Navigating Pension Drawdown: From Saver to Spender

Here’s a funny thing: we spend decades being told to save, save, save… then suddenly the message flips to “spend it!” when you retire. No wonder people panic.

The tricky part? Balancing it. Spend too much too soon, and you risk running low later in life. Spend too little, and you miss out on enjoying the retirement you worked so hard for. Add in the emotional side (because yes, money emotions are real), and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

That’s where a bit of structure helps—things like the “bucket” strategy, keeping some cash for the short term, investments for the long term, and a plan that flexes as life changes. Because retirement shouldn’t be about stressing over every pound—it should be about actually living.