The prime question for me......is such a thing actually possible, if there is no other source of income?
Living in Victoria, and because of having our only two sons in Cairns, with our only daughter and grand kids living in Tasmania, my wife and I have done our share of traveling over the last ten years or so, mainly by towing the van on a slow trip to Cairns during the cold weather in Vic.
Now after having gone on the old age pension four years ago, it has unfortunately reached a stage where I'm becoming more and more concerned about our financial ability to be able to continue to visit them every year.
As it stands finances were such that I was not game to head off for the last two winters, and I despair thinking the situation will be the same next year.
If anyone has any tips on how touring, such as a trip to Cairns and back again, could be achieveable just on a pension please enlighten me.
Thanks,
Tom
Edited to get rid of the OLD bit. LOL
-- Edited by greyhoundtom on Thursday 20th of December 2012 11:55:34 AM
Gerty Dancer said
02:16 PM Dec 20, 2012
According to the latest edition of "Seniors News", a gov't publication, the full pension for a single is $712.0 per fortnight and for a couple $1073.40 per fortnight. Theres a pension supplement of $60 p/f and $91 p/f as well and if you dont own a home theres rent assist on top of that.
-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Thursday 20th of December 2012 02:27:19 PM
Big Gorilla said
06:10 PM Dec 20, 2012
I guess a lot depends on what "Baggage" you have in Victoria and how long you intend to be away. If you own a house, you have the expense of upkeep and rates etc. But if you are planning on being away for say a year, why not rent out your house. Rent a storage area if you don't want to leave your own furniture in the house. If you plan on free camping, your expenses will mainly be fuel and food. Travel just a few hundred kilometers a week, don't rush, spread out the fuel cost and enjoy the scenery along the way. You may want to stay in a Caravan Park once a week to top up your batteries (assuming you have solar) and do washing. Think about what all your expenses might be and your Pension income plus rent then sit down and work out a budget. I'm sure you'll come up with the right answer. Good luck.............
jetj said
06:28 PM Dec 20, 2012
Everyone is different, if you drink and smoke, eat out a lot as well as take aways then probably no way you can afford it. It has to depend on lifestyle and expectations in my opinion.
With a pension around $100 a day for 2 can be done, free camping or low cost camping. A matter of priorities and how much you want to travel. JMO
Delta18 said
06:56 PM Dec 20, 2012
jetj wrote:
With a pension around $100 a day for 2 can be done, free camping or low cost camping. A matter of priorities and how much you want to travel. JMO
Crikey, I hope I can get $100 per day when I get a pension.
Happywanderer said
07:03 PM Dec 20, 2012
Of course you can travel on an age pension. By the way, Not an OLD age pension. Just an AGE pension will do. Welcome to the forum to you both. There is a good number of us out there who travel on a pension. Free camps, Only short trips in a day. Eat from the van instead of buying from cafes etc. You just work out your own budget and see what amount you can afford for travel and keep within that budget.
Have to agree with Delta18. Would love $100 a day to travel on. My budget is no more than $200 a week at the moment.
Roving-Dutchy said
07:09 PM Dec 20, 2012
The full age pension for a couple is approx $80 a day but it is possible to travel and live on that, many are doing this all over Australia, Cheers David
Peter_n_Margaret said
07:10 PM Dec 20, 2012
If you own your own home, consider a reverse morgage. Your tennancy is guranteed, but you can still enjoy the benefits of the asset that you have accumilated and improve your life style, as you choose.
Cheers, Peter
greyhoundtom said
07:50 PM Dec 20, 2012
Thank you all for the replies, and yes you have made me feel better about having a serious look at how I can achieve it, as I'm never happier than when I'm on the road with the van.
Roving-Dutchy wrote:
The full age pension for a couple is approx $80 a day but it is possible to travel and live on that, many are doing this all over Australia, Cheers David
Hi David, I love your avatar as I'm an avid cyclist and by the sounds of your monicer come from the same part of the world as you originally.
Cheers,
Tom
jack biggles said
09:14 PM Dec 20, 2012
They are hard miles, scraping by on the old age pensions and all that. Govts of the day should be ashamed of themselves.....but lets not get political.
