GRAND Magazine - Fall 2022 - 29

climate
From where you live to how you spend; small
things can make a difference. Follow your money:
Where you live
Many people stay put when they retire and don't
revisit their living situation. However, that three- and
four-bedroom home in the suburbs with a lawn may
have been a good place to raise your family or commute
into the city, but it might not be the best choice
for your retirement life. And if you need to significantly
reduce your living expenses, housing costs are
a good place to start looking for savings, since they're
the largest expense for most retirees.
Green home tip No. 1: Be thoughtful about
where you live in retirement. That idyllic retirement
home at the beach, desert, or mountains may
not have the same appeal it might have had in the
past. Heat, fires, or floods caused by extreme weather
events could wreak havoc on a retirement lifestyle in
these settings. If you live in an area that's subject to
extreme weather, your pocketbook could get hit by
significantly increased premiums for homeowners
insurance.
If you decide that these areas might not be for you,
then you could choose to live year-round in an area
that's out of harm's way from wildfires, flooding, and
extreme temperatures and just vacation at your favorite
beach, mountain, or desert community.
If you're retired and currently live in a location that's
susceptible to fires, floods, or excessive temperatures,
you might want to consider moving to a safer location
that's more forgiving to older people who are vulnerable
to reduced mobility. Just don't wait until you're
too frail and can't manage such a move.
Green home tip No. 2: Downsize your house.
29 GRAND Summer 2022
A smaller house will save on energy bills as well as property
taxes and maintenance. Townhomes, condos, and
apartments are particularly energy-efficient compared
with the large, single-family homes in the suburbs. You'll
also have less space to clean and furnish, saving you
both time and money. Downsizing can provide other
benefits, such as simplifying your life and freeing up
assets that you could invest for retirement income.
Green home tip No. 3: Move close to day-to-day
retail and service outlets, restaurants, and social
settings, if possible. This lets you easily and quickly
get your food, entertainment, and enrichment, saving
you time and money while reducing your energy
consumption.
Green home tip No. 4: Climatize your house. To
reduce your electric and heating bills, consider insulating
your walls and windows. You could also look into
adding solar panels if they're practical for your area.
If you live in an area that's susceptible to droughts,
consider reducing your water bills by installing a gray
water system, water catchment, or drip irrigation. The
return on your investment through reduced utility bills
can compare favorably to returns on investments, particularly
if we're entering a period of high inflation.
Green home tip No. 5: Replace your lawn with
drought-tolerant landscaping that uses less water, gas
for mowing, and chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
You'll save money and reduce your carbon footprint.
Green home tip No. 6: Grow your own fruits and
vegetables. You'll eat less expensive, fresher, tastier
food compared with what you can buy at the supermarket,
and you'll reduce your carbon footprint by
eliminating packaging and transportation costs.
You don't need to live on a farm to make this
work for you. For example, one family in Pasadena,
California, harvests three tons of organic food each
year from their ordinary suburban home on onetenth
of an acre. While most people may not want to
grow that much, you may have an empty corner in
your yard that could easily accommodate a vegetable
garden or your favorite fruit tree.
"
...it's important to improve our
finances and leave a better world
for our grandchildren
"
Added bonuses are that you'll get exercise as well,
thus improving your health, and you could possibly
create a magnet for small grandchildren.
Now let's look at six more tips for being more environmentally
conscious with your savings and your life.
Continued on next page
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GRAND Magazine - Fall 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRAND Magazine - Fall 2022
