See: I’m 67 and retired with $57,000 left on my mortgage and $600,000 saved for retirement — should I pay off my home now? You ask one of the most common questions we get at MarketWatch about retirement saving and spending — if it makes sense to pay off a mortgage before retirement. What you need to do before you can even answer this question is jot down every single expense you anticipate you’ll have in retirement, and add a little extra cushion for what you won’t expect.