back on things that no longer bring value (like services or subscriptions you rarely use) and reallocating that money toward what matters now—like travel, family experiences, or wellness.

Take time to ask: If I looked at my last 3 months of spending, does it reflect what I say is important to me? If not, that’s where you start.

2. Use Your Money for Lifestyle Upgrades—Strategically
This stage of life might be the time to splurge a little: a kitchen renovation you’ve put off, a once-in-a-lifetime trip, or simply flying first class instead of coach.

But big expenses should be part of the plan, not surprises. We often help clients take gains from their portfolio or use cash reserves wisely to fund lifestyle upgrades in a way that keeps the rest of their plan intact.

3. Stress-Test Your Portfolio
If you’re planning to spend more—especially in the next 5–10 years—it’s important to test how your portfolio would hold up. Can it support a more active lifestyle, higher travel spending, or earlier retirement?

We look at scenarios like:

  • What if you increase spending by 15% for the next 10 years?
  • What happens if markets are down when you take spend more?
  • Can we smooth out spending without sacrificing your big goals?

You don’t need a perfect plan. But you do need one that’s built to flex.

4. Fund the Fun: Tapping into Gains (the Smart Way)
If you’ve had a strong few years in the market, it might be time to take some gains off the table—not just for peace of mind, but to intentionally fund the next chapter.

This can help reduce future risk and give you permission to enjoy what you’ve built.

5. Cut Costs Now, Reap the Rewards Later
Sometimes small shifts can free up thousands over the next few years.

A few ways clients are finding extra cash to put toward meaningful spending:

Even if the savings aren’t massive, the mental shift toward intentional spending can be powerful.

Final Thought
Your financial plan shouldn’t just be about saving and investing. It should reflect the life you want today—and the one you’re building for tomorrow. If you’re entering a new season or thinking about a lifestyle shift, it may be a great time to re-evaluate your spending, goals, and portfolio.

Small changes now can set you up for more freedom and flexibility down the road.