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The real reason your luggage is lost in transit

<p>There’s nothing worse than that moment of realisation you get when, standing at an empty luggage carousel, you realise your bags are anywhere in the world but here.  </p> <p>SITA, a company specialising in air transport, has published a study revealing the most common reasons bags are misplaced in transit and tips on how to avoid it.</p> <p>2015 it turns out was a historically good year for luggage retention, with the total number of mishandled bags diminishing about 50 per cent from 2007 to 2015. Worldwide, out of every 1000 passengers only around six bags are being misplaced.</p> <p>But it still wasn’t perfect, and 23 million bags were still misplaced.  </p> <p>SITA has outlined the top reasons luggage doesn’t make it to where it’s supposed to be, as well as some tips to help make sure your bags makes the trip safely.</p> <p><strong>Reasons for lost luggage:</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>Lost during a transfer –</strong> This was the major reason for luggage being misplaced and the cause of over half the reported misplaced luggage occurrences.</li> <li><strong>Ticketing errors, bag switches or security issues –</strong> Around 19 per cent of lost bags fell into this category, suggesting that human error still plays a role.</li> <li><strong>Delayed due to airport, customs, and weather or space/weight restrictions –</strong> This broad category accounted for almost 16 per cent of the lost luggage.</li> <li><strong>Failure to load the bag or mishandling at arrival station –</strong> This was the reason behind four per cent of the bags that were mishandled.</li> <li><strong>Tagging Error –</strong> With significant advancements in bag handling technology tagging errors accounted for only four per cent of lost luggage.</li> </ul> <p>SITA also offered some advice for making sure your bag makes it all the way to the desired destination, suggesting air passengers take the following precautions:</p> <ul> <li>Avoid short connections.</li> <li>Put a form of identification on the bag.</li> <li>Double check the destination tag.</li> <li>Pack luggage carefully avoiding restricted items.</li> <li>Consider purchasing a personal luggage tracking device.</li> </ul> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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5 tips to make transitioning into retirement easier

<p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> <p>Retirement marks the end of a chapter in your career and the start of a new lifestyle. This unique transition can bring a myriad of emotions, most commonly ones of excitement and apprehension.</p> <p>If you’re pondering retiring in the next year or so, here are five tips to help you transition smoothly:</p> <p><strong>Know the transition could take weeks — or months</strong></p> <p>You likely spent decades forming a routine around your work schedule. Establishing your new normal of volunteer work, an encore career or helping family will take time. If you are married, remember that your retired status may affect your spouse’s routine, too. Talk openly about how you’re feeling during the transition to keep your spouse in the loop.</p> <p><strong>Communicate your retirement plans with family members</strong></p> <p>Your parents, kids or other family members will likely be interested in how you intend to spend your retirement days. Will you be visiting the grandkids more often? Continuing to host family get-togethers? Planning to move or purchase a retirement home? As you share your plans, don’t forget to discuss your financial picture. The benefits of open communication are three-fold: it reassures your kids that you’re financially prepared, allows you to introduce or remind your family of your estate and legacy plans, and it establishes a safe space for both sides to discuss potentially challenging financial topics.</p> <p><strong>Maintain healthy habits</strong></p> <p>Staying diligent with the activities that help you feel your best is important as you shift into retirement. Prioritize eating healthy, sleeping well, staying fit and maintaining friendships in your new routine.</p> <p><strong>Evaluate your finances</strong></p> <p>Prior to retirement, you likely outlined how you will manage your cash flow. (If not, today is the day to put a plan in place.) As you enter retirement, review your expenses to ensure they’re aligned with your plan. It’s common to revise your spending and activities after experiencing the first few weeks away from your primary job, so it’s OK if you need to adjust how much you withdraw from your accounts each month. If you want to increase your spending, calculate what that means for your later retirement years, as you don’t want your savings to come up short.</p> <p><strong>Reset your attitude</strong></p> <p>Retirement is not the ultimate finish line. Experiencing a lot of emotions is common, but try to focus on what you’re excited about in this next chapter. And, remember you’re not alone. Talk to friends, family and professionals in your life for support along the way.</p>

Retirement Life

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Can property survive the great climate transition?