My SUGGESTION would be to consider doing a bit of work as you head around. check out the harvest trail. check in with van parks, caretaker jobs, you can do a bit of weeding, mowing, cleaning stuff like that for either a few dollars or cheap or free camping.
Certainly beats laying at home waiting to die........if worse comes to worse, you could always rattle a cup in a shopping mall, tap dance or sing, something like that.
If you have fishing gear, theres always fish to catch for tea or maybe you could snare yourself a duck & roast it..........if you are good with your hands you could do odd jobs for some of the other hapless travellers out there that don't know how to mend a tyre, fix this, fix that.
Why not camp out on the lawn in Canberra, seems to be alright for some. Buy yourself a little tinny and float around in the ocean just off Darwin & wait for customs to come and pick you up.....make sure you've got no id on you and learn a few afgany words and the'll take you down to a nice motel seomewhere, feed you, give you a lap top, new clothes and a house, car and an allowance any old age pensioner would be happy to earn.
Its all good here, in the old LUCKY COUNTRY!
jetj said
09:45 PM Dec 20, 2012
Sorry I thought single pension was $350 and couple was double that, clearly wrong, sorry.
Big Gorilla said
10:02 PM Dec 20, 2012
jack biggles wrote:
They are hard miles, scraping by on the old age pensions and all that. Govts of the day should be ashamed of themselves.....but lets not get political. My SUGGESTION would be to consider doing a bit of work as you head around. check out the harvest trail. check in with van parks, caretaker jobs, you can do a bit of weeding, mowing, cleaning stuff like that for either a few dollars or cheap or free camping. Certainly beats laying at home waiting to die........if worse comes to worse, you could always rattle a cup in a shopping mall, tap dance or sing, something like that. If you have fishing gear, theres always fish to catch for tea or maybe you could snare yourself a duck & roast it..........if you are good with your hands you could do odd jobs for some of the other hapless travellers out there that don't know how to mend a tyre, fix this, fix that. Why not camp out on the lawn in Canberra, seems to be alright for some. Buy yourself a little tinny and float around in the ocean just off Darwin & wait for customs to come and pick you up.....make sure you've got no id on you and learn a few afgany words and the'll take you down to a nice motel seomewhere, feed you, give you a lap top, new clothes and a house, car and an allowance any old age pensioner would be happy to earn. Its all good here, in the old LUCKY COUNTRY!
s to save a dollar or twoNo big gorilla, Im cashed up somewhat & at my age , you don't need all the bells and whistles, if you know what i mean?Im not worried about the next 20 years of nonesense that they can drum up eres plenty of wayfor us.
Also, I live cheaply, no frills, sunlight soap, no silly coffee shop lates and I use my hands to make my grub.
countryroad said
10:43 PM Dec 20, 2012
Isn't this what John is doing, he allows $50 a day and is saving towards his coaster, if he doesn't use the $50 each day it carries over...stays in the bank.
If you treat your long trip as a holiday then you will spend more...coffee and cake x 1 = $8 per day. would soon fritter away your funds.
I have friends live in Young eat out every day...cheaper than cooking at home and have main meal at midday. Then they walk, do the same when they tootle off in their little caravan, to cold in Young in winter
From reading these fascinating forums you see there are quite a number managing on their pension and quite a number not. You make your choices
yeoeleven said
10:57 PM Dec 20, 2012
Having recently travelled around Australia and included a month in Bali on my pension I have to say that it is possible for a single person who lives simply to live on a pension on the road.
On this second journey I have a budget of $50 per day and am currently saving up to pay the balance on a coaster whilst touring Tasmania and free camping.
So do as the others have said and work out your expenses, if like me have no other baggage you will find that it is possible to live on a pension whilst living on the road.
Just one observation, you never know what is round the corner so don't leave it to decide later. I am lucky still to have my health and am able to do what I do at 76 years young.
Just scrolled down and saw the post that appeared whilst I was typing and yes it is what John is doing.
