# Make my money last on a fixed retirement income

A steady monthly spending plan for retirees on a fixed income, with ways to trim costs and protect against scams.

- Topic: Personal Life & Wellbeing
- Framework: Few-Shot
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Finance, Plan, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/make-my-money-last-on-a-fixed-retirement-income

## Prompt

```text
Help me plan my spending so my fixed income covers what I need.

**Monthly income sources:** [pension, government benefits, annuity, part-time work, withdrawals from savings - amounts]
**Monthly costs:** [housing, utilities, food, medications and health costs, insurance, transport, helping family]
**Irregular costs:** [property tax, car repairs, gifts, travel, home maintenance - yearly amounts]
**Savings and how I use them:** [AMOUNT, and whether I withdraw regularly]
**Concerns:** [e.g. "prices going up", "rising health costs", "running short at month's end"]

Give me:
1. A monthly plan table: Category | Monthly amount | Fixed or flexible.
2. How to handle yearly and irregular costs by setting aside a small amount each month.
3. Specific ways to trim costs that fit retirement - for example senior discounts, reviewing insurance and phone plans, asking a pharmacist about lower-cost medication options, and benefits or assistance programs worth checking - phrased as things to check, not promises.
4. A simple monthly routine for paying bills on time (autopay, a calendar, one place for statements).
5. A short checklist for protecting myself from common scams targeting older adults, and a rule: never give out account details to unexpected callers.
6. Signs it's time to talk with a fee-only financial planner or a free benefits counselor.

Use my numbers only; mark gaps [ADD]. Use plain language and short sentences. This is general information, not personal financial advice.
```

## What to fill in

- AMOUNT, and whether I withdraw regularly
- ADD

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.