<p>As we become an <a href="https://esa.un.org/unpd/wup/Publications/Files/WUP2014-Highlights.pdf">increasingly urban species</a>, urban resilience is emerging as a big deal. The idea is generating a lot of noise about how to develop or retrofit cities that can deal with the many challenges before us, or consume less energy in the transition to post-carbon economies.</p> <p>There is ample activity aimed at making this happen, including through designing and building <a href="http://www.urbanecology.org.au/eco-cities/what-is-an-ecocity/">ecocities</a>, and calls such as that of the <a href="http://earthwiseharmony.com/CONNECT/EH-Transition-Towns-Australia.html">Transition Towns</a> movement, which suggests substantial changes to our ways of life might be both necessary and inevitable.</p> <p>In all of this, very little has been said about the elephant in the urban living room – property. Property systems are the codification of our relationship to place and the way in which many of us make a claim to place, including a roof over our heads.</p> <p>If our cities are to become more resilient and sustainable, our systems of property need to come along for the ride.</p> <h2>Static property rights will be tested</h2> <p>Western systems of property law assume property is delineated and static: the property holder has invested (often substantial) financial resources to secure a claim to that neatly identified parcel of land and/or buildings. Further, the property owner expects to make a nice economic return on their parcel.</p> <p>Unfortunately, the future doesn’t look neatly delineated or static. Many researchers and practitioners tell us the future might not look like anything we’ve ever seen. Some say we are reaching a tipping point, after which the rules we have constructed will <a href="https://www.opendemocracy.net/neweconomics/the-post-capitalist-interregnum/">no longer apply</a> or be of use.</p> <p>As some property is <a href="http://www.news.com.au/national/is-the-australian-dream-of-a-beachfront-home-really-worth-it/news-story/37842853b935d2e78faa4d4f7deb2ff2">washed out to sea</a>, much may become <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/06/22/climate/95-degree-day-maps.html">too hot to live in</a>, and what remains may be subject to relentless and increasing waves of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/dec/01/climate-change-trigger-unimaginable-refugee-crisis-senior-military">migration and instability</a>.</p> <p>In the face of such calamity, how then might we – as a big, inclusive “we” – talk about and demonstrate our relationship to place? Will we be able to do that without seeing the emergence of metaphorical or actual fortresses?</p> <h2>Models that allow for change</h2> <p>These are live questions. There are no easy answers, but there are places where we might start.</p> <p>Models such as <a href="http://www.beachapedia.org/Rolling_Easements">rolling easements</a> offer one way to handle property that is in flux. Rolling easements are a form of property that <a href="https://theconversation.com/coastal-law-shift-from-property-rights-to-climate-adaptation-is-a-landmark-reform-59083">recognises that the coast is a dynamic landscape</a> and allows for the coastline of wetlands to migrate inland as sea levels rise.</p> <p>These sound promising in their capacity to balance private and public interests in property, but their potential has <a href="http://www.coastalconference.com/2014/.../Tayanah%20O'Donnell%20Full%20Paper.pdf">not yet been tested</a> in areas of urban development, such as housing.</p> <p>Echoing the potential mobility and flexibility of rolling easements are <a href="http://www.shareable.net/blog/can-we-build-homes-on-trust">diverse housing tenures</a> that can dislocate the right to reside in place from exclusionary, proprietary title to an individual, speculative housing “asset”.</p> <p>Examples include <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housing_cooperative">housing co-operatives</a> and <a href="https://www.prosper.org.au/2008/05/29/community-land-trusts-explained/">community land trusts</a>. So far, these have proven effective in delivering a range of affordable and flexible housing options, but still ultimately rely on an understanding that property is static.</p> <p>So, how might we conceptualise and identify dynamic models of housing that can change with our cities?</p> <p>Mobility studies are starting to talk about home as <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/gec3.12314">mobile and fluid</a>, while resilience theory is recognising the importance of a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/02723638.2016.1139865">sense of place</a>. Resilience theory also tells us that complex systems are <a href="https://www.resalliance.org/adaptive-mgmt">best governed</a> by collaborative, flexible, learning mechanisms.</p> <p>The combination of more fluid understandings of home and more sensitive ideas of place may offer a framework for thinking about how we occupy cities through complex challenges and in the face of uncertainty – including how to accommodate the need for mobility and flexibility.</p> <h2>Indigenous inspiration</h2> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/kidmans-sale-marks-second-wave-of-south-australian-colonisation-40319">Living in colonised landscapes</a> tells us it might be time to rethink which way around the “ownership” dynamic works in property relationships.</p> <p>That is, if we are to think about and create property systems that are as dynamic as the landscapes we occupy, we might need to start thinking about ourselves as belonging to and answerable to the land, not the other way around.</p> <p>We might also need to start thinking about our claims not being static but dependent on the web of relationships we are entwined in, including with non-humans. Some say that First Peoples might have a grasp of property dynamics that is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/27/western-idea-private-property-flawed-indigenous-peoples-have-it-right">more suited</a> to the times we are entering.</p> <p>So, making cities green might be the easy part. It remains to be seen whether property law and property systems are up to the task of transition.</p> <p><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/louise-crabtree-128457">Louise Crabtree</a>, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Culture and Society, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a></em></span></p> <p>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/can-property-survive-the-great-climate-transition-80672">original article</a>.</p> <p><em>Image: Flickr</em></p>

Real Estate

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Prince Charles transition to king underway

