Retirement is reshaping my approach to spending

The author reports that inflation has raised expected retirement costs—especially for travel and groceries—and that they are in a transitional retirement phase and have not yet withdrawn retirement savings.

I tracked pre-retirement expenses and forecasted changes with a spreadsheet, only to find inflation has raised several expected costs. Travel plans that once seemed straightforward are now more expensive, and grocery bills have exceeded earlier estimates. I am in a transitional retirement phase where my spouse still works and I earn intermittently, and we have not yet begun withdrawals from retirement savings. Known points: - Inflation has noticeably increased costs for non-U.S. international travel and for groceries compared with past expectations. - Plans with friends to visit European cities were reconsidered because of ticket costs and family caregiving needs; the group now plans to travel to Mexico City instead. - The author and spouse have emergency savings and planner reassurances but report feeling vulnerable about potential large health, home, or family costs. - Retirement has reduced long periods of sitting and allowed more flexible, consistent exercise and daily routines. Summary: Inflation is changing how the author intends to use retirement income and has prompted a reevaluation of travel and food spending. The author has not yet withdrawn retirement savings and the timing of withdrawals is undetermined at this time.