If you can still cover these 10 expenses after 65, you’re wealthier than most of your peers

Ever thought you’d made it financially, only to realize most people your age are quietly struggling with expenses you take for granted?

Here’s something that might surprise you: being able to afford certain everyday costs after 65 puts you in a pretty exclusive club. While social media feeds us stories of retirees living their best lives on cruise ships, the reality is starkly different for most people.

I’ve been diving deep into retirement finances lately, and the numbers are eye-opening. We’re talking about expenses that seem basic—things you probably don’t think twice about right now—but become genuine luxuries for many retirees.

The truth is, if you can comfortably cover these 10 specific expenses after you hit 65, you’re doing better than the majority of your peers. Some of these might seem obvious, others will probably catch you off guard.

1. Comprehensive health insurance premiums

Let’s start with the big one that catches most people completely off guard.

If you can still afford robust health insurance coverage after 65, you’re already ahead of the game. Sure, Medicare kicks in, but here’s what nobody tells you: it doesn’t cover everything. Not even close.

As noted by Fidelity Investments, the biggest mistake retirees make is not planning for healthcare costs – a 65-year-old couple can expect to spend around $300,000 on health care in retirement.

That’s not a typo. Three hundred thousand dollars.

Most people assume Medicare will handle their medical needs, but premiums for supplemental insurance, prescription drug coverage, and long-term care policies can easily run thousands per year. I’ve watched friends’ parents stress over choosing between comprehensive coverage and keeping their lights on.

If you’re not sweating these monthly premiums, you’re in better financial shape than most of your peers realize.

2. Spontaneous travel and vacations

Being able to book a last-minute trip or take multiple vacations per year?

That’s wealth talking, even if it doesn’t feel like it.

Most retirees I know have travel on their bucket list, but their budgets tell a different story. They’re clipping coupons and weighing whether a weekend getaway is worth dipping into savings that need to last decades.

Here’s the thing about retirement travel: it’s not just the upfront costs. It’s the confidence that spending a few thousand on a trip won’t derail your financial security. It’s knowing you can handle unexpected expenses that pop up while you’re away.

I remember talking to my neighbor, who retired last year. He’d always dreamed of visiting national parks with his wife, but now he’s calculating gas prices and camping fees down to the penny.

Meanwhile, his brother can hop on flights to see grandkids across the country without checking his bank balance first.

If spontaneous trips don’t stress your budget, you’re living a retirement most people only dream about.

3. Quality long-term care insurance

Here’s one that separates the financially prepared from everyone else: being able to afford comprehensive long-term care insurance without breaking a sweat.

Most people approaching retirement either skip this entirely or go with the bare minimum coverage.

Why?

Because quality policies are expensive — we’re talking thousands per year for decent coverage.

But here’s the brutal reality: if you need extended care and don’t have insurance, you’re looking at costs that can demolish a lifetime of savings in a matter of months. Nursing home care can run $6,000 to $10,000 monthly, and in-home care isn’t much cheaper.

I’ve seen families go from comfortable to financially devastated when one spouse needed memory care. The ones who had robust long-term care policies?

They maintained their dignity and their savings.

If you can comfortably pay these premiums while still covering your other expenses, you’ve achieved something most retirees can’t. You’ve bought peace of mind, and that’s a luxury many of your peers simply cannot afford.

4. Home maintenance and major repairs

Can you still call a contractor without having a panic attack about the bill?

That puts you way ahead of most retirees.

Here’s what happens to a lot of people after 65: their house starts showing its age right when their income drops. The roof needs work, the HVAC system dies, or the foundation develops issues.

Suddenly, they’re looking at five-figure repair bills on a fixed income.

I know a couple who’ve been putting off replacing their windows for three years because they can’t swing the $15,000 cost. They’re wearing extra sweaters in winter and watching their energy bills climb, but major home improvements feel impossible now.

Then there are the ongoing maintenance costs — lawn care, gutter cleaning, painting.

A lot of retirees end up doing this stuff themselves well into their 70s, not because they enjoy it, but because they can’t afford to hire help.

If you can still maintain your home properly without stressing about every invoice, you’re experiencing retirement comfort that many of your peers have had to give up.

5. Regular dining out and entertainment

Remember when grabbing dinner at a nice restaurant was just a Tuesday night decision?

If you can still do that in retirement, you’re living better than most.

The reality is that entertainment budgets are often the first casualties of retirement. Date nights become “let’s cook at home” nights. Movies become Netflix binges.