<p>The latest royal scandal that has plagued the media has proven one thing – Prince Charles is taking the lead.</p> <p>The royal has been waiting for the throne as heir his entire life, and now at age 71, the Prince of Wales is stepping up as he prepares to eventually take the main stage as King.</p> <p>Former BBC correspondent Peter Hunt says the royal shift is becoming more and more apparent.</p> <p>“(Prince) Andrew’s departure reminds us of the inevitable shift in power from monarch to ‘Shadow King’,” he said.</p> <p>A royal source also confirmed Prince Charles’ accession to the throne has been going for “some time,” and is only just being highlighted by the Prince Andrew saga, as reported by<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/10430396/prince-charles-andrew-run-the-firm-queen-retire/" target="_blank">The Sun</a>.</em></p> <p>“A transition is plainly already underway. Her majesty is in her nineties and can understandably only do so much,” the source said.</p> <p>“The scandal surrounding Andrew and (Jeffrey) Epstein gave Charles an opportunity to step in to show that he can run The Firm. No-one is bigger than the institution of the royal family. Not even Andrew, the Queen’s favourite son.</p> <p>“Charles recognised that and acted decisively — like the king he may well soon be. This was the moment when Charles stepped up as prince regent, the Shadow King.”</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7832863/prince-charles-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/1483b2c3549446e2a996f72c199a0ad3" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Prince Charles kneels before Queen Elizabeth as she crowns him Prince of Wales at the Investiture at Caernarvon Castle on July 1, 1969 in Wales.</em></p> <p>As the Queen is 93-years-old, she is nearing the age her husband Prince Philip was when he retired from his royal duties and took a permanent step back.</p> <p>The Duke of Edinburgh was 95-years-old when he stood down in 2017.</p> <p>However, she hasn’t completely let her son take the reigns just yet and is continuing to carry on with her job.</p> <p>On December 3, Her Majesty will host a reception for NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) leaders and their partners at Buckingham Palace, with US President Donald Trump being one of the guests due to be in attendance.</p> <p>The extravagant affair will mark 70 years of the alliance and will welcome 29 member states from North America and Europe.</p> <p>Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall will formally be there to receive the leaders next to the Queen.</p> <p>“The Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duchess of Cambridge, the Earl of Wessex, the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra will welcome the guests in the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace,” a statement said.</p>

International Travel

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How to smoothly transition from coloured hair to stunning grey

<p>The idea of letting hair grow out grey can seem like a daunting one to many women (and some men), but if you decide to show off your new natural hue, there are a few things you might want to know to make the transition as smooth as possible.</p> <p><strong>1. Correct the colour first</strong></p> <p>When you make the decision to grow out your greys, you may think you’ll have to cut your hair short so you avoid a two-tone look while you let the coloured hair go, but a visit to your favourite salon can be a way to get the process done in one visit. Ask your colourist to match the rest of your hair to your roots so you won’t notice any regrowth as your hair gets longer.</p> <p><strong>2. It won’t be a quick process</strong></p> <p>Depending on the existing colour and length of your hair, colour correcting can be a lengthy process. Those extra hours may come with a larger cost than usual, too. But, all going according to plan, you won’t need to spend as much time in the salon in the future.</p> <p><strong>3. Brassiness is still an issue</strong></p> <p>While you wait for your natural greys to grow out, you may notice that some of the dyed sections are going brassy as the grey toner washes out. If this happens, speak with your colourist to find the best course of action – they may recommend you come in for some touch ups if you’re concerned about the way your hair is looking. A good way to help avoid this is to use a purple-toned shampoo to maintain a beautiful shimmer.</p> <p><strong>4. Be ready to adjust your wardrobe</strong></p> <p>With a brand-new hair colour will come new colour clashes for your clothing and makeup choices. You might find that the silver shade works perfectly with your existing outfits, but you may find that some colours wash you out now. A few simple adjustments to the way you shop can help correct this.</p> <p>Share your thoughts about taking the plunge and going grey with us in the comments below.</p>

Beauty & Style

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The reason your bag was lost in transit

<p>Arriving at a destination sans luggage has got to be the worst way to start (or end) a trip. And while airlines are getting better at making sure bags end up in the right place, mishandled bags still cost the industry roughly $2.84 billion a year.    </p> <p>So, what’s the real reason your bag was lost in transit?</p> <p>Well, according to the most recent report from air transport communications specialists SITA, 47 per cent of the cases of baggage mishandling came down to luggage being incorrectly transferred from one aircraft to the correct connecting flight.</p> <p>The SITA report stated passengers travelling to Europe had the highest chance of their baggage being mishandled, “In Europe, data reveals that the mishandling rate in 2016 was higher than the global average, at 8.06 mishandled bags per thousand passengers.</p> <p>“Baggage performance in Europe has declined in 2015, when the mishandling rate was 7.82 bags per thousand passengers, (and) the longer-term trend is one of robust improvement.</p> <p>“Europe has achieved a 51 per cent reduction in its mishandling rate since 2007, when it stood at 16.60 bags per thousand passengers.”</p> <p><strong>Most common reasons for delayed bags in 2016</strong></p> <ul> <li>Transfer mishandling — 47 per cent</li> <li>Failure to load — 16 per cent</li> <li>Ticketing error/Bag switch/Security — 15 per cent</li> <li>Weather/Space-weight restriction/Customs — 10 per cent</li> <li>Loading error — 4 per cent</li> <li>Arrival mishandling — 4 per cent</li> <li>Tagging error — 4 per cent</li> </ul> <p>Have you ever lost baggage in transit?</p>

