We are both planning on being completely retired shortly and I am wondering is it possible to travel around Australia and have a reasonable quality of life on Aged Pensions. We understand that petrol and maintenance will be our major expenses. We are self contained and happy to rough it at times. We'd be interested to hear from others who are in the same position?
Treecrest14 said
09:59 AM Jun 13, 2016
Did it last year. Used Wikicamps to locate Free Camps, dump points or water( also added those we found) and aimed to be in cvan parks as little as possible.
Yes petrol and mtce would be the expenses you have to manage. Used an app on the iPad to locate best priced fuel in the area we were, as well as shopper dockets (sometimes).
Also take the fishing rod as that can also save $'s if travelling on the coast.
Never be afraid to ask if they give Pensioner Discounts - you will be surprised at the number which do.
But above all else, enjoy your travels around Oz.
chrisnmark said
10:03 AM Jun 13, 2016
Thanks Glen. Will take your advice.
Onedodger said
02:10 PM Jun 13, 2016
WE have traveled extensively around Aus. on the pension.
Trick is to do as said above, plus low cost or free camping wherever possible.
Also do not be afraid to enquire from others in low cost camping re other camps.
Make sure you have Wickicamps on your phone or tablet and Camps Australia wide book.
We also have a portable vac pack machine (sunbeam) to cryovac meat when it is of good quality and cheap.
There are many foods that can be cryovaced and can be kept at normal fridge temps for weeks without freezing.
You can also cryovac food and freeze it as well, this stops freezer burn.
You are starting out on a steep but wonderfull learning curve, so take your time and enjoy.
banjo said
04:35 PM Jun 13, 2016
This question is a bit like "how long is a piece of string" it all depends on your personal needs and requirements.
We have traveled now full time for nearly 5 years on a pension, my wife likes CP's more than free camping but we do the odd night free here and there.
We don't smoke, we enjoy a bottle of vino between us some nights, we live and eat very well, so IMO it is easy to do it on a pension.
We don't like crowds and avoid being anywhere near the popular "expensive" places during the dreaded school holidays, but as said it is not hard to do, it just takes a little planning and forethought.
The other secret is travel slowly, not slow as in klm/hr but slowly from one spot to another and enjoy the journey, not just rush through it to the next destination, we also stay in some spots we enjoy for a month or more.
I mentioned the school holidays above, always try to have a low cost "bolt hole" to hide away for the dreaded few weeks. Inland country towns are great for this and often we become temporary locals during these times as we return again and again.
We tend to have one in each state we visit.
Kaid said
04:51 PM Jun 13, 2016
My hubby is on a part Pension as he is still working.
Unfortunately I am one eligible for the Pension for another 6 years .
What I'd like to know is . How the hell do we manage to live until I am eligible for the Pension?????
We want to travel. Super is negligible unfortunately
Bruce and Bev said
07:24 PM Jun 13, 2016
Kath. Unfortunately Aust followed NZ in these aged pension "adjustments".
I can get the aged pension at 65. My wife is 6 months younger, but will need to wait until she is 66.5 before she gets a pension.
I feel sorry for many of the young people as well. Often the best job they can get now days is at Maccas so you can imagine as a retail worker at Maccas or in a shop how much Super they will accumulate over their working life - not enough to survive on if pension entitlement is 70 (as it is now for those in their 40s) or probably much older. Many people wont be able to get, or be well or fit enough to have a job at that age.
Philw said
08:52 PM Jun 13, 2016
Chris n mark. Lasts year we did a 6 week trip from the Sunshine coast to Cooktown, stopping in between, and it cost us $19 a day in diesel, gas and camp fees. We stayed in cheap camp grounds, two night in a caravan park and the rest in free camps. Groceries on top of that. So it is cheap on the road. With a slower trip with more time you could slash that cost mainly in the diesel component. We at times pushed it to cover long distances. The big things are the free camps. Caravan parks and camp grounds allow you to catch up with washing and general and personal cleaning up. Ie hair washing.
Its not expensive to travel and a lot of great people out there.
