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BONZA gets practical- things you can do now.

We spelt out last month that the Prime Minister is worried about the future for Boomers and warned of economic disaster looming unless Australia reformed.

So let’s start with you. What have you done to plan for your future?

BONZA wants to ‘walk the walk’ and not just ‘talk the talk’. For instance, we can rely all we like on the financial advisers to assist planning our financial future but we should really start with some small practical steps of our own.

Home budgetting is easy if you have the resources to back you. We have an easy to follow SPREADSHEET that readers of this newsletter are welcome to.

Just send an email to BONZA brian@bonza.com.au and we will send it to you plus information on how to obtain rebates on your superannuation and insurance payments.

The spreadsheet will allow you to keep all your expenditure for the year under different headings then you can decide on what you want to change.

For example, I used to buy my lunch each day for around $10 until the budget spreadsheet showed an annual amount of over $2000 which now has been reduced to $200 and gives me more for investment.

There is an assumption here that you’re working of course so you can afford to buy anything and if you’re not then you need to re-invent your self and do so.

I am a guest speaker again at the Re-Invent Your Career Expo at Southbank this 27/28 March. Last years Expo saw 10 000 people look and plan for their futures but in particular mature age who want to try another career or keep working into their 60s.

Many got jobs at the Expo through the exhibitors so see you there and come and listen to my Moving Forward presentation which is on both days in the auditorium and is very motivating.

Thousands of Babyboomers have gone on to change their lives after listening to me outline the ‘big picture’ of our future. I believe in the ‘keeping it simple’ philosophy and you will understand what is required of you as an individual to plan for your future.

We have also approached QLD TAFE about the possibility of displaying relevant courses for mature age on this site. Will keep you informed of the outcome of this practical step.

My employer Epic Employment Services supports BONZA at the Expo through supplying resource material and encouraging/assisting disadvantaged job seekers to find work on a daily basis.

Epic Employment are also supportive of our push for addressing the Skills Shortage in the Bush and Maturelink and are investigating practical methods of funding and supplying infrastructure to make them happen. (See explanation of these initiatives below in our notes)

Let's go back to your practical planning now. Financial planning is essential but so is health. Living longer is really only existing longer if you can not enjoy it due to bad health.

Start a fitness routine so that your body is in better shape and you will not be a burden on society later. This also includes regular healthy food intake with emphasis on protein but balanced and controlled.

My daily routine includes stretching when I wake to engage the back muscles, healthy breakfast and lunch, a smaller dinner and a walk when I return home from work. The weekend includes a walk Saturday morning and a surf on Sunday morning plus a few hours gardening.

Finally, if you are out there reading this and you have no social life, few friends, no daily routine and no self esteem then you are only existing not living so get help.

NOTE:
BONZA advocates for:
1. Mature Age Leave for over 50s so they can have some quality time out from their workplace and freshen up doing interest things.
2. Over 50s need a separate government office, Maturelink, to highlight the importance of Mature Age looking to Move Forward in life not plan for retirement only in our older years. This is even more essential now we have to work to 67.
3. A need for incentives from government for families to build granny flats for the aged care of family members at home. A family approach to an Ageing Australia in line with European and Asian cultures.
4. A need for Community Health Clinics that the aged can attend and not clog the hospital system just as we had some priority at birth due to our numbers.
5. A strong community based program for aged to take an interest in the local community through supporting schools, group exercising, supporting welfare groups and strong social clubs for the aged.
6. Government incentives to allow us to retain/build assets so that we can support ourselves more as we age.
7. Developments of the Uni of the Third Age so that minds are kept active through study and research.
8. Break Centrelink up into a smaller office. Aged Pension to Retirement Offices, Familes to Medicare (completely), Disabled to revamped CRS offices, Youth to Youthlink (could be in Centrelink with Maturelink so mentor roles are easier) and Newstart to Job Network who could also pay them when there is compliance with job seeking.
9. Skills for the Bush project. A database of jobs available in Regional Australia set up through Local Govt so that over 50s can work their way around Australia. This would fit in well with the Mature Age Leave concept.
10. A Mature Age Policy for every workplace so employers can offer loyal staff some incentive to keep going. They will need their skills as the skill shortage approaches.
11. A referendum to decide whether euthanasia should be part of Australian life.

Lots to do folks so let’s get on with it and have a BONZA LIFE!

Brian Murphy
Editor
BONZA
www.bonza.com.au

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