​Many retirees, however, find that these assumptions are not accurate. In fact, it’s possible that your spending will actually increase after you retire. Fortunately, you can keep your spending under control by understanding some of the unique factors faced by retirees.
 
It’s a common assumption among many workers, retirees and even financial professionals that spending goes down after you retire. In fact, many retirement plans are built on the assumption that retirement spending will be a fraction of your preretirement income needs.

​According to a recent study by Gallup, 64 percent of Americans say they are worried about having enough money for retirement. That makes retirement the country’s number one concern for the 16th consecutive year. In fact, retirement has been the top financial concern for Americans every year since Gallup started conducting the study.1
 
There’s good reason for Americans to be concerned. With the disappearance of company pensions and the uncertain future of Social Security, it’s clear that the next generation of retirees will carry more of the retirement funding burden than any previous generation. It’s primarily your responsibility to save money for retirement, as you may not be able to count on a pension or a full Social Security benefit as a safety net.
 
As important as it is to save for retirement, however, there may be times when it may not be wise to make retirement your top financial priority. Many people assume that retirement should always top the list of savings goals. Depending on your circumstances, though, that assumption could be incorrect.