If you can make these three moves, you may find that you're able to take home a lot more money than just $2,002.39 per month.

If you can keep working while looking after your health, do it. You get 100% of your Social Security benefit at full retirement age, which is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or after, and you receive a lesser amount if you claim at any time from the age of 62 until full retirement age. If you wait until age 70, you receive roughly 8% more per year .

When you start collecting Social Security, any change in finances can be scary. But selling your house doesn't have to be, if you plan ahead.