Making thoughtful and informed decisions about your finances is more important than ever as live expectancy is longer. The first and probably most critical step when thinking about retirement age is a whole new attitude toward your finances. Because knowing your financial status allows you to make plan and changes. Think hard about the lifestyle you want and tote up and how much it will cost. That includes putting some specific figures on where you will live and the activities you will engage in. Many people mistakenly think their expenses will go down when they stop working. In reality, many new retirees spend about 20% more than before.