‘He calls my plans a fantasy’: My husband says we can’t afford our $200,000-a-year dream retirement. I think he’s cheap.

The Moneyist

‘We have $2 million saved in our retirement accounts and a house worth $1.3 million’

Dear Quentin,

My husband and I are both 64, married almost 35 years, and we are planning to retire within the year, all going well. We have $2 million in our retirement accounts and a house worth $1.3 million with roughly $150,000 left on the mortgage, and no significant debt. He’ll get a $38,000 pension, and we’ll both get Social Security. Our daughter is 33, and she lives with her child.

I’m not saying we’re rich, but we’ve done OK. We saved, we put things off — including expensive cruises and a new kitchen — and I now want to use some of our life’s savings to improve our quality of life and enjoy it. My mother retired at 66 and died 14 months later. I’m not saying that will happen to us, but it’s a sobering reminder of what can happen.

Here’s my dream retirement, as I see it anyway: A few weeks in Europe every year, a couple of nice cruises perhaps and, ideally, a small condo near the beach for the winter where we can chill out and read and entertain friends and family from time to time. I believe all of this is very doable — but he calls my plans a fantasy.

A $14,000 cruise

Our adviser says we can spend $110,000 a year, adjusted for inflation, when our pension and Social Security are included. My estimate is closer to $200,000, which includes $45,000 for travel, $18,000 for dining and entertainment, and the rest for the beach. I’d spend more early and less later, and we could sell the house eventually.

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Last week, I suggested a $14,000 cruise for our wedding anniversary. He was not keen on the idea, and has been dragging his feet. I don’t want to be reckless with our money, but I do want to enjoy it. What happens when we’re in our 80s and can’t afford travel insurance or don’t have the health to keep traveling? We are at odds, and we have not even retired yet.

Who is being unreasonable here?

Married for 25 Years