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NewsAn Email From FiftyUp Member Ziva
An Email From FiftyUp Member Ziva

An Email From FiftyUp Member Ziva

Tags: Cost of Living
Last updated by Someone on

I am concerned how to retire “successfully”. It means how to use my saving in the most effective way, to have a place that is affordable to buy and manage and be able to lead an active, healthy life in a safe environment.

We used to live with our family, where everyone had a role regardless of age. In a majority of cases this is no more the case. According to statistics a quarter of us Aussies are socially isolated. Research shows this has a major impact on our health and well-being and is just as harmful as smoking. What options do we have these days?

- Go to a retirement village if you can afford it (where you can lose about $150 000 on fees within 5 years on $400 000 investment (for average 2 beds) We have to fit in, but are looked after, meaning we have limited control over how to live our life.

- Decide to stay where we are in order to have more control over our life. Later we can utilise different government services. Strangers would come to help you with basic cleaning, shopping, personal care..etc. It could be very isolating.

There is another option available now:

ECO SELF-SUSTAINABLE RETIREMENT

  • Moving in with like-minded people who share similar values and an active healthy lifestyle
  • A small complex with villa-style living, ideally 4-6 households, where sustainable design features are utilised as much as possible, but with the same privacy as in a standard complex of villas or town-houses. This is not a commune living, but a community type living arrangement.
  • Living complex with growing our own fruit, vegetables and more
  • We will reduce our own living expenses by sharing resources thus achieving a better quality of life than we would if living on our own

This is a not-for-profit project. It should be affordable, cheaper to buy into, with cheaper ongoing costs (not paying any profit to developers or losing money in exit and other fees).

Do you know any other opportunity where you can choose the friends and neighbours you would like to retire with? Regards, Ziva

Click here to read about the rise of shared housing for the over 50's 

Originally posted on .

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Joanne
Joanne from VIC commented:

My husband & I started our project about 7 years ago, thinking what are we going to do for our retirement & where are we going to live. We had a small business, which was only a life style, no big money there, The only time we would have money is when we sell. There was no way we could live in the city area, so country was the only way out. We bought an old farm house on approx. 6-8 acre's . It was pretty much run down. So we got to work & fully renovated it. We bought what we needed, what we liked & nothing to keep up with Jone's. It is only 3 B/Room-lounge-dinning-kitchen-bath/r & now a laundry. There is a 1 B/room Granny flat as well, which is only storage at the moment. When all the inside of the house was done, we got solar put on - Split System in, we have wood heating which keeps the house warm 24/7. We are all electric & our bills where around the $900.00 mark. The only gas we have is our b.b.q. We have water tanks (about 23,000 Gallons) plus a dam. No water bills. No heating bill we get wood for free off the farmer next door. Now we are looking a getting Battery back up for our solar. If our calculations are right our Electric. bill should be around $150.00 per quarter. which we will be pretty happy with. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea to live in the country area. When you way up every thing there is Peace & Quite- No living in fear, & still not too far to travel to see rellies & friends. So all in all we are happy with our life & our expenses. I think once you make that big move & get too know a few people in the local towns, life is good. Go ahead everyone & give it a try. I do a bit of Volunteer work, which keeps me in contact with the outside world. My husband is fully retired now, but he sometimes helps out the farmer down the road, which he loves doing. he's never done this before so it's all new to him. ( 4-5 hours per week) He has never played with sheep before, & payment is a full lamb cut & packed. Don't wait life's too short 

Wendy
Wendy from VIC replied to Joanne:

Hi I was in touch with the co-housing Australia movement a few years ago. The site: www.communities.org.au/ The land is difficult to find that is near suburbs with essential services, however, with their philosophy of living simple, car sharing would not be a problem. The interesting aspect of meeting new people is they have a range of skills, always willing to lend a hand. It is not like a strata title situation where only the popular personalities get to influence the vote. Everyone's viewpoint is discussed in-depth before votes are cast. You can choose to be as involved as you like with the common kitchen, vege patch, etc. and with all ages, makes for a village feel. There is a co-housing lot in Tasmania where visitors are welcome to stay for a short while in order to get a 'feel' for this concept. Enjoy the research! 

Joanne
Joanne from VIC replied to Wendy:

Hi! Wendy, Thank you for your email. If you are looking for land near suburbs, with essential services, then can I suggest, you stay in the city area. Our closest neighbour is 1km away, & both work, so car pooling wouldn't enter our heads. We go shopping once a week, 1/2 hr drive there & 1/2 hr drive back. We do our grocery shop, fill up with fuel, get lotto, & if we have to make appointments with doctor, hairdresser or alike, we do it on shop day. We save time, fuel & wear & tear on the car. We normally run into someone in town for a chat & a bit of goss. So it can end up been a full day. If you live on your own this life may not be for you, but I do know a lot of ladies living on their own. Most of them are in some sort of group, etc.. Bowling - Golf - Arts & Craft & of course our local Market. There is a lot of things to do if you want, my husband & I don't want to do all that yet. We have a lot to keep us happy around the house. If anybody had a lazy $250,000.00 you can buy a house & make it your own with money to spare. That way nobody has to discuss or make votes on anything, really I couldn't think of anything worst. 

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