John
Big Gorilla said
11:23 PM Dec 20, 2012
jack biggles wrote:
if worse comes to worse, you could always rattle a cup in a shopping mall, tap dance or sing, something like that. If you have fishing gear, theres always fish to catch for tea or maybe you could snare yourself a duck & roast it..........if you are good with your hands you could do odd jobs for some of the other hapless travellers out there that don't know how to mend a tyre, fix this, fix that. Why not camp out on the lawn in Canberra, seems to be alright for some. Buy yourself a little tinny and float around in the ocean just off Darwin & wait for customs to come and pick you up.....make sure you've got no id on you and learn a few afgany words and the'll take you down to a nice motel seomewhere, feed you, give you a lap top, new clothes and a house, car and an allowance any old age pensioner would be happy to earn. Its all good here, in the old LUCKY COUNTRY!
Only joking about the funny bits !!
jetj said
02:25 AM Dec 21, 2012
John,
You epitomise what can be done on a budget and sensibility.
I hear too many people saying they can't afford this and that but they need to choose the lifestyle to suit the budget whether travelling or at home.
Anvid said
03:57 AM Dec 21, 2012
We retired two years ago on a single pension. We have travelled extensively along the East Coast and our secret was to 'House-sit'. When house-sitting, we usually take assignments for a month or more (one was 16-weeks) and were able to see and get involved in some of the local community and events.
While looking after someone's home, their dogs or cats, gardens or pools we still have lots of time to enjoy ourselves and especially appreciate the 'space' that we have especially during bad weather. We always feel so lucky that we aren't cramped up in a caravan or campervan. The negative side of house-sitting, is when the 'sits' have time in between. We hope it is not in a busy school or public holiday and try to stay in a caravan-park 'cabin'. That way we can do our own cooking etc. Our mode of travel is in an Elantra Hyundai vehicle so we are limited by what we carry.
That's our idea, anyway.....
before the box said
10:54 PM Dec 21, 2012
hi buy a caravan on site at a park some where and rent it out and then use this money for your holidays it works very well
Jack Mac said
03:42 AM Dec 22, 2012
I for one think the pension rate is fantastic (admittedly like everyone, more would be nice). I had never seen the inside of a centrelink office before I was put off work 3 1/2 years ago and it was Centrelink that advised me to apply for the DSP which I duly got with no hassles whatsoever. If you treat the people with civility I have found the staff at Centrelink fantastic. As I have a mortgage (again that was my choice and taken out whilst still working) it was difficult to pay all the bills and the Super I had would only stretch so far, so a few months ago I started work 15 hrs/week on the losest wage (comparatively) I have been on since I was 19, but It has been good for me health wise. Although with reduction in pension (which is fair enough) and fuel costs I only make about $100 per week extra I find I can pay all my bills and still afford to get away locally for a few days a week in my camper whenever I wish.
I also, by shopping wisely, eat very well (I think John (yeoelen) can vouch for that) and can afford my luxuries (i.e seafood for me) within reason. Gypsy eats pretty well too.
The benefits we get on the pension such as rail fares, pharmaceuticals, electricity/rates/telephone subsidies are fantastic.
I not sure how many other countries give a pension that allows a person with limited funds the ability to tour around to their heart's content, maybe not in the lap of luxury but we can do it just the same.
Let's be positive think about what we do get not what we want.
Off my soapbox now.
Cheers,
Jack
Sheba said
07:00 PM Dec 22, 2012
yeoeleven wrote:
for any extas that we may decide on.
John
Slip of the tongue John ? See what Billleeeeeee's doing to us all ?
Have a great Christmas,
Cheers,
Sheba.
-- Edited by Sheba on Saturday 22nd of December 2012 07:01:33 PM
yeoeleven said
12:19 AM Dec 23, 2012
"I also, by shopping wisely, eat very well (I think John (yeoelen) can vouch for that) and can afford my luxuries (i.e seafood for me) within reason. Gypsy eats pretty well too."
I certainly can vouch for that. John put up with me earlier this year whilst my van was getting fixed and no doubt will again next year when I take the Coaster up to Gin Gin for any extas that we may decide on.
