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Financial Planning
Insights & Advice

Expert insights, practical strategies, and market updates to help you make informed financial decisions for your future.

What are the biggest expenses in retirement? Learn which costs retirees face most from housing and healthcare to travel and lifestyle and how to plan for them.

What Are the Biggest Expenses in Retirement? (2026 Guide)

What are the biggest expenses in retirement in Australia? For homeowner retirees, the four largest budget categories in 2026 are housing costs (even without a mortgage), healthcare and out-of-pocket medical, food and groceries, and utilities. For renters, housing jumps to the top by a wide margin. And through the whole retirement, retirees face higher effective inflation than the general population, because the categories they spend most on have risen fastest.

This guide breaks down where retirement money actually goes using ASFA’s December 2025 quarter budget data, how those costs shift through the different phases of retirement, and the specific expense patterns that catch most Australians off guard.

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Can I still work part-time and receive the Age Pension? Yes — learn how the Work Bonus, income test, and limits work so you can earn without losing benefits.

Can I Still Work Part-Time and Receive the Age Pension? (2026 Guide)

Yes, you can work part-time and still receive the Age Pension in Australia. Not only is it allowed, the government actively encourages it through the Work Bonus scheme. A single pensioner can earn up to $518 per fortnight in employment income before the pension starts reducing at all ($300 Work Bonus exemption plus $218 income free area). Above that, the pension reduces at 50 cents per dollar. Working part-time does not disqualify you from the pension. It simply affects how much you receive.

This guide covers exactly how the Work Bonus, income test, and Work Bonus bank all interact for pensioners who choose to keep working. All figures are current as at 20 March 2026 from Services Australia.

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