Concert tickets and theater shows? Those become special occasion splurges instead of regular treats.

I’ve watched retirees calculate whether they can afford appetizers or debate splitting an entrée to make the budget work. It’s not that they’re broke—they’re just being careful with money that needs to stretch for potentially decades.

The psychological impact is real, too.

When every restaurant meal becomes a financial decision, you start to feel the constraints of your new reality. If you’re still treating your partner to nice dinners or catching shows without budget anxiety, you’ve maintained a quality of life that many of your peers have quietly scaled back.

6. Supporting adult children financially

Here’s one that might hit close to home: being able to help your kids financially without jeopardizing your own retirement security.

A lot of parents want to help with down payments, emergency expenses, or grandkids’ college funds. But the harsh reality is that many retirees are barely covering their own needs, let alone playing financial backup for their adult children.

Financial experts often advise the 4% rule. In simple terms, you should take out around 4% of your savings each year in retirement. That way, your money will last around 30 years.

When you’re living within those constraints, there’s not much wiggle room for family financial emergencies.

I know parents who feel guilty every time their kids hint at money troubles because they simply can’t help without risking their own financial stability.

If you can still be the family safety net — covering a major car repair for your daughter or helping with unexpected medical bills — you’re in a position of strength most retirees don’t enjoy.

7. Premium cable, internet, and subscription services

This might sound trivial, but hear me out: if you’re not scrutinizing every monthly subscription, you’re probably doing better financially than you realize.

For many retirees, streaming services, premium cable packages, and high-speed internet plans become luxury items. They’re downgrading to basic packages, sharing Netflix passwords with family members, and choosing between subscriptions each month.

It’s not just about the money — it’s about the mental energy spent managing these small expenses.

When you’re on a tight budget, even a $15 monthly charge becomes something you have to justify.

I’ve seen retirees create spreadsheets tracking every recurring payment, constantly weighing whether each service is “worth it.”

Meanwhile, if you’re keeping your premium internet, multiple streaming services, and not stressing about these monthly charges, you’re enjoying a level of financial freedom that many of your peers have had to give up.

8. Quality groceries and dietary preferences

Can you still buy organic produce without checking the price? Shop at the nicer grocery stores? Choose food based on what you want rather than what’s on sale?

This is where retirement budgets often show their limitations. Many retirees become coupon clippers by necessity, not choice. They’re comparing unit prices, buying generic brands, and timing their shopping around sales cycles.

Health, United States data shows that health care costs averaged $9,787 per person for the year 2019, with consumers paying 12.7% out-of-pocket.

When you’re managing healthcare expenses alongside a fixed income, food budgets often take a hit.

I know retirees who used to shop at Whole Foods but now stick to discount chains. They’re not starving, but they’ve had to adjust their expectations about food quality and variety.

If your grocery shopping habits haven’t changed much since retirement, you’re maintaining a standard of living that many of your peers have quietly downgraded.

9. Regular vehicle maintenance and replacement

Still driving a reliable, relatively new car? Not sweating major repairs or car payments?

That’s a bigger deal in retirement than you might think.

For many retirees, their car becomes a “make it last as long as possible” situation. They’re putting off routine maintenance, driving vehicles well past their prime, and hoping nothing major breaks down.

Car shopping in retirement is stressful when you’re on a fixed income. Do you take on a car payment that’ll eat into your monthly budget? Buy something used and risk repair costs?

These decisions become much more complex when you can’t just work overtime to cover unexpected expenses.

I’ve seen retirees stick with cars that probably aren’t safe because they can’t afford the alternative. If you can comfortably maintain your

Rounding things off

If you can handle most of these expenses without losing sleep, congratulations—you’ve achieved something many people struggle to reach.

But here’s what’s really interesting: a lot of folks who can afford these things don’t realize how well they’re doing. You might take your financial comfort for granted while your neighbors are quietly making tough choices about healthcare, home repairs, or helping their kids.

Financial experts advise us to have about 10–12 times our yearly income saved by retirement to keep our current lifestyle.

The reality?

Most people fall way short of that target.

If reading this list made you feel grateful rather than anxious, you’re probably in better shape than the majority of your peers. And if you’re still working toward retirement, this gives you a realistic picture of what financial comfort actually looks like after 65.

The goal isn’t to make anyone feel bad about their situation — it’s to recognize that true financial security in retirement is rarer than we think.