Travel Tips

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10 ways to make it through life’s transitions

<p><em><strong>Susan Krauss Whitbourne is a professor of Psychology and Brain Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She writes the Fulfilment at Any Age blog for Psychology Today.</strong></em></p> <p>You’re happy with the status quo, so change is the last thing you want to have happen in your life. However, life doesn’t always comply with our wishes, and now you’re faced with a major transition. One of the toughest transitions you might ever have to make involves moving your place of residence. The longer you’ve lived there, the harder that move can be. You also find that there are times when you have to go with the flow with family, friends, and employers. Your adult child wants to get married, your best friend’s mother died, or your boss gives you a completely new set of job duties. Dealing with these changes can be tough, but these 10 tips, based on research involving life-span studies of stressful events, can get you through even the toughest of them.</p> <p>Let’s begin with some background. The basic premise of most stress and coping literature is that there’s no such thing as an inherently difficult life transition. Life events are as stressful, or not, as you make them. It’s all in the mind-set you apply to them. A second premise, derived primarily from the life course literature, assumes that the factors that sway the events in life reflect the many forces out there that can lead to change. There are no inherent life changes other than the basic alterations that occur due to biology and the programming of our genes. The life changes involved in transitions occur because of social, historical, and other outside influences. Some of these are predictable, such as graduating from high school at about age 18, and some are completely random, such as having a tree fall on your roof during a windstorm.</p> <p>It’s good to know about these perspectives on life transitions, because they show us that there’s nothing inherently bad about change. When changes occur, they reflect a variety of factors, and how you interpret them will determine their impact on you. You’ve no doubt seen on the TV news, or perhaps in your own neighbourhood, people who’ve gone through a traumatic change, such as a tornado, hurricane, flood, or fire, and must cope with the damage it’s done to their homes. Somehow, although they’ve suffered an incredible loss, they emerge ready to clean up and move on with their lives.</p> <p>Of all of life’s changes, one that emerges as the most memorable turns out to be moving one’s home. It’s the type of event that, years later, people are prone to remember as having overarching significance. Called the “relocation bump” by University of New Hampshire’s Karalyn Enz and colleagues (2016), this distinctive memory stays with people throughout their entire lives. In the Enz et. al. study, of the 149 adults age 65 and older who cited a residential move between the ages of 40 and 60, that move became the centrepiece of their recalled major life events.</p> <p>The New Hampshire team knew about the so-called “reminiscence bump,” that peak of memories occurring during the transitional ages from adolescence to young adulthood. Based on this phenomenon, life-span researchers maintained that it was the age people were at the time of this transition that determined the period’s prominence in memory. The study of older adults recalling their memories of relocation suggests that it wasn’t age but the “life changes accompanying transitions” that “may organise autobiographical memories across the entire adult life span” (p. 938). In other words, moving creates a distinctive marking point in your memory that organises the way you think back on your life.</p> <p>Let’s look now at how you can translate the “relocation bump” along with the stress and coping and life course perspectives into these 10 ways to manage transitions:</p> <p><strong>1. Recognise that transitions hold a special place in your life memories.</strong> Moving actually is a big thing; it’s something you’ll remember for years, if not decades. Rather than trying to shove it out of your consciousness because the act of moving is so inherently arduous, give it the respect it deserves as an organising principle of your life.</p> <p><strong>2. View stress not as a threat, but as a challenge.</strong> Because stress is in the mind of the beholder, as many researchers like to say, you can take an event that you’re afraid will overwhelm you and turn it instead into an occasion you can rise above and conquer.</p> <p><strong>3. Appreciate the benefits of change.</strong> Getting stuck in life’s grooves has been shown in life-span developmental science to be detrimental to your cognitive growth. Changes in routine can serve as stimulation to your stagnant nervous systems and allow you to grow new neural pathways.</p> <p><strong>4. Remember the times you’ve successfully navigated a previous life transition.</strong> As you face a new challenge, use the knowledge that you’ve managed to cope before to give you strength. Yes, that tree falling on your roof was a traumatic experience and expensive to deal with, but deal with it you did.</p> <p><strong>5. Turn to your support network.</strong> Researchers in the stress and coping field know that social support is one of the most significant keys to successfully managing change. Even an online community of people going through similar experiences can give you an emotional boost, as well as some practical tips.</p> <p><strong>6. Prepare, prepare, prepare</strong>. Speaking of practical tips, getting things in order before a planned major transition is one of the best ways to guarantee that all will work out when the time comes to make your move. It’s known in the retirement literature that planning ahead, preferably for at least 2 years, will allow you to get through this significant life change without being devastated by loss of the work role. Similarly, getting your literal “house in order” before a move will ease the physical and psychological strain of relocation.</p> <p><strong>7. Use a transition to reflect on where your life has been, and where it’s going</strong>. That relocation bump reflects not just the practical aspects of moving, but the emotional ones as well. Enz and her team found that 40 percent of all moves were rated above the midpoint of the scale on both material and psychological change. Each time you move, you must engage or disengage with items you’ve possessed, many of which have some type of meaning to you. You find thrown in a drawer a pencil from a trip you took to a national park with your family. Even if you decide to toss it out, for that moment you’ve jogged a reminiscence of a pleasant time from your past.</p> <p><strong>8. Focus on the positive aspects of moving.</strong> It’s possible you’re moving out because you need to downsize, or because you can’t afford the rent. Sure, you’d rather stay where you were, but now that you have to move, what can you think of that’s beneficial? Downsizing can allow you to declutter, and moving due to rent issues can perhaps put you in a new community where you can make new friends. Look out for the hopeful signs in every transition, and you’re bound to feel better.</p> <p><strong>9. Use role models to inspire you through this transition.</strong> Find examples of people who inspire you to navigate a challenging period in life. The many instances of trauma survivors interviewed on the news who manage to maintain their faith and optimism can give you reassurance that it’s possible to adapt to even the most stressful of life events.</p> <p><strong>10. Realise that change is inherent to life.</strong> Without change, our life courses would be very dull indeed. You may not be seeking out change, but when it seeks you, take heart in the fact that no one’s life ever stands completely still. People enter your world and leave it, material possessions come and go, and careers invariably involve turning points. No one ever gets through life without undergoing some type of change, so when it happens, don’t fight it.</p> <p>Fulfillment in life depends on being able to manage the twists and turns that it takes. Whether it’s a move, a change in family or work roles, or an uncontrollable act of the weather, your coping resources are constantly being put to the test. Bolstering them with these 10 tips will ensure that you are able to meet the challenge.</p> <p><em>Written by Susan Krauss Whitbourne. First appeared on <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Psychology Today</strong></span></a>. </em></p>

