How The Cost Of A Postage Stamp Affects Your Retirement

How The Cost Of A Postage Stamp Affects Your Retirement

How The Cost of A Postage Stamp Affects Your Retirement

Think about the last time you bought a book of stamps.

In 1983, it used to cost to you 20 cents to mail something.

In 1999 it was 33 cents.

In 2011 it was 44 cents.

In 2021, the cost of a postage stamp is 55 cents.

That’s a 25% increase in the last ten years alone.

Think about that.

And now apply it to every aspect of your day-to-day life.

The cost of goods and services 30 years ago is a lot different (and more expensive!) compared to what they cost today.

What’s one of the reasons?

Inflation.

Inflation’s Effect On Your Retirement

The cost of every-day goods and services tend to rise over time.

In fact, some inflation can actually be positive since it can drive economic growth,

But, if the economy sees too much inflation, your purchasing power can be lowered.

When you think about your upcoming retirement, you might have enough saved to retire today, at today’s prices.

It’s important to also consider how your retirement savings will last throughout retirement.

Some federal employees may not consider inflation when planning for retirement.

Sure, you want to try and protect what you’ve saved.

And you want to ensure your retirement savings are keeping pace with inflation.

You also want to make sure you’re considering keeping up with the cost of every-day life.

Fortunately, your FERS or CSRS pension and Social Security have cost of living adjustments built-in.

How to Manage Inflation’s Negative Impact

Now, while you can’t directly influence inflation, there are steps you can consider to help combat the negative effects.

First, you can try to reduce your daily living expenses.

Examples could include downsizing your residence to switching to a less expensive cable and internet package.

By living in a smaller home, you could reduce your energy costs (and hopefully the mortgage, insurance and property taxes).

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of energy saw the largest percentage increase over the last twelve months, as of March 2021.

Bottom Line: any expenses you can reduce is likely more money in your pocket for the long-term.

You also want to ensure you’re keeping pace with inflation with the money you’ve saved.

It might be a good idea to think about inflation and how it may impact your retirement strategy.

Contact us today to learn other tips and strategies to make sure your money lasts in retirement.

Schedule your complimentary federal benefits review and retirement analysis here with a licensed insurance professional.

For additional information, you can also contact your friends at GPIS by calling 866-201-7829 or by sending an e-mail to info@gpis4u.org.

-Sam Wiss, RICP

By responding to this offer, you may be contacted by a licensed insurance and financial professional regarding life insurance and/or annuity products. Not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the federal government or any government agency.