I don't know what this retirement pundit is smoking

[Praktica]

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/5349...retirement

We have nothing like that in savings, although we do own our house. We manage to save some of our NZ Super.

[Olive]

As with most clickbait pieces about retirement money, it doesn't make it clear if the savings target is for people who own a mortgage-free dwelling or for people who either have a loan to repay or are renting. It also assumes that retired people will have the same expenditure as when they were working, whereas most retired people have lower expenses e.g. transport, lunches, convenience food, clothing.

There is also an assumption that retired people intend to keep their savings intact, rather than gradually using them up into old age.

I admire anyone who can save out of NZ Super. I don't.

[Praktica]

Before covid, we were out for coffee every day, and saved very little. Covid put a stop to that, and broke the habit. These days, we might have coffee out once a week, and dine out once every 6 weeks or so.

[Olive]

Before covid, we were out for coffee every day, and saved very little. Covid put a stop to that, and broke the habit. These days, we might have coffee out once a week, and dine out once every 6 weeks or so.

I've never been very keen on going out for coffee, but when we lived in Auckland we went out for dinner every one or two weeks and it cost a lot.   Now that we live in a small provincial town there is nowhere that provides even remotely edible food so we don't eat out at all.   It certainly saves money and I think is better for our health too.

[harm_less]

Before covid, we were out for coffee every day, and saved very little. Covid put a stop to that, and broke the habit. These days, we might have coffee out once a week, and dine out once every 6 weeks or so.

I've never been very keen on going out for coffee, but when we lived in Auckland we went out for dinner every one or two weeks and it cost a lot.   Now that we live in a small provincial town there is nowhere that provides even remotely edible food so we don't eat out at all.   It certainly saves money and I think is better for our health too.

Similar life model for us. We live about 20kms out of New Plymouth so restaurant meals are a couple of times a year and too commonly end up being of a lesser quality than we could have prepared at home and this is exacerbated by the fact we both have dietary requirements that make menu choices a bit of a chore. The quality and price of our homegrown produce and meats is also a contributing factor supporting eating at home.

We also have a good quality espresso machine so paying OTT prices for mediocre coffees is usually only done as part of road trips.

[Lilith7]

What you want to save is very different to what you can save for most of us.
And really, if as one of them says 'its going to run into seven digits' then in the future for more elderly people may mean surviving in dire poverty

Our entire system needs an overhaul, starting at the top by making it impossible for very welthy people to become politicians & ending privatisation of healthcare as swiftly as possilbe. That we're about to open out third charity hospital is something the entire country should be thoroughly ashamed of.

[harm_less]

..... ending privatisation of healthcare as swiftly as possilbe. That we're about to open out third charity hospital is something the entire country should be thoroughly ashamed of.

The reality is that those two provisions (private and public) provide freedom of choice for those that require healthcare. Having recently paid for a knee joint replacement done in a private hospital I'm all too aware that having this choice available allowed me to avoid years of pain, disability and potential expense in having to pay someone to undertake jobs that I would have been unable to do. It also mitigated the complexity of the procedure and shortened my recovery period. My doing so also resulted in one less person on a public waiting list delaying others who don't have the financial means to self fund from receiving surgery.

I'm hesitant to comment on "charity hospitals" because I struggle to be able to differentiate how they differ from our existing public health system.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

When these pronouncements are made, it pays to consider the source, and the agenda behind them...

[alpha111]

Thank Helen Clark for the privatisation of healthcare. The introduction of the Alternative Provider of Medical Services (APMS) contract in 2004 ushered in the possibility of GP services being run by private companies rather than GP partnerships or sole traders. Where I live an organization called Green Cross controls the surgery and charges patients megabucks. It cost me $120 for a 5 minute medical to renew my driving licence. Could I read the eye chart, then count the number of fingers held up by the doctor with one of my eyes shut.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

What is 'dire poverty'? For some it might be living on a benefit in an overpriced rental.

Thousands live like that now. For them it is simply reality. For their landlord though, dire poverty might mean something very different.

[Praktica]

Perhaps we need some of this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXXyEkwQdVw

[Lilith7]

Thank Helen Clark for the privatisation of healthcare. The introduction of the Alternative Provider of Medical Services (APMS) contract in 2004 ushered in the possibility of GP services being run by private companies rather than GP partnerships or sole traders. Where I live an organization called Green Cross controls the surgery and charges patients megabucks. It cost me $120 for a 5 minute medical to renew my driving licence. Could I read the eye chart, then count the number of fingers held up by the doctor with one of my eyes shut.

Successive govts,whether left or right, have ensured that we now live in a Neo Liberal country. There was zero consultation as to whether or not voters wanted Neo liberalism; it was imposed without even public discussion.

Both private & Govt healthcare do not provide choice, except fot those wealthy enough to have a choice.

---

What is 'dire poverty'? For some it might be living on a benefit in an overpriced rental.

Thousands live like that now. For them it is simply reality. For their landlord though, dire poverty might mean something very different.

Indeed; & you have to wonder how many people are ill but unable to afford adequate medical care, how many of them may die earlier than they would have if they'd been able to afford that.

It was not always like this, as our generation knows very well...

[Oh_hunnihunni]

I am watching a podcast with a toxicologist speaking about household and personal products...

Boy, it's scary.

[Lilith7]

I am watching a podcast with a toxicologist speaking about household and personal products...

Boy, it's scary.

Shouldn't there be regulations as to what they can use iin products, especially those ones...?