Mind

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The real reason your baggage was lost in transit

<p class="MsoNormal">Arriving at your destination without your baggage is the stuff of holiday nightmares and can lead to a stressful start to your journey, particularly if you don’t have the appropriate travel insurance. But how can this sort of thing still happen in 2016?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.travelandleisure.com/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Travel &amp; Leisure</strong></span></a>has outlined the four main causes of misplaced baggage on holidays. If your bags have gone missing it’s probably down to one of these reasons.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong>1. Electrical storms</strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Inclement weather is one of the main reasons your baggage might be held up in the journey from the plane to the carousel. When lightning or other severe weather strikes, ground crews are generally ordered inside for safety, leading to delays.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong>2. Size of the airport</strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes the sheer size of the airport can lead to hold-ups in the baggage delivery process. If you’re a passenger it’s more likely than not that you have the most direct route to the carousel, but your bags don’t have that luxury to draw upon.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: red; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/28778/hong_498x245.jpg" alt="Hong"/></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong>3. Passengers on the flight</strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The amount of passengers on your flight also plays a role in how smoothly the baggage was processed and as you imagine flights with more passengers are going to take much longer to unload. So if you were packed like sardines on your trip, don’t be surprised if it takes a little while longer for your bag to be processed by the ground staff.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong>4. State of the airport</strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Most airports have the baggage claim process down to a T, but there are plenty of locations around the world that haven’t yet achieved such levels of mastery. It’s not uncommon for remote airports that don’t receive as much traffic to have bag processing methods that are considerably less elegant, leading to the occasional misplaced bag.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Have you ever had luggage lost in transit? What happened? And were you able to reclaim it? Share your story in the comments, we’d love to hear from you.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/travel-tips/2016/09/10-items-people-should-pack/">10 items people don’t pack but should</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/travel-tips/2016/08/8-common-mistakes-when-packing-checked-in-luggage/">8 common mistakes when packing checked-in luggage</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/08/10-things-you-should-never-pay-for-on-holidays/">10 things you should never pay for on holidays</a></strong></em></span></p>

Travel Tips

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Tips on transitioning into retirement

