"Maureen Spranza marked her retirement with a party in August 2024. By December of 2025, the 60-year-old was back at work, un-retiring as rising costs made retirement unaffordable. She now holds three jobs. Moving from celebration to working six days a week was difficult and disappointing, she said, and meant putting personal projects and creative pursuits on hold like writing a book."
"A recent study ranked California as the sixth-worst state to retire, trailing Mississippi, Alabama, New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey. California's high cost of living drove the state's poor showing, said Arthur Bretschneider, the CEO of CareScout, the company that did the study and which provides long-term care insurance and planning. As the share of the state's population nearing retirement continues to rise, he says the findings underscore a growing problem."
"Already, about 22% of Bay Area retirees reported struggling to pay bills, according to a 2025 poll by the Bay Area News Group and the think tank Joint Venture Silicon Valley. California's high cost of living is no surprise. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, most goods and services cost more in the state than elsewhere. And, of particular concern for retirement planning, assisted living in California is among the most expensive in the nation, according to CareScout."
Maureen Spranza retired in August 2024 but returned to work by December 2025, taking three jobs because rising costs made retirement unaffordable. Moving from celebration to working six days a week forced her to pause personal projects and creative pursuits such as writing a book. A study ranked California as the sixth-worst state for retirement, citing high cost of living and expensive assisted living. CareScout highlighted increased difficulty aging in the state as the population nearing retirement grows. A 2025 poll found about 22% of Bay Area retirees struggling to pay bills. Financial planners say earlier planning or relocating to lower-cost states can improve retirement sustainability.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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