For New Zealand’s growing number of retirees, the years after leaving work are meant to bring greater freedom: more time, fewer obligations, the chance to live at your own pace
But for many, there’s a quiet worry ticking away in the background: uncertainty around living costs.
Not just around everyday spending, but around the higher, unpredictable costs that seem to keep rising year after year: rates, insurance, maintenance, and repair bills.
When you’re living on a fixed income, that unpredictability can become stressful. One bill on its own might be manageable. But over time, rates, maintenance, repairs, insurance, and household upkeep can start to feel never-ending.
And as Murphy’s Law often proves, these costs rarely arrive one at a time; they tend to come all at once.
There’s comfort in knowing what to expect
Uncertainty can take a real toll on mental health, particularly when people feel they have little control over future costs.
That’s one of the reasons many residents at Fairview Lifestyle Villages say village living brings a real sense of relief.
While everyday expenses like groceries and power are still part of normal life, many of the larger ongoing household responsibilities are no longer something residents have to manage on their own.
No organising repairs. No chasing tradespeople. No worrying about unexpected maintenance costs or whether a job is being done properly.
If something needs attention, you ask for help.
For many residents, that peace of mind becomes one of the most valuable parts of village living.
Because while the cost of living affects everyone, living in an environment where some of the bigger bills are taken care of can make a real difference.
It’s not about avoiding costs altogether. It’s about removing some of the unknowns.
Being able to plan. Feeling confident that a surprise bill isn’t waiting around the corner.
It also changes how problems are dealt with when they arise. As another resident put it, “To be able to say to someone, fix this up for me, that’s such a relief, and it frees you up.”
There’s no searching for tradespeople, no waiting, no wondering what it might cost, if you’re being ripped off…it’s simply taken care of.
One resident explained it simply:
“You don’t have to worry about rates, water, maintenance… all those things keep going up, but your costs are clear. That’s a huge relief when you’re on a fixed income.”
That word, relief, comes up often.
And for many residents, that peace of mind becomes one of the most valuable parts of retirement.
Because while the cost of living affects everyone, the experience of it can feel very different depending on your environment. In a setting where many of the major expenses are predictable and where support is close at hand, the pressure can feel lighter.
If you’re weighing up the pros and cons of staying in the family home versus moving to a lifestyle village, Terry Middlemost, CEO of Settlers Lifestyle Village, explores the topic further in his New Zealand Herald opinion piece. It offers another perspective on the long-term costs, responsibilities, and lifestyle differences between the two options.
You’re also welcome to visit us, chat with residents, and hear about their lived experiences firsthand.