Cheers
phil
Phil C said
06:01 PM Jun 14, 2016
Gday chrisnmark and welcome to our brotherhood of nomads (and sisterhood too)
I guess we are lucky in that I get an airforce pension as well, however the principle is pretty much the same.
We sit still until we have enough money to fund a trip based on current fuel prices etc. I have a round price for diesel at $2 a liter and my economy at 16 lit per 100Kms. Anything cheaper is a bonus. The key message here is budget and stick to it. We can even afford a cruise once every 18 months or so.
ALSO a thing that centrelink do for us is let us "borrow", they call it an advance, against the pension. Currently I think its $920 every 13 fortnights. NOW the deal is you pay it back from the pension at $920 divided by 13 which is around $70 a fortnight. Now while thats a chunk out of the pension, the up front cash does marvels when on the road. I budget for the lower numbers so as not to get a surprise.
To answer your question yes it is done and rather comfortably, we dont smoke and dont drink a great deal so expenses are minimal. We only have one debt which is being well managed. the plan if we get short of money is we sit in a free camp until the next pension payment arrives. So far have not had that problem.
Good luck, its fun planning and keeping to the budgets.
Phil C
Dougwe said
06:43 PM Jun 14, 2016
Phew! Just as well you mentioned the airforce pension Phil cos you told me you weren't old
Also and as well even "and don't drink a great deal". Now come on mate, you told me you only drink great deals and that they are that great you attach a hose direct from the wine barrel to a tap in the van.
now come on mate, you can't have it both ways. I know you have your wine and drink it too.
rockylizard said
06:54 PM Jun 14, 2016
Gday...
This may be the case Doug
Cheers - John
RosieW said
07:16 AM Jun 15, 2016
We've been doing it on Carer/Disability for 2 years. If you are careful, don't go mad with 'stuff' just for the sake of it, you will do quite nicely. We saved enough over 3 years (1 still in Tassie, 2 on the road) to buy a 2016 Triton last month. If we can do it (we aren't self-contained, have to use CPs at times), anyone can.
brickies said
08:29 AM Jun 15, 2016
We stay a lot in caravan parks also but pick cheap ones ,It's all depends what you do with the money you have , We don't support gambling , alcohol, dogs and cats but we live well , A night in a caravan park or showgrounds is cheaper than driving 400 klm a day , If you money is getting low go slow .
TheHeaths said
03:35 PM Jun 15, 2016
Chris and Mark,
you have got a lot of informed answers that show that with planning it is possible to do what you want.
Kath, unfortunately, I don't see that you are going to be in a position to do what you want unless you have some savings you can use, especially if your husband is still working.
We have both ceased working, although only around 60, and are living off of saving at present. We have done quite a lot of travel over the past 8 years, even when working, by setting ourselves trips, saving, and then going away for periods up to 6 weeks. Not the total travel dream, but did keep us interested! We do not qualify for any pension or such for a number of years yet, and I am holding off touching our super for as long as possible, but we will be "saving" from our savings draw in future to fund our travels.
At the end of the day, you can only travel to the level your income allows, and you need to adjust dreams to that, as we are doing this year due to unforeseen circumstances. It can still be fun, believe me.
We are both planning on being completely retired shortly and I am wondering is it possible to travel around Australia and have a reasonable quality of life on Aged Pensions. We understand that petrol and maintenance will be our major expenses. We are self contained and happy to rough it at times. We'd be interested to hear from others who are in the same position?
Yes petrol and mtce would be the expenses you have to manage. Used an app on the iPad to locate best priced fuel in the area we were, as well as shopper dockets (sometimes).
Also take the fishing rod as that can also save $'s if travelling on the coast.
Never be afraid to ask if they give Pensioner Discounts - you will be surprised at the number which do.
But above all else, enjoy your travels around Oz.
WE have traveled extensively around Aus. on the pension.
Trick is to do as said above, plus low cost or free camping wherever possible.
Also do not be afraid to enquire from others in low cost camping re other camps.
Make sure you have Wickicamps on your phone or tablet and Camps Australia wide book.
