Having the money you need to retire doesn’t necessarily mean having a lot of money saved or having paid a lot into Social Security. By simply learning how to make smart financial decisions in retirement, you can still live well. You may not be taking a vacation to St. Tropez every year (or maybe you are), but you can still live a comfortable lifestyle that you enjoy.

Learning how to save money on unnecessary items and generate more income is the key to your success. Here are a few things you can do to ensure you have the money you need in retirement:

Get a Reverse Mortgage

Reverse mortgages actually pay you money each month. These loans are based on the value of your home and use your equity as collateral. They are not like home equity loans. You actually have to own your home to get a reverse mortgage, and you can get the full value of your home.

Infographics about reverse mortgages show just how much you can earn and save depending on different scenarios. But one thing is clear: so long as you own your home, you can get a significant amount of money each month.

Take Advantage of Free Things in the Community

Now that you are retired, you are going to need things to fill your day. There are only so many books you can read before you get a little bored, and you need to be around other people to feel connected.

You don’t have to go to fancy dinners every week or attend big musicals and plays all the time. There are many activities right in your community that you can enjoy for little or no money. Go to free festivals, summer concert series, movies in the park, and other events. Follow the community calendar through your local chamber of commerce or visitors bureau.

If you want to get more involved, you can sign up for community theater or other events that pique your interest.

Re-evaluate Your Home Services

You don’t need a premium cable package that costs you hundreds of dollars per month, nor do you need a bloated phone package. You can drop your cable completely and watch movies and TV through streaming services like Netflix for a fraction of the price. You can also check out movies, television shows and audio books for free through your library.

You can sign up for Skype and only pay for phone calls as you make them instead of a monthly package that you don’t use. Plus, with Skype, you can actually see your friends and family if you like, which provides a nicer connection.

Re-evaluate all your home services to see what you can cut or downsize. Do you really need all those magazine subscriptions? Do you need to to have the weekly cleaning service? By questioning your budget, you can find areas to cut.

Entertain on a Budget

Spending more time with friends and family is one of the many advantages of retirement. You don’t have to worry about going to bed early to get up for work, and you aren’t too exhausted from running around all day to see people.

But you also don’t have to meet people at fancy restaurants or cook huge meals at home. You can entertain on a budget by asking people to meet up for a picnic at the park instead or by hosting a pot luck. Serve beer instead of cocktails. Serve pasta instead of steak. With a little creativity, you can enjoy a great meal together without spending a mint.

You can save even more by growing your own food in a garden. Have a huge stir fry or salad and spend almost no money. Eating from your garden will also make you healthier, which will save you money on doctor bills.

You might have to rethink how you spend in retirement, but that doesn’t mean that you have to give up on the things that you love. You can have a rich, fulfilling life and spend plenty of time with family and friends and still have enough money to get by without worry. Take a look at your budget, and you may find even more ways that you can cut costs.