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Life Hacks in Retirement: Strategies for Aging Well

The secret? Focus on progress...not perfection

Aug 13, 2025

7 min

Sue Pimento

If Jean Smart can star in Hacks at 72, clearly life hacking is age-appropriate.

Hacks may be a TV comedy about a sharp-tongued, aging comic, but let’s face it: retirement needs a few hacks of its own. It turns out that aging well requires more than good genes—it demands good strategy. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s progress. Progress with fewer bruises, bigger laughs, and more money left at the end of the month than freezer-burnt chicken.


So here are some tried-and-true hacks in three essential areas: Money, Muscle, and Mood.

Let's get you hip, fit, and financially free.  Ready, Set, Go!


Money Hacks: Japan Might Have Found Something


In Japan, there's a charming financial custom called Kuzukai, where men hand over all their income to their wives and receive a monthly allowance. No joke—it's a thing. And it works. Japan boasts:


• One of the highest household savings rates at 23% (OECD, 2023)

• Low household debt per capita (World Bank)

• The lowest personal bankruptcy rate in the developed world (IMF Report)

• And a whopping 74% of households follow this practice (Nikkei Asia, 2021)


Maybe they’ve discovered the ultimate money hack: give the money to the person most likely to use spreadsheets recreationally. But you don’t need a spouse or a sushi habit to save big. Whether you're solo or shacked up, a homeowner or a renter, here are some effectively universal money-saving tips.


Everyday Money-Saving Hacks:


• Cut the Hidden Fees: Banking, streaming, delivery apps—if you’re not actively using them, cancel or deactivate. Your wallet will thank you. Read your bank and investment statements carefully, as if they were love letters from your money. That $3 “maintenance fee”? It might be costing you more than you realize.


• Unsubscribe to Survive: Subscriptions are like house guests—pleasant at first but staying too long and costing too much. Establish a quarterly ritual—Subscription Audit Sunday. Review auto-renewals—Netflix, meditation apps, fancy sock clubs. If it doesn’t bring you joy or serve your needs weekly, cancel it. You might find enough loose change for a weekend escape.


• Shop Daily, Eat Fresh: Instead of over-buying in bulk, buy just what you need for the day. It supports spontaneity and reduces waste. (Bonus: you can honour the “I feel like chicken wings” days guilt-free.).


Power Tip: Shop daily, eat fresh. Channel your inner Parisian. Shop just for today—reducing waste, adding joy, and turning dinner into a choice rather than a guilt-ridden freezer excavation.


• Use Senior Discounts Like a Boss: Shoppers Drug Mart (55+), Pet Valu (60+), movie theatres, golf, bowling… but only if you ask. Ask proudly: “I dare you, card me.” Mark senior days on your calendar like paydays, because they are.


• Split with a Buddy: Share groceries with a friend. Half a BBQ chicken is more realistic (and less greasy) than the whole bird, and it reduces “fridge clutter”!


• Ride Together: Share Ubers or Lyft. Or better yet, plan your errands with a friend and make a day of it; it will feel more like an adventure.


• Scan for Free Fun: Check local listings for subsidized classes, outdoor concerts, and "pay what you can" events. Even dress rehearsals can be hidden gems at a discount.


Money Traps to Avoid:


1. Subscription Creep – Set reminders to cancel trials. They add up faster than your grocery bill in the frozen aisle.


2. Silent Statement Siphons – Monitor your monthly expenses. Cut out what doesn’t bring joy or value.


3. Lifestyle Drift – Just because you can spend, doesn’t mean you should. You don’t need another air fryer.


4. Over-Gifting – Love isn’t measured in Amazon orders. The best gift is your time, or your famous banana bread.


5. Retail Therapy – If it’s cheaper than therapy, it’s probably just a distraction. But that doesn’t mean it’s helpful therapy.


6. Impulse Upgrades – Your current phone may be a few years old—but so are you, and you’re still fabulous. Your toaster doesn’t need Bluetooth, and neither do your socks.


Physical Hacks: Train Like You Really Mean It


The book ‘Younger Next Year’ (thank you, Bill P. and Steven H.) offers a wake-up call:

Life is a test of endurance. Prepare yourself for it.  In retirement, fitness isn’t just a hobby — it’s your new full-time job. And this job offers better hours, no toxic bosses, and a dress code that includes spandex.


Fitness Hacks That Work


1. Schedule it: If it’s not on the calendar, it’s not happening. Even better, set a recurring date with a friend. Accountability is appealing.


2. Make it enjoyable: Not feeling spin class? Skip it. Try Zumba, power walking, or even disco gardening. Move as if no one’s watching (even if your neighbour is).


3. Start where you are: Don’t join Advanced Pickleball if your last workout was chasing a runaway dog in 2017.


4. Make It Social: Grab a friend or make new ones—bonus points for post-sweat smoothies and commiseration.


5. Keep Commitments (Especially to Yourself): Be a “serious person,” as Logan Roy would say. If you schedule a walk, show up—even if you’re in Crocs and a hoodie.


