The good thing about getting older is getting wiser. By the time you reach your 70s, you may be at a place where you can look at life from a different perspective and wish you had made smarter decisions.

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You may find that you’ve made your share of mistakes in the past, both personally and financially. One 2024 NerdWallet survey46% of baby boomers ages 60 to 78 said they had money regrets. And among Americans of all ages, the top regret is not saving for emergencies, followed by not saving enough to meet financial goals.

recently Personal development video from YouTuber SprouhtPeople in their 70s were asked to share their biggest regrets. Here are three that stand out and how you can avoid making the same mistakes.

Postponing things you want to do until retirement

at Vanguard 2024 How America Saves Money report The average 401(k) plan deferral rate (based on 2023 data) was 7.4%. While this is impressive in itself, it is below the 15% that financial experts often recommend.

But while it’s not great to underfund your retirement savings, you don’t want to go to the opposite extreme either; You’re saving so much money for retirement that you don’t have the money to do the most important things. It is important for you when you are young and healthy.

“You know the golden years aren’t so golden. People say you can do all these things after you retire, but you never know what’s going to happen to you,” said one woman interviewed in the video who regretted settling down too soon.

One latest CNBC survey31% of retirees cited worsening health or illness as their biggest concern. You don’t want to save all your money for retirement, but find yourself unable to use your money the way you want due to health or mobility issues. A better bet is to strike a balance.

Make sure you save a reasonable amount of money each month for retirement. But also set aside funds to meet different goals, such as traveling to new countries at this time. Don’t assume you can do all these things when you’re no longer working, because if you take that approach, you may end up missing something.

Read more: Economists weigh in on Donald Trump’s proposal to eliminate Social Security taxes on seniors – Here’s how to strengthen your retirement fund now

Settling for any old job

It’s important to have a stable income that allows you to pay your bills and set aside money for long-term goals. However, you don’t want to settle for an old job.

As one interviewer said, “Make sure you do what you enjoy doing. Don’t just go to work. Be passionate about what you do.”

Working may be something you will do for thirty or more decades of your life. And your job is where you can easily spend most of your waking hours during this time. Therefore, it is important to find work that is at least somewhat interesting and satisfying.

If that’s not the case now and you feel like you’re well established in your career, consider meeting with a career counselor to explore different options. A study conducted by the American Institute for Economic Research on older workers revealed the following: 82% of those who changed careers after age 45 reported that it was successful. So even if you’ve been working in the same field for decades, it’s not too late to switch.

Not having a good work-life balance

One 2024 Hubstaff reportWhile 48% of U.S. workers describe themselves as workaholics, 25% said they never or rarely take time off from work. A poor work-life balance has the potential to affect your physical health, mental health, and relationships with loved ones and friends. That’s why it’s important to set boundaries as early as possible.

This doesn’t mean you can’t work overtime for additional pay or join a high-profile project late at night. But in general, avoid letting your work take over your life. If you do this, you run the risk of reaching a point where you retire and have only a diminished social network because you can’t maintain the relationships that were once important to you.

Additionally, if you adopt the attitude that your job is your life, you may have difficulty transitioning to retirement later and be dissatisfied when it is time to stop working. It’s okay to be passionate about your job. But it shouldn’t be the only thing that defines you or gives you a sense of purpose.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without any warranty.