John
Bucko said
07:24 PM Dec 23, 2012
Jack Mac,
Your story seems to run much the same as mine, I lost my job a few years ago and centrelink advised me to apply for the DSP as well, I was pleasently surprised as to how well I was treated by them, having worked and paid taxes for 40 years might have helped,I didn't think of the boat trip you suggested, but!!! well another story, it does seem to be a success story though!!! doesn't it??? I have been on the road for nearly four years on that pension and like you, think it's not too bad, I live well and my stomach could verify that I do live well, As most of you well traveled lot have said, you take you time and stop when the money gets low, plenty of places to lay over for a week or so, isn't there? as the old saying goes, YOU WILL NEVER,NEVER KNOW IF YOU NEVER EVERY GO!!!!! DON'T WAIT FOR THE HEART ATTACK TO CATCH UP TO YOU.
I was wondering what your rig is? Hard to tell from the avataar.
yeoeleven said
08:36 PM Dec 23, 2012
jetj wrote:
Hi Bucko,
I was wondering what your rig is? Hard to tell from the avataar.
Kevin wrote this on the smoko thread in Solo
"it's an EscapeRV slide on, not manufactured anymore unfortunately, they did a pretty good job and were great with any probs I had, even 4 years down the track, these things are too big for the normal 1 tonne utes I've found, I did a Hilux and rodeo before with smaller slide on and were O.K. but this thing is too big and heavy, sits perfect on the Sprinter and the extra long tray gives me the room for the box with all the add-on we tend to bring with us, just in case, never enough room is there?I've just got to learn to leave some of it behind, don't I? happy travels, all the best for Xmas where every it finds you."
Bucko said
09:02 PM Dec 23, 2012
yeoeleven wrote:
jetj wrote:
Hi Bucko,
I was wondering what your rig is? Hard to tell from the avataar.
Kevin wrote this on the smoko thread in Solo
"it's an EscapeRV slide on, not manufactured anymore unfortunately, they did a pretty good job and were great with any probs I had, even 4 years down the track, these things are too big for the normal 1 tonne utes I've found, I did a Hilux and rodeo before with smaller slide on and were O.K. but this thing is too big and heavy, sits perfect on the Sprinter and the extra long tray gives me the room for the box with all the add-on we tend to bring with us, just in case, never enough room is there?I've just got to learn to leave some of it behind, don't I? happy travels, all the best for Xmas where every it finds you."
Thanks John, saves my fingers & thumbs.
Bucko.
jetj said
11:31 PM Dec 23, 2012
Thanks John and Bucko,
I missed it, thank again, Looks great.
Beth54 said
12:37 AM Dec 24, 2012
This is always an interesting subject to me.
I've been on the DSP for a number of years and have managed okay, but I only do big trips once or twice a year. I like to pick my seasons for travelling, because of my ill health.
I rent privately, but it's quite cheap thankfully, and I have a great landlord up the hill.
Having two regos is not ideal, but I've weighed up the options and think I'll stick to this. It suits me.
I'm not very good at sticking to a budget..I don't smoke and only drink socially...but I do like cafes, RSL meals etc here and there.
I think I learnt a lot from my recent trip to Victoria with sis and bil, who are self funded retirees. I can't afford to travel their way, so will be just doing my own thing in future.
Bucko said
02:23 AM Dec 24, 2012
Thanks Janette, anytime, I like your little rig as well, neat. Buck.
Bucko said
02:28 AM Dec 24, 2012
Beth54 wrote:
This is always an interesting subject to me.
I've been on the DSP for a number of years and have managed okay, but I only do big trips once or twice a year. I like to pick my seasons for travelling, because of my ill health.
I rent privately, but it's quite cheap thankfully, and I have a great landlord up the hill.
Having two regos is not ideal, but I've weighed up the options and think I'll stick to this. It suits me.
I'm not very good at sticking to a budget..I don't smoke and only drink socially...but I do like cafes, RSL meals etc here and there.
I think I learnt a lot from my recent trip to Victoria with sis and bil, who are self funded retirees. I can't afford to travel their way, so will be just doing my own thing in future.
I know what you mean, I just spent 3 months travelling in W.A. with my brothers who are self funded retirees and that blew my budget out of the water, they wanted more time in the Van parks and I found I just couldn't afford their lifestyle on the DPS, hench I sit and wait for the money to catch up with the credit card.
The prime question for me......is such a thing actually possible, if there is no other source of income?