6. Track progress, not perfection: Count steps, not pounds. Celebrate consistency. Aim for “better than yesterday,” not “six-pack by September.”


Fitness Traps to Avoid:


1. Choosing Something You Hate: If you dread it, you’ll ditch it. Guaranteed.


2. Overestimating Your Ability or Availability: Planning to run a marathon in 30 days after a decade on the couch? That’s... aspirational.


3. Overpaying for Motivation: Fancy gym + guilt ≠ results. Try a budget-friendly gym, or even YouTube workouts in your living room.


4. Ignoring Recovery: If you can’t walk after leg day, you’re doing it wrong—stretch, hydrate, nap. Repeat.


5. All-or-Nothing Thinking: Missing one workout doesn’t mean the week’s a write-off. Perfection is the enemy of progress.


6. Comparing Yourself to 30-Year-Olds on Instagram: Just… don’t. Unless you want to feel bad in high def.


7. Try "Fitness Snacking" Squats while the kettle boils. Do wall push-ups before brushing your teeth. Have a dance break during Jeopardy. Movement matters.


8. Stretch Before Bed Nightly stretches improve sleep and help you wake up feeling refreshed. It’s five minutes that pay dividends.


Emotional Hacks: Mindset Is Your Muscle


This is the part they don’t teach in school—or even in yoga class. Emotional health is what sustains you when the stock market tanks, your golf swing falters, or the kids “forget” to call.


Emotional Hacks to Try


1. Upgrade Your Self-Talk: You hear your voice more than anyone else’s. Make it kind. Make it constructive.


2. Be Your Own Biggest Fan: Self-love isn’t arrogance. It’s survival.


3. Treat Yourself Like a Dear Friend: Would you tell your best friend she’s lazy, useless, and past her prime? No? Then stop saying it to yourself.


4. Forgiveness: Begin with yourself. Write that forgiveness letter, see a therapist, cry it out. Let go. No one leaves here flawless.


5. Basic Self-Care: Feed your body with wholesome food, ensure proper rest, and maintain regular grooming. Yes, plucking your chin counts.


6. Gratitude: morning and night. Focus on one thing you’re grateful for each day. It’s better than Botox.


7. Practice "Mental Hygiene" meditation, journaling, or a walk without your phone. It's like flossing for your nervous system.


8. Try Five-Minute Journaling: “What made me smile today?” “What felt hard?” “What do I want more of tomorrow?” Answer honestly—no grammar police.


Emotional Traps to Avoid


1. Negative Self-Talk: There is zero upside. Science backs this up—positive self-talk improves performance and wellbeing. Try this:

“Today wasn’t my best. I was tired and snappy. I’ll apologize and do better tomorrow.”

or

“I know I can do this. I need to practice and be patient with myself.”


2. Not Making Yourself a Priority: The oxygen mask rule is absolute. If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t help anyone else.


3. Self-Medicating with Booze, Bingeing, or Buying: Feel the feelings. Don’t dodge them with Chardonnay or Amazon.


4. Righteousness Addiction: Would you rather be right or be happy? Being “right” is expensive—emotionally, physically, and energetically.


5. All-or-Nothing Perfectionism: Perfection is a myth—and frankly, a boring one. Flaws are where the fun and growth live.


6. Regret. Let’s face it, regrets are a part of life. The trick is not to dwell on them. Don’t store them in Samsonite to pull out whenever we want to beat ourselves up! Ever notice that the windshield on your car is much bigger than the rearview mirror? Read that again.


The Social Capital Audit


You are more than your RRSP and Fitbit stats. What do you bring to the table? Your kindness? Humour? Lived wisdom? A killer lemon loaf? Whatever it is—own it. Hone it. Make it your signature. Whether you’re the neighbourhood listener, laughter-bringer, or human glue-stick, your contribution matters.


What Are You Proud Of… and Is It Still Serving You?


Maybe once upon a time, you were known for your hair, your legs, your singing voice, or your abs of yesteryear. But here's the truth: gravity always wins. And that’s not failure—it’s biology. So if you’re still starting sentences with “Back in my day…”, you might be overdue for a mindset update.


Choose something new to feel proud of now: your resilience, your sense of humour, your garden, or your ability to FaceTime your grandkid without accidentally hanging up.  Adjust the metric. Celebrate the upgrade.


Some Mantras for the Journey


• “Done is better than perfect.”

• “I am doing the best I can, and that’s enough.”

• “Every day is a fresh start (even if my back cracks getting out of bed).”

• “Progress, not perfection.”

• “I am not too old, and it’s not too late.”

• “If not now… when?”

• “Stop acting my age.”


The Final Hack: Don’t Just Celebrate – Throw Confetti


Practice makes progress. And progress, my friends, is where the magic lives.

Every step matters. Every stumble adds a twist.


Perfection is overrated. Progress is the new gold standard. And as Mel Robbins reminds us:

“There will be many people who won’t appreciate your value. Make sure you’re not one of them.”


