Essential Advice on Planning a Healthy and Happy Retirement

Originally published in the 2011 Irish Pensioner's Handbook The Retirement Planning Council of Ireland (RPC) provides weekly courses on ...

Originally published in the 2011 Irish Pensioner’s Handbook

The Retirement Planning Council of Ireland (RPC) provides weekly courses on planning for retirement. The CEO of the RPC is John Higgins and he provides the following brief points on what it means to plan well for this life-changing circumstance:
  • Be aware of the things that will change for you in retirement
  • Keep a positive perspective on life – you are what you are because of your perspective
  • Now is the time to be a bit more careful about our health including having a health screening examination at least once a year
  • Consider the financial changes that will occur and prepare a monthly budget
  • Shop around particularly for the big once-off annual spends and don’t be afraid to haggle over prices
  • Consider how we waste money and take corrective action
  • Have at least one physical hobby and one hobby that will keep you mentally active
  • Make sure you have at least one winter hobby (indoors) and one summer (outdoor) hobby
  • Give some thought to how home-life and relationships will change
  • Don’t be afraid to have that difficult dialogue with your family on what you wish to do in retirement
  • Consider how many of your work colleagues will continue to be friends and acquaintances. Join social networks and make up for any shortfall
  • Plan to wisely use the “chunks” of time you have in retirement – be an “action” planner
  • Consider how you now view yourself in retirement and how others view your new identity
  • Make a list of all the different things you want to do and mark them off as you do them
  • Challenge yourself to do at least one different thing every single year
  • Put a productive element into your retirement plan either by way of volunteering, caring for others, part-time work or further learning
  • Explore – dream – discover: Enjoy the leisure time – you deserve it.
  • And always remember: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breaths away!
– The RPC is a registered charity and a not-for-profit organisation. It earns its income from giving retirement planning courses over a two-day period and during which all of the above topics are discussed and advice given.
You can visit their website www.rpc.ie or contact the RPC by calling 01 661 3139 or email [email protected]

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