We also have a portable vac pack machine (sunbeam) to cryovac meat when it is of good quality and cheap.
There are many foods that can be cryovaced and can be kept at normal fridge temps for weeks without freezing.
You can also cryovac food and freeze it as well, this stops freezer burn.
You are starting out on a steep but wonderfull learning curve, so take your time and enjoy.
We have traveled now full time for nearly 5 years on a pension, my wife likes CP's more than free camping but we do the odd night free here and there.
We don't smoke, we enjoy a bottle of vino between us some nights, we live and eat very well, so IMO it is easy to do it on a pension.
We don't like crowds and avoid being anywhere near the popular "expensive" places during the dreaded school holidays, but as said it is not hard to do, it just takes a little planning and forethought.
The other secret is travel slowly, not slow as in klm/hr but slowly from one spot to another and enjoy the journey, not just rush through it to the next destination, we also stay in some spots we enjoy for a month or more.
I mentioned the school holidays above, always try to have a low cost "bolt hole" to hide away for the dreaded few weeks. Inland country towns are great for this and often we become temporary locals during these times as we return again and again.
We tend to have one in each state we visit.
Unfortunately I am one eligible for the Pension for another 6 years .
What I'd like to know is . How the hell do we manage to live until I am eligible for the Pension?????
We want to travel. Super is negligible unfortunately
I can get the aged pension at 65. My wife is 6 months younger, but will need to wait until she is 66.5 before she gets a pension.
I feel sorry for many of the young people as well. Often the best job they can get now days is at Maccas so you can imagine as a retail worker at Maccas or in a shop how much Super they will accumulate over their working life - not enough to survive on if pension entitlement is 70 (as it is now for those in their 40s) or probably much older. Many people wont be able to get, or be well or fit enough to have a job at that age.
Its not expensive to travel and a lot of great people out there.
Cheers
phil
I guess we are lucky in that I get an airforce pension as well, however the principle is pretty much the same.
We sit still until we have enough money to fund a trip based on current fuel prices etc. I have a round price for diesel at $2 a liter and my economy at 16 lit per 100Kms. Anything cheaper is a bonus. The key message here is budget and stick to it. We can even afford a cruise once every 18 months or so.
ALSO a thing that centrelink do for us is let us "borrow", they call it an advance, against the pension. Currently I think its $920 every 13 fortnights. NOW the deal is you pay it back from the pension at $920 divided by 13 which is around $70 a fortnight. Now while thats a chunk out of the pension, the up front cash does marvels when on the road. I budget for the lower numbers so as not to get a surprise.
To answer your question yes it is done and rather comfortably, we dont smoke and dont drink a great deal so expenses are minimal. We only have one debt which is being well managed. the plan if we get short of money is we sit in a free camp until the next pension payment arrives. So far have not had that problem.
Good luck, its fun planning and keeping to the budgets.
Phil C
Phew! Just as well you mentioned the airforce pension Phil cos you told me you weren't old
Also and as well even "and don't drink a great deal". Now come on mate, you told me you only drink great deals and that they are that great you attach a hose direct from the wine barrel to a tap in the van.
now come on mate, you can't have it both ways. I know you have your wine and drink it too.
Gday...
This may be the case Doug
Cheers - John
you have got a lot of informed answers that show that with planning it is possible to do what you want.
Kath, unfortunately, I don't see that you are going to be in a position to do what you want unless you have some savings you can use, especially if your husband is still working.
We have both ceased working, although only around 60, and are living off of saving at present. We have done quite a lot of travel over the past 8 years, even when working, by setting ourselves trips, saving, and then going away for periods up to 6 weeks. Not the total travel dream, but did keep us interested! We do not qualify for any pension or such for a number of years yet, and I am holding off touching our super for as long as possible, but we will be "saving" from our savings draw in future to fund our travels.
At the end of the day, you can only travel to the level your income allows, and you need to adjust dreams to that, as we are doing this year due to unforeseen circumstances. It can still be fun, believe me.
Thanks Phil. great advice