You’ve spent your life caring for others. Now it’s your turn to care for yourself—thoughtfully, warmly, and with plenty of good humour.  Retirement isn’t the end. It’s the ultimate reboot.


Be the Jean Smart of your own story. Jean, watch your back... and Kuzukai, watch our money. Star power meets allowance power.

Don’t Retire…Re-Wire!


Sue


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Sue Pimento

Sue Pimento

Founder | CEO

Writer, author & presenter focused on financial literacy and retirement strategies. I advocate for the health, wealth & purpose for retirees

Public speaking & trainingFitness and WellnessBankingPension ReformInterest Rates
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Many of the same issues show up with adult children, friends, and family, along with everyone’s sudden assumption that you now have all kinds of free time. I’ll tackle that one in two weeks. My Book is Available for Order: I hope you will consider ordering a copy of Your Retirement Reset for yourself, a friend, or someone you love. Published by ECW Press and is available through Indigo or Amazon and McNally Robinson. If you like supporting Canadian booksellers, check with your local independent bookstore too. Most can order it.

MEDIA ADVISORY: “Your Retirement Reset” by Canadian Retirement Expert Susan Pimento Arrives in Bookstores Across Canada featured image

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MEDIA ADVISORY: “Your Retirement Reset” by Canadian Retirement Expert Susan Pimento Arrives in Bookstores Across Canada

Practical guide to turning home equity into lasting retirement income is now available at Indigo, independent bookstores, Amazon.ca and McNally Robinson, and through Simon & Schuster in the U.S., in paperback, ebook and audiobook. Pimento is on a national media tour. TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, September 29, 2026 -- Many Canadians share the same quiet worry: running out of money before they run out of life. Retirement expert Susan Pimento has a name for it: FORO, the Fear Of Running Out. As of today, her answer to it is in bookstores across the country. Your Retirement Reset: How to Convert Home Equity into Financial Security, published by ECW Press, is now in stores nationwide, including Indigo and Chapters locations and independent booksellers. It is also available on Amazon.ca and from Canadian independent bookseller McNally Robinson, in trade paperback, ebook and audiobook. In the United States, readers can order the book through Simon & Schuster. The book is written for Canadians in or near retirement and for the adult children who help them plan. It addresses a gap in how Canadians talk about retirement. Most advice is about saving. Very little explains how to turn what people have built into steady income that lasts. For many retirees, the family home is their largest asset. Your Retirement Reset explains, in plain language, the tools Canadians can use to unlock home equity. It shows how those tools fit alongside government benefits and registered savings, and how to weigh the trade-offs with family before making a decision. “Canadians have been told to save, save, save. Nobody tells them how to spend it,” said Pimento. “Meanwhile, the biggest asset most retirees own is right under their feet, and they’ve been taught to treat it like it’s off limits. A lot of people are house-rich and cheque-poor. This book is for anyone lying awake at 3 a.m. doing retirement math. You’ve done the hard part. Now let’s make it work for you.” “The book is about something that affects every one of us. How we're going to live and live well in the second half of our lives. Sue challenges us to think differently about retirement, especially the difference between having assets and having the income we need to enjoy life. She also challenges the traditional idea that the equity in our homes should simply sit there untouched until we die. Used thoughtfully and conservatively, she believes home equity can be a part of the retirement income conversation,” said Jennifer Smith, Publisher at ECW Press, at the book launch. National Media Tour Underway Susan Pimento is on a national media tour, and ECW Press is booking interviews with broadcast, print, podcast and online outlets. She can speak to: FORO (the Fear Of Running Out) and why it is keeping retirees up at night How Canadians can use home equity safely as a source of retirement income Common myths about reverse mortgages and downsizing What the shift from defined benefit to defined contribution pensions means for today’s retirees How adult children can start the money conversation with their parents To request an interview, contact Cassie Smyth, Publicist, at ECW Press (details below). Readers can find free resources and learn more about Pimento’s work at retirewithequity.ca. Book Details Title: Your Retirement Reset: How to Convert Home Equity into Financial Security Author: Susan Pimento Publisher: ECW Press In stores: September 29, 2026 Formats: Trade paperback, ebook, audiobook Price: $28.95 (Canada); US$28.95 (United States) ISBN (paperback): 978-1-77041-897-4 Pages: 280 US distribution: Simon & Schuster About Susan Pimento and Retire with Equity Susan Pimento is a Canadian retirement expert, author and founder of Retire with Equity, an education and advocacy platform on retirement financing. She spent more than 30 years in banking and mortgage lending, including as a Vice President at a Schedule I bank. She advises financial institutions and policymakers on modernizing retirement solutions for Canadians 55+, and co-authored EY Canada’s report The Canadian Retirement Evolution. Her motto: “Don’t Retire…ReWire!” Learn more at retirewithequity.ca Media Contact Cassie Smyth, Publicist ECW Press cassie@ecwpress.com | 416-694-3348 | info@ecwpress.com

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