Most retirement budgets assume spending is flat.

Real life isn’t.

Research and real-world experience show that retirement spending usually follows a predictable three-phase pattern — often called Go-Go, Slow-Go, and No-Go. Retirees who understand this pattern tend to enjoy retirement more and worry less about running out of money.

Those who don’t often make one of two mistakes: They underspend early and miss their best years — or overspend early and feel trapped later.

Phase 1: The Go-Go Years

The Go-Go phase usually begins at retirement and lasts into the late 60s or early 70s.

This is when retirees are:

• Healthier and more mobile
• Traveling more
• Exploring hobbies
• Helping children or grandchildren
• Spending on experiences they postponed while working

Spending is often higher than expected during this phase — and that’s not a problem. In fact, it’s normal.

The real risk isn’t spending more early. It’s failing to plan for it, which can create guilt and second-guessing every purchase.

A smart retirement plan expects higher Go-Go spending and allows for it intentionally.

Phase 2: The Slow-Go Years

Eventually, most retirees shift into the Slow-Go phase.

Travel becomes simpler. Hobbies become more home-based. Big-ticket experiences taper off. Day-to-day expenses stabilize or decline.

This phase often lasts longer than people expect — sometimes a decade or more.

Because spending naturally drops, this is where:

• Budgets can tighten without sacrifice
• Portfolios often recover from earlier withdrawals
• Anxiety about “overspending” begins to ease

Planning for lower spending here is what allows retirees to confidently enjoy the Go-Go years earlier.

Phase 3: The No-Go Years

The No-Go phase isn’t about doing nothing.

It’s about priorities shifting toward:

• Healthcare
• Assistance at home
• Convenience and support

General lifestyle spending may fall further, but medical and care-related costs rise sharply.

This is where many retirement plans fail — not because people didn’t save enough, but because they didn’t separate healthcare risk from lifestyle spending.

The Power of Bucketing by Phase

One of the most effective ways to plan around these phases is to mentally — or literally — bucket money by purpose:

• A Go-Go bucket designed to fund travel, experiences, and flexibility early
• A Slow-Go bucket focused on steady income and portfolio stability
• A No-Go healthcare bucket reserved specifically for medical care, long-term care, or support needs

This approach reduces the fear that every dollar spent today steals from an uncertain future.

Why This Prevents Regret

Many retirees fall into accidental frugality.

They spend less than they can afford early because they’re afraid of “what if.” Years later, they realize the money is still there — but the health and energy aren’t.

Others spend freely early without guardrails, then feel trapped once markets dip or expenses rise.

Planning by phase solves both problems.

It gives you permission to spend when spending matters most — and structure to slow down when life naturally does.

Retirement Isn’t One Budget — It’s Three

The biggest takeaway is simple:

Retirement isn’t a single spending plan stretched over 30 years. It’s three different lifestyles, each with different needs.

When your budget reflects that reality, retirement feels less like guesswork — and more like a plan that evolves with you.