The Hardest Retirement Habit to Break

Asian Retirees Must Learn to Spend Guilt-Free

We Asians are world-class savers. From red packets slipped into piggy banks as children, to scrimping on luxuries so we can put our kids through school or pay off a home, saving has been wired into our cultural DNA. It’s what gave our parents dignity in old age, and what gives us peace of mind today. But here’s the problem …. what served us well during our working years can quietly sabotage our retirement.

Many Asian retirees struggle to spend. Even after reaching financial security, even after the mortgage is paid off, even when medical and daily needs are fully covered, the urge to save persists. Spending feels wrong. Wasteful. Even selfish. This is not just a financial issue. It’s a psychological one.

The Guilt of Spending

It starts subtly. You hesitate before booking that business class ticket. You browse, but don’t buy, the nice watch or handbag. You feel indulgent dining at a restaurant with a view. “Better not,” you tell yourself. “What if something happens?” You clip coupons even though you no longer need to. If you’ve planned well, saved consistently, and built a retirement nest egg, you’re not spending recklessly. You are finally spending rightfully. Your money is not meant to be buried with you. It is…