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Run the numbers

If your spouse doesn't want to spend your retirement money despite having plenty in the bank, one of the best things you can do is to run the numbers.

There are tons of calculators online that you can use to estimate how long your money will last in retirement based on the amount you're withdrawing. You can input details like your total account balance, your estimated returns, your tax bracket, and the amount you want to withdraw to see how many years you'd be able to sustain your spending.

If you have a $2 million nest egg, earn a 6% annual return, and are in the 22% tax bracket, you could afford to withdraw $90,000 each year and at the end of 30 years, you'd actually have a projected $2.24 million in the bank — or more than what you started with.

If you can show your spouse how much you can safely take out without jeopardizing your ability to make your money last, you may be able to convince them to live a little.

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Make a budget and decide on a safe withdrawal rate

Of course, while you do want to be able to spend and enjoy retirement, you also don't want to go overboard and go broke in your 80s or 90s.

If your partner is concerned about your ability to keep your spending in check, you may be able to alleviate their fears by working together to decide on a safe withdrawal rate and make a budget.

One common rule of thumb says you can withdraw 4% from your account in year one and then adjust for inflation each year. This 4% rule is supposed to ensure your money will last for at least three decades. While you may adopt a different withdrawal rate, this is a good place to start if you aren't sure exactly how much you want to take out.

Once you agree on a withdrawal rate, you'll know how much income your savings will bring in. You can add in any other income sources, such as Social Security benefits, to see how much you can spend in total each year and then budget around that amount.

With a $2 million nest egg, you'll likely find plenty of room for fun spending when you do this exercise, so this should be a win-win for both you and your spouse. You'll get to enjoy more of your money and they'll have the comfort of knowing there are limits to your splurges.

Set some joint goals

Finally, it can be helpful to set some joint goals together, with both of you having input. If you want to travel and they want to build an emergency fund, for example, you could allocate some of your discretionary income to each goal.

By working together, you can make your money last, find ways to enjoy your nest egg together and have the fun, secure retirement you both deserve.

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Christy Bieber Freelance Writer

Christy Bieber a freelance contributor to Moneywise, who has been writing professionally since 2008. She writes about everything related to money management and has been published by NY Post, Fox Business, USA Today, Forbes Advisor, Credible, Credit Karma, and more. She has a JD from UCLA School of Law and a BA in English Media and Communications from the University of Rochester.

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