Good morning. Last week, I asked what surprised you most about what you’re spending less on in retirement. There were some interesting answers - let’s dig into them.

We spend a lot of time talking about the fear of running out of money in retirement. But your responses were a good reminder that retirement isn’t just about replacing your paycheque. It’s also about changing how you live. And for many of you, that has quietly lowered your expenses in ways you didn’t expect.

Here are some of the biggest surprises:

Gas: A lot of you said you’re driving much less. With nowhere to commute every day, you now walk to meet friends for dinner, head to the grocery store or run errands. Several readers also downsized from two cars to one, saving on gas, insurance and maintenance.

Food: No more grabbing lunch at work or picking up a coffee on the way to the office. Many of you said having the time to cook from scratch and actually eat leftovers has made a noticeable dent in your grocery bill.

Clothes: Retirement means fewer reasons to buy business attire or dress up for work events. As one reader put it: “I don’t need to look professionally clean and smart for gardening, schlepping around the house or shopping at Costco and Superstore.”

Cable: Quite a few readers said they cut the cord after retiring, replacing expensive cable packages with free or lower-cost streaming services. One estimated the switch saves about $1,000 a year. “Over our expected 20-year retirement, that will pay for one or two very nice trips.”

Maintenance: Time, it turns out, can be a money-saver. Many of you said you’ve learned to tackle repairs and maintenance projects yourself instead of hiring someone, saving thousands of dollars over the years.

Time: Speaking of time, that came up … a lot. Several readers said retirement gives them the luxury of shopping around for deals, waiting for sales and taking the extra trip to the less expensive store. Another reader said having more time also allowed them to manage their own investment portfolio, eliminating adviser fees while improving their returns.

“I suppose the bottom line is that living slower naturally equates to spending less,” one reader said.

Canada’s debt has risen significantly since the 1990s. The chart also shows that the picture changes depending on whether government financial assets, including CPP and QPP assets, are counted.

Retiring Albertan worries separatism could derail her retirement plans

The numbers: Nala, 63, has about $780,000 in savings and cash, a $650,000 Calgary home and a public-sector defined benefit pension estimated to be worth $1.2-million. She hopes to spend $90,000 a year after tax in retirement and plans to move to Vancouver Island in 2028.

The situation: Concerned that Alberta separatism could hurt her home’s value or pension, Nala wondered whether she should retire sooner, sell her house immediately or take the cash value of her pension. She also asked whether she could commute her CPP into a lump sum.

Key takeaways from a financial planner: Nala can comfortably retire either next spring or immediately while meeting her spending goal. She cannot take a lump sum from either her defined benefit pension or CPP, but she can focus on what she can control. That includes preparing her portfolio for retirement withdrawals and, if she’s worried about Alberta’s housing market, considering selling her home before a potential period of political uncertainty.