17 Big Mistakes People Often Make in Their 50s

Life in our 50s can be a great time. But things might not go as well as we would hope they would when we’re in our 50s if we make any of the 17 big mistakes listed in this article. Check them out. 

Follow Young Fashion Trends

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When we’re in our 50s, we can’t dress the same way we used to when we were in our teens. If we do, we’ll be frowned upon by society. Many people in their 50s forget that and wear clothes that are too young for them. 

Wear Extravagant Hair Styles

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Extravagant hairstyles and dying your hair in bold colors are things that society expects from young people. But when someone in their 50s does this, it’s viewed as strange. It’s as if the person is trying way too hard to look young when they’re not.

Waste Money Gambling

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According to Forbes, Americans spent 66.5 billion dollars gambling in 2023. That’s a lot of money. Spending lots of money on gambling doesn’t make sense when we’re in our 50s, a time when we’re supposed to be saving the last of our working funds for retirement.

Hold a Grudge

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Holding a grudge might feel like the right thing to do when you’re younger, but as we get older, we begin to understand how pointless that really is. Instead of holding a grudge, we should try to move on, as life is too short to stay angry forever.

Change Careers

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Changing careers is a good idea at most stages of our lives but might not be such a good idea when we’re in our 50s. Looking for jobs and going for interviews might be too stressful at this age. Learning a new way of working is also tough.

Participate in Extreme Sports

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Some people in their 50s go through a mid-life crisis and try to do a lot of extreme sports such as bungee jumping before they get old. But bungee jumping at age 50 can have serious health repercussions, not to mention it would be frowned upon by most in society. 

Drive Fast

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As we get older, our reflexes slow down, and our ability to respond quickly to changing circumstances when behind the wheel reduces. Driving recklessly down the road is never a good idea, but it becomes even more dangerous when we enter our late 50s and 60s. 

Quit a Job

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The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says that “the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) forbids age discrimination against people who are age 40 or older.” But although this act forbids age discrimination, someone in their 50s may still struggle to find a new job after quitting.

Play Loud Music

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Society expects young people to play their music loudly into the early hours of the morning. But when the loud music is coming from older people in their 50s, it’s not seen in the same light. People will easily get irritated and look down on a person like this.

Borrow Money

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Everyone expects young people to have to borrow money from time to time but no one expects this from people who are in their 50s. By the time we reach our 50s, we should have relative financial stability so we can help others out when they need it. 

Moving into the City

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City life is fast-paced and can be a little overwhelming when we get to retirement age. By this time, we might be seeking a calmer environment to live in. Because of this, moving into the city in your 50s might not be such a good idea. 

Get into Debt

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Business Insider says that “the average debt in America is $104,215 across mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and credit cards.” Getting into a lot of debt when you’re in your 50s isn’t a good idea. If you do, you’re setting yourself up for an uncomfortable retirement. 

Buy a Bigger House

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Many people in their 50s get tired of their homes and begin to look for bigger houses to live in. But in reality, this is the best time to downsize, as this will help you have a more compact, easier house to manage when you retire.

Go on Expensive Vacations

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When we’re in our 50s, we usually have the money to go on vacation, but don’t yet have the freedom to travel at cheap times of the year due to work commitments. This means that many of us end up spending too much on our vacations. 

Gamble

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The figures from Gitnux show that “In 2021, nearly 10% of U.S. adults gambled online or in-person at least once a week.” Beginning to gamble a lot when you’re in your 50s isn’t a good idea. You could easily waste all the money you’ve been saving for retirement. 

Pay for Travel Insurance

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Travel insurance once we get past 50 years of age is very expensive. Many airlines offer expensive travel insurance deals to travelers when they book their tickets. But what many people don’t realize is that their travel is already insured by their life insurance policy. 

Big Refurbishments

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When we’re in our 50s, we often want to undertake big refurbishment projects now that we have the capital to do so. But refurbishing our homes might not be the best idea while we’re still working and have a lot of commitments. Big refurbishments are taxing jobs that can wear us out. 

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