Why spending in retirement isn't just about money

Evan Lane | Nov 12, 2025

What are you looking forward to the most when you retire?

Traveling and relaxing are at the top of most people’s lists.

So is having more free time.

With that, many people who haven't yet retired expect to have an active lifestyle, jet setting around with less free time than they have now.¹

The reality?

About 2 in 3 retirees (64%) have more than 40 hours of free time a week. Most of them (83%) spend most of their time watching movies or TV.¹

That could be why boredom worries some retirees more than running out of money.

The takeaway is that free time is wonderful, but it won't fill itself.

If you’d rather thrive in retirement, not drift through it, it can all come down to how you spend your free time and how you make the most of it.

And guess what?

The happiest retirees have cracked that code. They fill their free time with meaningful activities (and a lot of them).¹