(MONEY Magazine) – Portrait Americans ages 65 and up: Ready to relax

-- Number: 31.2 million (13% of the U.S. population) -- Percentage married: 51% -- Households headed by people this age: 20.2 million (22% of U.S. households) -- Persons per household: 1.7 -- Median household income: $16,855 -- Median affluent household income: $38,472 -- Percentage of households with children under 18: less than 1% -- Percentage of households owning their home: 75% -- Motor vehicles per household: 1.5 -- Percentage of U.S. overseas travelers this age: 5% -- Percentage of persons in nursing homes: 5%

Sources: Census Bureau; Bureau of Labor Statistics; U.S. Travel and Tourism Administration; National Center for Health Statistics

Spending Where the affluent household's money goes each year Health-care and insurance costs at this stage gobble up 9% of the affluent household's income -- almost double the percentage of the 55-through-64 age group.

MONEY Tip If the fear of losing income makes you hesitate to contribute to charity, consider setting up a charitable remainder trust. It can pay you and your spouse income for life; the trust's assets then pass to the charity after you're gone.

Common Mistake Buying a new home in an unfamiliar part of the country without making sure you'll be happy there. Hint: rent for a year before you buy.

Investments Keep what you've earned Your key concern is preserving the purchasing power of your assets while they generate income for you to live on. That means roughly half your holdings should be in blue-chip stocks, growth and income funds, and high-yield stocks or funds. These assets can provide yields as high as 5% plus eventual capital gains. The rest of your money should be in bonds and safe cash investments, such as the money funds above.

CHART: NOT AVAILABLE CREDIT: Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics; MONEY estimates Graphs by Joseph E. Baron CAPTION: NO CAPTION

CHART: NOT AVAILABLE CREDIT: Graphs by Joseph E. Baron CAPTION: Fund Picks Money-market funds that provide safety and income

CHART: NOT AVAILABLE CREDIT: Graphs by Joseph E. Baron CAPTION: NO CAPTION