Just ready on BYH and can say that the thought process, for retirement income/spending, begins to change your patterns some. When young and working full time, you see, buy, pay and depend on the "loaners" to tell you "you are over spent". You feel your promotions & pay raises are just in the near future & normally they are. Most of the time things go ok.
Let's face it -- most people do NOT plan well for the future. In years past it was not as thought out for anyone and long term care rarely considered. Expenses & income have changed dramatically over the last 30 years! What a smart planner has in a current "plan" for these things is often more than what a person of MY generation even earned, way back then.
When you get to retirement age you are rarely on the "short list" for hires!
Your income often becomes limited and set. Promotions & raises are normally not gonna happen. Dismal? Not all together so -- but you do begin to work "around" your limitations -- free, barter & discount is huge. That is why gardening (which we love anyway) & preserving the harvest become far more important! The milking becomes self-sustaining, not just a chore, and so on.
You begin to look at the sale of 5 dozen eggs as enough to buy the hens feed to supplement free range. Selling kids or calves becomes -- how many months of hay they buy -- it works to help you keep your life in order. Right now, I must raise more winter feed!!
I didn't plan to have 5 broody hens at once....with over 50 eggs!....but, I do. They will give me replacement layers, freezer roos, can cull older hens for dog/cat food, maybe some pullet sales AND these chicks are "FREE" as a product of my flock. (I don't have to pay $2.99 per @TSC) It's a thought process, a mindset that we need to develop. Farming is a job. You will find that retirement is, also.
If we can break it down into manageable units the finances are less of a burden. We set a little aside for "dream" purchases and thrill to smaller goals being achieved. My cream separator was huge for me. 20 yrs ago, a minor buy.
Most on this forum are working toward more self-reliance. Age does create another stage in life. MANY of us are there
Great example -- if you like okra, easy to grow & big producer. In stores it's almost $5 a pound! I don't eat it -- but --- what a saving to grow some if you like it. Butternut squash is $1 a pound. I had about 140# from 3 volunteer plants last yr. Still have some to eat -- it stores great!! Goat cheese is $1-$3 a pound. I make it from excess milk! We all need to look at what is already part of our life that create saving each day, week, year.
Bay may be the queen of "hog butcher"
She feeds the neighborhood and they help her in return!!! KUDOS. Everyone needs to continue to share how it works for them -- we can continue to live well.
but your DGs would love this fresh milk! 
This year hard cheese & cream.
They still have a large loafing barn in another field.
Of course I volunteered to take some and she said "all you want!!!" & I also have some wormwood, lemon mint, catnip and some other stuff you can get. Shovel is in my truck. The buckling & free plants coming back Sunday. What a savings + things I wanted. 
