6 Jimmy Buffett Lyrics Every Retiree Should Live By
It's not just Parrotheads who can learn something from the legendary rocker.
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Delivered daily
Kiplinger Today
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more delivered daily. Smart money moves start here.
Sent five days a week
Kiplinger A Step Ahead
Get practical help to make better financial decisions in your everyday life, from spending to savings on top deals.
Delivered daily
Kiplinger Closing Bell
Get today's biggest financial and investing headlines delivered to your inbox every day the U.S. stock market is open.
Sent twice a week
Kiplinger Adviser Intel
Financial pros across the country share best practices and fresh tactics to preserve and grow your wealth.
Delivered weekly
Kiplinger Tax Tips
Trim your federal and state tax bills with practical tax-planning and tax-cutting strategies.
Sent twice a week
Kiplinger Retirement Tips
Your twice-a-week guide to planning and enjoying a financially secure and richly rewarding retirement
Sent bimonthly.
Kiplinger Adviser Angle
Insights for advisers, wealth managers and other financial professionals.
Sent twice a week
Kiplinger Investing Weekly
Your twice-a-week roundup of promising stocks, funds, companies and industries you should consider, ones you should avoid, and why.
Sent weekly for six weeks
Kiplinger Invest for Retirement
Your step-by-step six-part series on how to invest for retirement, from devising a successful strategy to exactly which investments to choose.
Editor's note: This article is part of an ongoing series featuring the best retirement quotes and wisdom from top financial experts, leaders, and public figures. Other articles feature Warren Buffett, Michael Jordan and Mark Cuban.
Jimmy Buffett, the legendary singer, songwriter and successful entrepreneur, taught generations to slow down, let the good times roll and that happiness is what it’s all about. Though he might not be with us anymore, he left an ocean of wisdom through his words.
From his 32 albums to his three No. 1 best-selling books, the world can learn a lot from the Mayor of Margaritaville.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
His words are particularly relevant to retirees navigating everything from how they spend their money to how they spend their time.
Whether your retirement is just getting started or you’re in the thick of it, here are some words, or in this case, Jimmy Buffett lyrics, all retirees should live by.
Jimmy Buffett Lyrics To Keep You Singing
1. Go fast enough to get there / but slow enough to see / Moderation seems to be the key.
"Barometer Soup”
Retirees can use this as a blueprint for how they should live and spend their money in retirement.
Many are reluctant to withdraw money in retirement, but it's important not to be too frugal. Wait too long, and you might not get around to fulfilling items on that bucket list.
At the same time, you can’t spend freely, or you'll risk running out of money. The solution is finding a balance between spending and living well, and that's where moderation comes in. 'Everything in moderation' is the main lesson from this Buffett lyric.
To help control your spending in retirement, develop a withdrawal strategy that accounts for inflation, market volatility and longevity. A popular approach is the 4% rule, but others include the bucket rule of spending, the "Pay Yourself," "Me-First," and "Permission-to-Spend" rules.
2. I'd rather die while I'm living / than live while I'm dead.
"Growing Older But Not Up"
Rewind a few decades, and retirement meant the end of the line. You stopped working, and your days were spent sitting in front of the TV or hanging with the grandkids. That’s no longer the case, and you shouldn’t view it like that.
Buffett certainly didn’t, hence the lyrics and Margaritaville, his 55-plus sprawling retirement community that has more than 10,000 homes in Florida and South Carolina.
Many people don’t just stop working. They might opt for a phased retirement, take on a part-time job, consult, volunteer, pursue a completely new career or do a combination of some of the above. The point is they continue to have purpose and passion even when they stop working 9-to-5, and that’s what Buffett is proclaiming with those lyrics.
3. That’s what living is to me.
“That’s What Living Is To Me”
You might already know this or are starting to realize this, but as we get older, what makes us happy is less about the material possessions or money and more about freedom, passion and the experiences we have with the people we love.
It doesn’t matter how you're living; if you are happy, you'll feel rich, whether you take three vacations a year or one every other year.
