For others, being in their sixties or seventies is the chance they've been waiting for to spend more time with their grandchildren and be a part of the local community.
Then there are many others who do both.
Wherever you are on the spectrum it's a good time to take stock of your financial affairs and plan ahead so you can make the most of whatever your "retirement" is going to be.
For example, have you worked out how much money you will need in retirement? If you have a nest egg what are your plans for managing it so that it lasts for as long as you need it? Do you plan to stay in the house you’re in now or have you got plans to downsize?
The Retirement Commission’s free booklet,
Your money in retirement, is a good checklist for working through these issues. It has sections on having a regular income in retirement, where to live when you get older and protecting your assets.
It also has some interesting stories about different people and how they're living in retirement on a range of budgets. These characters are fictional but their circumstances are based on interviews with real Kiwis.
As well as seeing how their weekly budgets pan out the stories will give you some good insights into different options for planning, spending and saving.
You can order
Your money in retirement by calling 0800 SORT MONEY (767 866) or online at
sorted.org.nz/ordering.