Living in Victoria, and because of having our only two sons in Cairns, with our only daughter and grand kids living in Tasmania, my wife and I have done our share of traveling over the last ten years or so, mainly by towing the van on a slow trip to Cairns during the cold weather in Vic.
Now after having gone on the old age pension four years ago, it has unfortunately reached a stage where I'm becoming more and more concerned about our financial ability to be able to continue to visit them every year.
As it stands finances were such that I was not game to head off for the last two winters, and I despair thinking the situation will be the same next year.
If anyone has any tips on how touring, such as a trip to Cairns and back again, could be achieveable just on a pension please enlighten me.
Thanks,
Tom
Edited to get rid of the OLD bit. LOL
-- Edited by greyhoundtom on Thursday 20th of December 2012 11:55:34 AM
According to the latest edition of "Seniors News", a gov't publication, the full pension for a single is $712.0 per fortnight and for a couple $1073.40 per fortnight. Theres a pension supplement of $60 p/f and $91 p/f as well and if you dont own a home theres rent assist on top of that.
www.humanservices.gov.au
-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Thursday 20th of December 2012 02:27:19 PM
Everyone is different, if you drink and smoke, eat out a lot as well as take aways then probably no way you can afford it. It has to depend on lifestyle and expectations in my opinion.
With a pension around $100 a day for 2 can be done, free camping or low cost camping. A matter of priorities and how much you want to travel. JMO
Crikey, I hope I can get $100 per day when I get a pension.
There is a good number of us out there who travel on a pension. Free camps, Only short trips in a day. Eat from the van instead of buying from cafes etc.
You just work out your own budget and see what amount you can afford for travel and keep within that budget.
Have to agree with Delta18. Would love $100 a day to travel on. My budget is no more than $200 a week at the moment.
Cheers
David
Your tennancy is guranteed, but you can still enjoy the benefits of the asset that you have accumilated and improve your life style, as you choose.
Cheers,
Peter
Hi David, I love your avatar as I'm an avid cyclist and by the sounds of your monicer come from the same part of the world as you originally.
Cheers,
Tom
Sorry I thought single pension was $350 and couple was double that, clearly wrong, sorry.
Is that what you did ?
If you treat your long trip as a holiday then you will spend more...coffee and cake x 1 = $8 per day. would soon fritter away your funds.
I have friends live in Young eat out every day...cheaper than cooking at home and have main meal at midday. Then they walk, do the same when they tootle off in their little caravan, to cold in Young in winter
From reading these fascinating forums you see there are quite a number managing on their pension and quite a number not. You make your choices
Having recently travelled around Australia and included a month in Bali on my pension I have to say that it is possible for a single person who lives simply to live on a pension on the road.
On this second journey I have a budget of $50 per day and am currently saving up to pay the balance on a coaster whilst touring Tasmania and free camping.
So do as the others have said and work out your expenses, if like me have no other baggage you will find that it is possible to live on a pension whilst living on the road.
Just one observation, you never know what is round the corner so don't leave it to decide later. I am lucky still to have my health and am able to do what I do at 76 years young.
Just scrolled down and saw the post that appeared whilst I was typing and yes it is what John is doing.
John
Only joking about the funny bits !!
John,
You epitomise what can be done on a budget and sensibility.
I hear too many people saying they can't afford this and that but they need to choose the lifestyle to suit the budget whether travelling or at home.
We retired two years ago on a single pension. We have travelled extensively along the East Coast and our secret was to 'House-sit'. When house-sitting, we usually take assignments for a month or more (one was 16-weeks) and were able to see and get involved in some of the local community and events.
While looking after someone's home, their dogs or cats, gardens or pools we still have lots of time to enjoy ourselves and especially appreciate the 'space' that we have especially during bad weather. We always feel so lucky that we aren't cramped up in a caravan or campervan. The negative side of house-sitting, is when the 'sits' have time in between. We hope it is not in a busy school or public holiday and try to stay in a caravan-park 'cabin'. That way we can do our own cooking etc. Our mode of travel is in an Elantra Hyundai vehicle so we are limited by what we carry.