<p><em><strong>Rachel Clement is the Director of Psychological Services at the Centre for Corporate Health member of R U OK? Conversation Think Tank.</strong></em></p> <p>How people transition into retirement can be quite polarising and depends heavily on how they have planned for this transition; their financial situation; their health, both psychological and physical; and their perception of what retirement will be like. Someone who has carefully planned their retirement is likely to feel more optimistic about the transition than someone who is forced into early retirement due to redundancy or ill health. With so many contributing factors – including financial issues, emotional issues, relationship issues and health issues – it can be a stressful and emotional time. For those who have been forced into retirement, there is an increased link to experiencing depression. However, should an individual have the opportunity to retire by gradually reducing their work days over time, or working in flexible ways such as contracting a few days a week, this can actually ease the stress associated with leaving the workforce ‘cold turkey’. Many people these days will remain in paid or unpaid forms of employment for a lot longer than in previous times. Often retirement is about transitioning in to a ‘new phase’ of one’s life.</p> <p>When people retire, those who have strong social support and who are engaged in the community usually have the smoothest and most enjoyable transition. This is important when going through any change in your life because supportive relationships are one of the strongest buffers for our mental health and resilience.</p> <p>When getting ready to retire you should consider:</p> <ul> <li>Cutting back on work gradually to give yourself time to adjust to retirement life over time.</li> <li>Before you retire, think about what you plan to do with your extra time. Join community groups or clubs so you build your social support network.</li> <li>Set some goals for yourself for after your retirement to keep you on track and feeling a sense of purpose, achievement and motivation. Consulting a career coach can be a great way of helping with this.</li> <li>Focus on your health and fitness, not only to ward off excessive health care costs but also to make your retirement an enjoyable time.</li> <li>Get your finances in order and find new ways to cut your expenses to reduce any financial pressure.</li> <li>Look into some volunteer options in a field that you are passionate about. Having meaning and purpose is very important for maintaining your wellbeing through this time of transition.</li> <li>Talk to your friends and family about what you want your retirement to be like. This helps them to adjust their expectations (“No, I don’t want to transition to a full time baby-sitter!”) and gives them insight into what might be the early warning signs that you may not be adjusting to retirement</li> <li>Stay connected to friends and family.</li> </ul> <p>As a loved one of someone who is retiring, it is important to be aware of some of the early warning signs that your loved one may not be coping with the transition. Some of these early warning signs include:</p> <ul> <li>Irritability and frustration</li> <li>Anger</li> <li>Moods swings</li> <li>Withdrawing from friends and family</li> <li>Sleep disturbance</li> <li>Ceasing usual activities</li> </ul> <p>If you notice your loved one is not coping with retirement, it is important to have a supportive conversation with them to help them get back on track. Encouraging them to get active, try something new or join a community group can all help in reducing feelings of loneliness and helplessness. If they need extra encouragement, consider going along to volunteer with them in an area they are interested in as they may just need a little extra support during this time. If you notice that they are experiencing low mood, increased anxiety or not being themselves for longer than two weeks, it is important to encourage them to speak to their GP or another health professional such as a psychologist to help them manage the transition and get back on track.</p> <p>How did you find adjusting to retirement? Share your experience in the comments below. </p> <p><em>R U OK? is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to inspire Australians connect and to have regular, meaningful conversations every day of the year to help anyone who might not be ok. Find more information at their <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.ruok.org.au/" target="_blank">website here.</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/05/are-you-having-a-late-life-crisis/"><em>Are you having a “late-life” crisis?</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/04/why-you-should-still-set-an-alarm-when-you-retire/"><em>Why you should still set an alarm when you retire</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/04/why-everyone-should-share-their-life-story/"><em>Why everyone should share their life story</em></a></strong></span></p>

Retirement Life

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Why you need transition lenses

<p>If you’re looking to update your glasses, you might want to consider the technology of transition lenses: lenses that adjust to the indoor and outdoor lighting for you so you don’t have to worry about sunglasses.</p> <p>We spoke to Specsavers’ Ophthalmic Lens Product Manager, Silvia Zutavern, to find out everything you need to know about transition lenses before you make your purchase.</p> <p>So, how do they work? “[Transition lenses] darken automatically when exposed to sunlight, then fade back when you return indoors. The lenses darken with the presence of UV light. They are designed to darken to just the right level depending on the available light,” Zutavern says.</p> <p>When it comes to transition lenses, the technology has both its pros and cons. On the positive side, “One pair of glasses can fill the function of both clear prescription glasses and prescription sunglasses and they provide eyes with full UV protection in any state,” says Zutavern. Transition glasses are also a great option for people of all ages, including the grandkids. “They offer convenience as you don't need to carry a pair of prescription sunglasses with you everywhere you go. They are also great and quite practical for children as they do not have to worry about a second pair that could be lost, and they will always have their eyes protected from UV rays.”</p> <p>However, transition lenses might not be the best option for those who seek to wear them while driving. “The lenses need UV light to activate, so the lenses tend not to react as quickly inside a car as they do in normal conditions. This is because the windscreen blocks the UV light needed to help the lens react. At night or in poor visibility, you must not wear tinted glasses when driving,” Zutavern explains.</p> <p>“If one of the intended use of the glasses is for driving, then a second pair in the form of sunglasses is recommended.”</p>

Eye Care

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From parent to grandparent. Have you mastered the transition?

