No Excuses Independent Living at Age 72: Minimalist Freedom on a Fixed Income
No Excuses Independent Living at Age 72
There’s a moment, somewhere after seventy, when you realize that independence isn’t just about money or health — it’s about mindset.
Living simply at 72 doesn’t mean settling for less. It means stripping away what no longer serves you so that what remains truly matters.
I’m a minimalist on a tight budget, and I can tell you — independence isn’t something someone grants you.
You practice it every day. Even after one year in my forever home apartment, I am still making new improvements every day.
The Mindset Shift: Stop Waiting for Ideal Conditions
When we’re young, we tell ourselves, “I’ll start when things calm down.”
At 72, we know better. There’s always something — an ache, a bill, a delay.
Independent living begins when we stop making excuses about what’s missing and start working with what’s here.
You don’t need a perfect apartment, a brand-new car, or the latest tech.
In my case, I don’t have a car at all. I use a low-cost Chromebook for online work, and the cheapest Android phone I can find.
What you do need is clarity — a sense of purpose for every dollar, every object, every hour of your day.
If it doesn’t serve your peace, your health, or your sense of purpose, it’s clutter.
Simplify the Home, Strengthen the Spirit
A cluttered home creates an untidy mind. When I moved into my small studio, I gave myself one rule: If it doesn’t fit easily, it doesn’t belong here.
My apartment is a subsidized unit in a 15-story building 50 yards from Bayshore Boulevard and Tampa Bay.
I wait-listed for 2.5 years before I got the call in Colorado (where I was pet-sitting) and jumped on the plane back to Florida.
After a year of going walkabout with a small backpack and a sleeping bag, I was already a minimalist.
I would have had nothing, but my daughter set up my apartment with some new items off Amazon, and some used furniture from her friends here in Tampa.
A long-time friend threw in a massive TV that is bigger than I am.
Each thing you let go of gives you more room to breathe. You need honesty — and a willingness to let go of the belief that stuff equals safety.
Money on a Mission
Independence isn’t about having piles of cash. It’s about directing what you do have with precision.
I live on Social Security, some age-related SSI, and a few pet-sitting jobs — yet I never feel broke.
Here’s my trick: every dollar has a job. Groceries, meds, internet, bus pass — that’s the core. Everything else is optional.
Things that used to be taken for granted, like eating out, are now rare pleasures.
But more than that, I am determined to take advantage of any and every benefit available to seniors in my area.
Benefits include:
- Medicare
- Medicaid
- some food and utilities covered by the Medicare Part C Advantage Plan
- free local bus pass
- free lunch in our building 5 days a week
- free breakfast box each week to handle another meal
- free cell phone service
- discounted memberships on services like Amazon
- Roku for hundreds of free television shows
I keep a simple notebook to track what matters: food, shelter, and connection.
The rest? If it doesn’t add value, it’s cut.
One important thing to declutter is your online footprint.
Delete any paid subscriptions you don’t need. I cut out software upgrades I no longer needed, and found cheaper web hosting.
When you know where your money goes, you stop fearing it will vanish.
Body and Balance
Independent living at this age means listening to the body you’ve got, not wishing for the one you had.
I walk daily — sometimes slow, sometimes steady. It keeps my legs strong and my mind clear.
Two days a week, I take advantage of free in-house exercise classes.
If you can’t walk far, stretch while sitting. Lift soup cans. Use what you have. Strength isn’t about youth; it’s about showing up.
To live independently, I have a standard. You have to be able to wipe your own butt and to make a sandwich.
Anything less will lead you to a nursing home or assisted living.
The goal is self-reliance, not self-punishment. I don’t have to impress anyone.
You’re building stamina — the quiet kind that lets you get up, fix breakfast, and handle your day without calling for help.
Community Without Dependency
Independence doesn’t mean isolation.
My building has 210 apartments full of old farts. The hard part is remembering the names of the people and pets.
I talk to neighbors, visit the library, and volunteer at the food pantry. These small acts remind me that connection is still free — and it’s fuel for the soul.
We all need people who remind us we still have something to give. Independence thrives when we trade pride for participation.
The Bottom Line
At 72, there’s no reason to surrender your autonomy to fear, clutter, or convenience.
For the first time in decades, I live totally alone and set my own schedule. The downside is that if there are dishes in the sink or the tub is dirty, it’s your fault, and you have to clean it.
You don’t need to “reinvent yourself.” You just need to return to the essentials: movement, simplicity, purpose, and gratitude.
No one’s coming to rescue you — and that’s the good news. You’ve got everything you need to rescue yourself.
Reflection Questions
- What possessions, habits, or beliefs could you release to make life simpler right now?
- How could you structure your spending so that every dollar supports your independence?
- Who in your community could you connect with to exchange support, not dependence?