That was the case for one retiree, who was able to make it work with just $33,000 saved in his 401(k) when he retired at 61, and he couldn’t be happier. Are you seeking ways to have a happier retirement? Check out our list here.
4. Only have oceans of time.
"Oceans of Time"
We spend decades meeting deadlines, keeping up with tight schedules and rushing around to ensure everything gets done. When we retire, we reclaim our time. That is hard for some people to enjoy or even accept.
Buffett is telling us we should enjoy our free time. With the lyric, he’s saying that in retirement, you have time to enjoy life, to stop and smell the roses or watch the sunset.
Take the time to appreciate your newfound freedom, but don’t squander it. Ensure you fill it with things that bring you happiness and keep you busy. We lay out some fun and free ways to fill your days in this article.
5. Some of it's tragic / some of it's magic / but I had a good life all the way.
"He Went to Paris"
Life is full of regrets, and retirement is a time for reflection, but you shouldn’t spend a lot of time dwelling on them. It's OK to acknowledge you made mistakes and to look back on all the ups and downs, but once that’s over, make peace and move on.
That’s the message Buffett is trying to convey in those lyrics, and it's something many retirees can benefit from hearing.
6. "When reality looks too ugly, fantasize."
A Pirate Looks at Fifty
We would be remiss if we didn’t include at least a quote from one of Buffett’s three best-selling books, and this one seemed fitting for the times, given that the stock markets have been volatile this year.
With this quote, Buffett reflects on his philosophy of seeking escape when times get tough. That approach can be applied to how retirees handle dips in the markets.
While it's easy to panic, sell, and move to cash, that's the worst thing you can do. The better choice is to distract yourself or fantasize and wait for the markets to rebound, which they historically always have.
Go live ….
Ultimately, Buffett's message was that happiness was the ultimate currency. While everyone’s definition of happiness is different, the key takeaway from Buffett is that it starts and ends with being able to accept what you can’t change and striving to make what you can better.
With Buffett’s lyrics in the back of your mind, go do what Buffett would do and “breathe in, breathe out, move on.”
Related Content
-
Tariffs: An Uninvited Valentine's Day GuestExpect to pay more for flowers and chocolates this year or find creative alternatives to save on Valentine's Day without looking cheap.
-
Should I sell my silverware and gold jewelry now that prices are high?My family silver and gold have sentimental value, but I hardly use them. Should I sell? We asked a professional metals dealer and investment adviser to weigh in.
-
One Country Just Pushed the Retirement Age to 70. Is the US Next?These countries have the highest and lowest retirement ages in the world — but that doesn’t give the full picture of which is best and worst for retirement.
-
Should I sell my old silverware and gold jewelry now that prices are so high? Or should I hand them down?
My family silver and gold have sentimental value, but I hardly use them. Should I sell? We asked a professional metals dealer and investment adviser to weigh in.
-
From Age 55 to 70: Why Your Passport Is the Biggest Factor In Retirement Age
These countries have the highest and lowest retirement ages in the world — but that doesn’t give the full picture of which is best and worst for retirement.
-
Inherited an IRA? Don't Fall Into the 10-Year Tax TrapRules on inherited IRAs have tightened, and most non-spouse beneficiaries must empty the pot in 10 years or face stiff penalties. That calls for an action plan.
-
I'm a Retirement Psychologist: This Is Why a Supportive Marriage May Matter More Than Money in RetirementIn retirement, health is as important as finance. And research shows people in supportive marriages have fewer issues with weight, metabolism and self-control.
-
How Money Guilt Holds Women Back (and How You Can Send It Packing)Women shouldn't let guilt limit the way they manage their hard-earned wealth. It's time to separate emotion from financial decision-making.
-
5 Vince Lombardi Quotes Retirees Should Live ByThe iconic football coach's philosophy can help retirees win at the game of life.
-
The $200,000 Olympic 'Pension' is a Retirement Game-Changer for Team USAThe donation by financier Ross Stevens is meant to be a "retirement program" for Team USA Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
-
How to Turn Your 401(k) Into A Real Estate Empire — Without Killing Your RetirementTapping your 401(k) to purchase investment properties is risky, but it could deliver valuable rental income in your golden years.