That's our idea, anyway.....
hi buy a caravan on site at a park some where and rent it out and then use this money for your holidays it works very well
I for one think the pension rate is fantastic (admittedly like everyone, more would be nice). I had never seen the inside of a centrelink office before I was put off work 3 1/2 years ago and it was Centrelink that advised me to apply for the DSP which I duly got with no hassles whatsoever. If you treat the people with civility I have found the staff at Centrelink fantastic. As I have a mortgage (again that was my choice and taken out whilst still working) it was difficult to pay all the bills and the Super I had would only stretch so far, so a few months ago I started work 15 hrs/week on the losest wage (comparatively) I have been on since I was 19, but It has been good for me health wise. Although with reduction in pension (which is fair enough) and fuel costs I only make about $100 per week extra I find I can pay all my bills and still afford to get away locally for a few days a week in my camper whenever I wish.
I also, by shopping wisely, eat very well (I think John (yeoelen) can vouch for that) and can afford my luxuries (i.e seafood for me) within reason. Gypsy eats pretty well too.
The benefits we get on the pension such as rail fares, pharmaceuticals, electricity/rates/telephone subsidies are fantastic.
I not sure how many other countries give a pension that allows a person with limited funds the ability to tour around to their heart's content, maybe not in the lap of luxury but we can do it just the same.
Let's be positive think about what we do get not what we want.
Off my soapbox now.
Cheers,
Jack
Slip of the tongue John ? See what Billleeeeeee's doing to us all ?
Have a great Christmas,
Cheers,
Sheba.
-- Edited by Sheba on Saturday 22nd of December 2012 07:01:33 PM
"I also, by shopping wisely, eat very well (I think John (yeoelen) can vouch for that) and can afford my luxuries (i.e seafood for me) within reason. Gypsy eats pretty well too."
I certainly can vouch for that. John put up with me earlier this year whilst my van was getting fixed and no doubt will again next year when I take the Coaster up to Gin Gin for any extas that we may decide on.
John
Jack Mac,
Your story seems to run much the same as mine, I lost my job a few years ago and centrelink advised me to apply for the DSP as well, I was pleasently surprised as to how well I was treated by them, having worked and paid taxes for 40 years might have helped,I didn't think of the boat trip you suggested, but!!! well another story, it does seem to be a success story though!!! doesn't it??? I have been on the road for nearly four years on that pension and like you, think it's not too bad, I live well and my stomach could verify that I do live well, As most of you well traveled lot have said, you take you time and stop when the money gets low, plenty of places to lay over for a week or so, isn't there? as the old saying goes, YOU WILL NEVER,NEVER KNOW IF YOU NEVER EVERY GO!!!!! DON'T WAIT FOR THE HEART ATTACK TO CATCH UP TO YOU.
Bucko, Kevin.
Hi Bucko,
I was wondering what your rig is? Hard to tell from the avataar.
Kevin wrote this on the smoko thread in Solo
"it's an EscapeRV slide on, not manufactured anymore unfortunately, they did a pretty good job and were great with any probs I had, even 4 years down the track, these things are too big for the normal 1 tonne utes I've found, I did a Hilux and rodeo before with smaller slide on and were O.K. but this thing is too big and heavy, sits perfect on the Sprinter and the extra long tray gives me the room for the box with all the add-on we tend to bring with us, just in case, never enough room is there?I've just got to learn to leave some of it behind, don't I? happy travels, all the best for Xmas where every it finds you."
Thanks John, saves my fingers & thumbs.
Bucko.
Thanks John and Bucko,
I missed it, thank again, Looks great.
This is always an interesting subject to me.
I've been on the DSP for a number of years and have managed okay, but I only do big trips once or twice a year. I like to pick my seasons for travelling, because of my ill health.
I rent privately, but it's quite cheap thankfully, and I have a great landlord up the hill.
Having two regos is not ideal, but I've weighed up the options and think I'll stick to this. It suits me.
I'm not very good at sticking to a budget..I don't smoke and only drink socially...but I do like cafes, RSL meals etc here and there.
I think I learnt a lot from my recent trip to Victoria with sis and bil, who are self funded retirees. I can't afford to travel their way, so will be just doing my own thing in future.
Thanks Janette, anytime, I like your little rig as well, neat. Buck.