<p>Becoming a grandparent is a new and exciting transition in many over-60 lives. It brings joy and happiness but it can also come with challenges. One of the most common challenges is a difference of opinion between grandparents and parents over the grandchildren. Disagreements between the generations is a natural part of life (just think back to when your child was in their teens!) but if not properly resolved, it can cause tension and strains in relationships. Nobody wants that: grandparents need their children and grandkids just like parents need their parents. Here are some helpful tips to avoid common grandparent pitfalls to ensure there is a deep and loving bond throughout the many generations.</p><p><strong>Be careful giving advice</strong></p><p>It may be tempting to shower your child with parenting advice and tips - after all, you’ve been there before - but remember, advice is rarely welcomed when not asked for, especially on a sensitive topic like parenting. Unsolicited advice often comes across like criticism especially when offered by your parents. You may have the best intentions at heart but it’s not the best way to be heard: the more you tell your child what to do, the less likely they’ll ask for your opinion. Respect your child’s parenting and they will be more likely to ask for advice and help. When they do ask, remember to be gentle, loving and supporting, not critical or judgmental. Parenting is difficult and will only be harder for your child if they feel like somebody is judging their every decision.</p><p><strong>Follow their rules&nbsp; </strong></p><p>You might be used to being in charge but now your child is the "boss". Be helpful and supportive, not intrusive or interfering. Respect the rules and boundaries your child has set in place for your grandchildren whether it’s what they’re fed, disciplinary actions or safety issues. You may not agree but you have to go along with their wishes.</p><p><strong>Trust your children&nbsp;</strong></p><p>This one is the most important and the most forgotten. Trust your children to parent your grandkids! You did a great job parenting so trust them to do the same. They are the parents now and in charge of the childrearing so let your child work out what’s right for them and their children. It will take time, they might make mistakes and you might see it all coming, but it’s all part of the parenting experience. Everyone parents differently and just because it’s not how you would do things, doesn’t mean it is wrong or bad. Also keep in mind parenting is different to when you raised your children so what worked for you might not work now. You should be enjoying not being a parent anymore, you’re a grandparent! Relish the role of less responsibility and concentrate on spoiling and loving your grandchildren!</p><p><strong>Stay neutral</strong></p><p>Never side with one parent over the other. Your child may complain about their partner and you might agree but keep opinions to yourself. Parenting is tough and sometimes your child might just need to blow off some steam.</p><p>Don’t come between your grandchildren and the parents either. Your grandchildren will probably complain about their parents (who hasn’t?) but whether you agree if they’re being too strict or not, it’s not up to you to say. Respond with empathy to your grandkid, but always support the parent’s decision especially in front of the grandkids.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Don't stop being a parent</strong></p><p>Of course, you love them both but sometimes with the arrival of new little grandchildren, we forget that parents need attention too! You parented them all through their child and now as a parent, they need your help and support more than ever! Continuing the supportive and respectful relationship between the generations will help to ensure a beautiful bond between grandparent-parent-grandchild.&nbsp;</p>

Family & Pets

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Tips to make the transition to daylight savings a smooth one

<p>With clocks set to turn forward one hour this Sunday, you might be dreading losing that precious one hour of sleep. With these tips from Professor Greg Murray, of the Swinburne University of Technology’s Department of Psychological Sciences, you won’t even notice the hour lost, letting you get the most out of the sunnier days to come.</p> <p><strong>1. Begin your transition in the days before the 1-hour change</strong></p> <p>·        Progressively delay clocks by 15 minutes</p> <p>·        Avoid coffee after midday</p> <p>·        Avoid alcohol in the evening</p> <p><strong>2. Plan for being tired for the days after the change</strong></p> <p>·        Think through leaving for work/school and your commute – avoid rushing</p> <p>·        If sleep deprivation leaves you irritable, be cautious with friends and workmates</p> <p><strong>3. Adjust your body clock</strong></p> <p>·        We can help our body clock synchronise with the new clock time by getting light exposure early in the day, and avoiding bright light in the evening</p> <p><strong>4. Take advantage of increased daylight hour</strong></p> <p>·        More daylight in the evenings is an opportunity to increase socialising and exercise, two of the main drivers of wellbeing</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/health/wellbeing/2015/09/what-body-does-while-you-sleep/">8 interesting things that happen to your body while you sleep</a></span></em></strong></p> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/health/wellbeing/2015/08/start-exercising-when-youre-older/">Start exercising at any age</a></span></em></strong></p> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/health/wellbeing/2015/07/pilates-keeps-you-young/">5 ways pilates can keep you young</a></span></em></strong></p>

News

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How to make the financial transition to retirement easier

