Mid-morning on a sunny Thursday in north Houston, Ivy Marie Broussard steps out of the elevator wearing a green suit, matching jewelry, and glittering high-heeled sandals. She steadies herself on a cane – more accessory than necessity – and smiles easily as neighbors stop to admire her outfit.<\/p>\n
\u201cHigh heels?\u201d she teases a reporter from a Houston TV station [1]. \u201cYou know, I still wear them.\u201d<\/p>\n
At 102 years old, Broussard is living the kind of retirement most people dream about. She still gets monthly manicures, cooks for her neighbors, and strolls the aisles of her local grocery store, pushing her own cart and picking out her favorite snacks. Occasionally, she giggles, even a bottle of Smirnoff.<\/p>\n
\u201cI get my buggy and walk around and get what I want,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Her sense of humor and independence have made her a local celebrity. But behind her sparkle and laughter lies a deeper story, one that shows how smart financial habits, self-care and community can make it possible to live well past 100 without running out of money or joy.<\/p>\n
Born in Houston\u2019s Fifth Ward in 1922, Broussard grew up during the Great Depression and worked for decades as both a nurse and a hair stylist. She raised two sons with her husband, who died 52 years ago, and built a reputation as the kind of person who never sat still.<\/p>\n
Those choices \u2014 maintaining a simple lifestyle and being good with money \u2014 are exactly the kinds of behaviors that help people stay independent in old age.<\/p>\n
A 2024 report from the Employee Benefit Research Institute [2] sent worrying signals about seniors who retire without enough savings.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese spending constraints contribute to declining levels of well-being in retirement,\u201d Bridget Bearden, Ph.D., research and development strategist at EBRI suggested.<\/p>\n
Broussard\u2019s secret isn\u2019t necessarily a massive savings account. She\u2019s living proof that financial stability is as much about mindset as money.<\/p>\n
Staying independent in your later years can be empowering, but it isn\u2019t cheap.<\/p>\n
The average cost of an assisted living facility in Texas now runs about $5,250 per month, according to Genworth\u2019s 2024 Cost of Care Survey [3]. Independent senior apartments, like Broussard\u2019s, typically cost less than that, but still require steady income and advance planning.<\/p>\n
Story Continues <\/p>\n
For most Americans, the biggest threat to independence isn\u2019t aging, it\u2019s inflation. Groceries, utilities, and healthcare costs continue to climb faster than Social Security benefits. The average retiree is approximately $370 short in buying power as Social Security payments haven\u2019t kept up with inflation, according to the Senior Citizens League [4].<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why experts say anyone planning to live well into their 80s, 90s, or beyond needs to start building a \u2018longevity budget.\u2019<\/p>\n
Financial planners recommend:<\/p>\n
Prioritizing health care coverage. Even with Medicare, the average 65-year-old can expect to pay $172,500 in health care and medical expenses throughout retirement, Fidelity reports [5]. Consider supplemental coverage early.<\/p>\n
Investing for growth, not just safety. A balanced mix of stocks and bonds can help your savings keep pace with inflation over decades.<\/p>\n
Setting aside \u201cfun money.\u201d Broussard\u2019s monthly mani-pedi and occasional casino trip aren\u2019t extravagances, they\u2019re investments in mental health and community, both linked to lower healthcare spending.<\/p>\n
Broussard\u2019s secret to a full life isn\u2019t just financial, it\u2019s physical and mental too. Every night, she sits with her word-search book to keep her mind sharp. She attends church, joins fashion shows, and still takes trips, like her recent three-day Amtrak journey from Houston to California. Next, she\u2019s planning a bus ride to a Louisiana casino with friends.<\/p>\n
Those small rituals form a blueprint for aging well, and affordably.<\/p>\n
Keep moving. Even light daily activity helps reduce medical expenses. Studies from the National Institute on Aging show that physical activity is an important part of healthy aging [6].<\/p>\n
Keep learning. Mental stimulation, like Broussard\u2019s word searches, can delay cognitive decline and preserve independence longer.<\/p>\n
Keep connecting. Her monthly nail appointments and church outings aren\u2019t just for fun. Social interaction is tied to lower rates of depression and dementia, saving on long-term care costs later.<\/p>\n
Keep laughing. Stress reduction plays a role in both longevity and financial decision-making. As Broussard says, \u201cI want to look good so I might catch me a boyfriend. I\u2019m still alive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read more: Robert Kiyosaki warns of a ‘Greater Depression’ coming to the US \u2014 with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 ‘easy-money’ assets will bring in \u2018great wealth\u2019<\/a>. How to get in now<\/p>\n Longevity is increasing. A study by the Pew Research Center suggests the U.S. centenarian population is expected to quadruple over the next 30 years [7]. But while people are living longer, many are not financially prepared for it.<\/p>\n A 2024 AARP study found that 1-in-5 Americans over 50 have no retirement savings [8]. That\u2019s a tough reality when the average retiree household spends over $50,000 a year.<\/p>\n To make your cash last, and your independence thrive, experts suggest:<\/p>\n Automate and downsize. Simplify bills, minimize housing costs, and reduce liabilities.<\/p>\n Delay Social Security if possible; each year you wait past 67 boosts your monthly benefit by up to 8% [9].<\/p>\n Invest in community. Whether it\u2019s a senior co-op, church network, or hobby group, the right social circle can reduce isolation, and shared resources often lower costs.<\/p>\n At 102, Broussard embodies what most people hope for: freedom, confidence, and dignity. In heels, no less.<\/p>\n Her story is a reminder that financial planning isn\u2019t about chasing luxury. It\u2019s about giving yourself choices, even in your later years.<\/p>\n She laughs when asked how she keeps going. \u201cI just keep moving,\u201d she says. \u201cAnd I keep looking good while I do it.\u201d<\/p>\n That might be the most practical retirement advice of all.<\/p>\n Join 200,000+ readers and get Moneywise\u2019s best stories and exclusive interviews first \u2014 clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.<\/a><\/p>\n We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.<\/a><\/p>\n ABC 13 Eyewitness News (1<\/a>; Employee Benefit Research Institute (2<\/a>); Genworth\u2019s 2024 Cost of Care Survey (3<\/a>); Senior Citizens League (4<\/a>); Fidelity Investments (5<\/a>); NIA (6<\/a>); Pew Research Centre (7<\/a>); AARP (8<\/a>); Social Security (9<\/a>)<\/p>\n This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Mid-morning on a sunny Thursday in north Houston, Ivy Marie Broussard steps out of the elevator wearing a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":11046,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[3491,5215,56,58,57,5797,3489,9670,9669,2670],"class_list":{"0":"post-11045","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-houston","8":"tag-broussard","9":"tag-dave-ramsey","10":"tag-houston","11":"tag-houston-headlines","12":"tag-houston-news","13":"tag-independence","14":"tag-ivy-marie-broussard","15":"tag-retirement","16":"tag-retirement-savings","17":"tag-social-security"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11045","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11045"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11045\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11046"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11045"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11045"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11045"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}