Been seeing a lot of people stress about whether they'll have enough saved up for retirement. If you're getting close to that age, it's worth looking at what the actual numbers look like for a retired couple.

So what's the average retired couple income? According to recent census data, married couples 65 and older were pulling in around $84,670 in median income back in 2023. That's higher than the overall household median, which makes sense since many retirees have had decades to build up their finances.

But where does that income actually come from? Most retired couples aren't living off just one source. You've got Social Security, which a lot of people lean on pretty heavily even though it's not meant to be the only thing you live on. Then there's savings, retirement accounts like 401(k)s, maybe pensions if you're lucky enough to have one, and some people even keep doing side work or gigs to stay active and bring in extra cash.

Here's the thing though—knowing the average retired couple income is one part of the equation. The other part is spending. The average retiree is spending around $55,000 a year, or roughly $4,600 monthly. The big ticket items are housing, transportation, healthcare, and food. That's where most of your money tends to go.

The good news? It's never too late to get your retirement planning in order, even if you're already close to retirement age. Start by figuring out what kind of lifestyle you actually want. What does retirement look like to you? Travel? Hobbies? Just relaxing? Once you know that, you can map out what it'll actually cost.

Then look at your current finances and see where you stand. If you're married, sit down together and think about Social Security timing—waiting to claim can bump up your monthly benefit. Add up all your expected income sources, think about taxes and insurance, and see if the numbers work. That's really the foundation for figuring out if you'll be comfortable with an average retired couple income or if you need to adjust your plans.