<p>Setting up a transition to retirement can be very rewarding. If done the right way it may also improve your financial outlook.</p> <p>It can provide benefits, such as:</p> <ul> <li>A flexible means to move gradually from work into retirement</li> <li>A reduced salary from less working hours can be supplemented with income from your super. You can also increase your salary sacrifice contributions at the same time</li> <li>Boost your retirement benefit by taking advantage of low tax applied to superannuation investments.</li> </ul> <p>The idea that you can draw an income from your super, while still salary sacrificing more pre-tax income within the contributions cap (up to $35,000) is very appealing. If a substantial part of your income is taxed a marginal income tax rate of more than 15 per cent this can reduce the overall tax you pay – and all while boosting your retirement savings.</p> <p>However, if you are thinking about a transition to retirement pension (TRP), you should always seek professional financial advice.</p> <p>A TRP is one of the two accounts you will need to begin, at minimum. The other account is an accumulation account. This usually means keeping open the super account so you can continue to pay contributions.</p> <p>Since there’s a delicate relationship between the TRP, salary sacrifice and your personal tax arrangements, it’s a wise idea to have an outsider expert review before you head down this road.</p> <p>They will also be able to help you identify whether salary sacrificing will affect other benefits, and if it will help you achieve tax savings according to your personal financial situation.</p> <p>You should also check that your employer allows you to salary sacrifice, and be prepared to commit to how much you want to contribute. The earlier you start with salary sacrifice, the greater the potential benefits in the long run. But professional advice will help you decide whether it’s a good idea for you in conjunction with a TRP or if there’s a more effective solution for your needs.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/finance/retirement-income/2015/01/great-books-on-retirement/">Six retirement books everyone should read</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/finance/retirement-income/2014/12/superannuation-review/">A guide to reviewing your super</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/finance/retirement-income/2014/11/what-should-i-do-with-my-superannuation/">What should I do with my superannuation?</a></strong></em></span></p>

Retirement Income

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Why you need to know about the transition to retirement strategy

<p>If you’re still in the workforce and wanting to plan for your future, the transition to retirement strategy could be worth a look. Here’s how it can help provide a comfortable retirement.</p><p>There are a number of pension strategies which allow those with an eye on the retirement horizon and those who are already retired to take advantage of the superannuation structure.</p><p>One of these strategies is the transition to retirement strategy, which can be a good way to increase your super balance as you near retirement without affecting your after-tax income. The strategy would allow a person over 60 to access a tax-free income stream from super, while at the same time continuing to make further contributions.</p><p>With retirement changing, more people are looking to take a gradual step into retirement by reducing their work hours. The benefit of this and utilising the transition to retirement strategy is that you can effectively draw on your super to provide an extra income stream from your take-home pay while still being able to contribute to it.</p><p>A properly executed transition to retirement strategy could add thousands of dollars to a standard retirement income, while at the same time ensuring your super balance continues to grow.</p><p><strong>Setting up a transition to retirement pension</strong><br>A transition to retirement pension can provide a tax-effective income to replace your salary if you plan on scaling back your work hours.</p><p>Introduced by the Howard government, a transition to retirement pension was designed to allow individuals to reduce their working hours and transition into retirement, while at the same time having access to some of their super to compensate for the reduced employment income. However, there is no rule that states you must reduce your income to use a transition to retirement pension and as such, a number of strategies have been developed.</p><p>If you’d like to keep working full-time, you can still utilise this pension by sacrificing some of your pre-tax salary into your super fund and use the income from the transition to retirement pension to compensate for your reduced salary. This could help you build a bigger retirement nest egg without reducing your current income.</p><p><strong>What are the benefits?</strong><br>Chris Cornish, principal financial adviser with Perth-based <a href="http://www.avantfinancial.com.au/" target="_blank">Avant Financial Services</a>, says there are two main benefits to a transition to retirement pension.</p><p>“The first is that your superannuation moves from accumulation phase, where earnings are taxed up to 15 per cent, to pension phase where there is a zero per cent tax rate. Obviously the bigger your superannuation balance the bigger the benefit,” he explains.</p><p>“The second benefit is that a TTR allows salary sacrifice to be increased and the ‘lost’ income can be partly or fully replaced by the pension payments. The salary sacrifice will be taxed at 15 per cent as opposed to their marginal tax rate and the higher the income, the bigger the benefit.”</p><p><strong>When can I access this?</strong><br>You can access a transition to retirement pension when you reach preservation age, which is currently 55. Between ages 55 and 60 pension payments are taxed differently and the main benefits are experienced when you’re over 60.</p><p><strong>What else do I need to know?</strong><br>Mr Cornish says there are a few important considerations to keep in mind when looking to set up a transition to retirement pension.</p><p>“A minimum level of income must be made from the transition to retirement pension, and for those under 65 this is four per cent. The maximum payment is 10 per cent and no lump sum withdrawals can be made,” he says. This means that if you’re a high income earner and don’t require the pension payments, you still need to take them. However, you can simply contribute them back into super as a non-concessional contribution.</p><p>Another thing to keep in mind is that you don’t want to salary sacrifice if you’re earning below $18,201. Below this, the marginal tax rate is zero per cent so you don’t want to needlessly incur a 15 per cent tax from salary sacrificing into super. Also don’t exceed the concessional contributions caps!</p><p>When it comes to salary sacrifice, there are a few other things to be aware of, such as employers don’t need to offer employees the ability to salary sacrifice, employers can pay their nine per cent super guarantee contributions on your lower income, employers can use your lower income while calculating holiday pay, sick leave and long service leave, and employers can charge an administration fee.</p><p>Figuring all of this stuff out can get fairly complicated, so if in doubt or if you’d like clarification on anything, or advice, seek qualified financial advice services. When it comes to setting yourself up before and during retirement, you want to be in the best position. A financial adviser can help you do that.</p>

Retirement Income

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