When should you retire?

When should you retire?

Picking the perfect retirement age Your retirement age is a very personal thing.  Sometimes retirement is thrust upon us.  We might lose our job or be forced to leave work due to ill health or caring responsibilities.  Most people, however, are in the...
When downsizing goes wrong

When downsizing goes wrong

Don’t make these classic errors A recent article (How fair is the Age Pension) prompted quite a few Retirement Essentials members to share their (not-so-good) experiences of downsizing. Here’s what you told us (edited for reasons of space): Helly says no way!...
Keeping Centrelink up-to-date

Keeping Centrelink up-to-date

All the rules you need to know Ever since the Robodebt debacle many of our readers have been understandably anxious about what they do, and don’t, need to tell Centrelink.  There are times when you must tell Centrelink and times when you don’t have to, but...
Finding your Diamonds*

Finding your Diamonds*

It’s simpler than you think Can you find the acres of diamonds in your own backyard?  About 150 years ago, a famous American author and orator began touring the country with a speech called Acres of Diamonds, which enthralled huge audiences. Russell Conwell gave...
Assets test explained

Assets test explained

How the rules work for you In our recent article on the fairness of the Age Pension we received a few questions as to why the family home was listed in the comparison between three different retirement households.  These questions highlighted the need for clearer...
Funeral gardening: Time to get started!

Funeral gardening: Time to get started!

Most of us are really squeamish about the word ‘death’ – we run a mile from it. Similarly with the term ‘funeral’ – it’s difficult to bring ourselves to read articles about planning for our own demise. We’re more interested in living, than dying, right? But there is a...