When it comes to retirement, every person in the world aspires to be able to live a pleasant lifestyle, one which conforms to their interests and which gives them the possibility of fulfilling dreams that were put on the backburner long before. For some people the ideal retirement lifestyle entails a tranquil existence far from the madding crowd; for others it entails a fairly active existence caught up in the middle of all the excitement that they missed out on over the years; and for others still it simply involves leading more or less the same lifestyle as before yet without a boss or an office to go into every day.

Whatever it is that you have in mind, in order to actually achieve these goals for yourself and (for most retirees) for your spouse it is necessary to engage in a good deal of retirement planning. As happens with all major goals we hold up for ourselves, it’s just not possible to achieve them with nothing more than the help of luck; rather, deliberate and smart planning will need to come into the picture.

The vast majority of your planning for retirement will surely take place during the months and years directly before you actually reach that fateful moment; nonetheless, those folks that really make the most of their retirement years are the people that started planning earliest, setting aside sums of money well in advance, in a few rare cases even as soon as their late ’20s or early ’30s.

Given the fact that most people entered into retirement have a set and unchangeable level of income, the majority of retirees end up needing to make certain sacrifices compared to the lifestyle they led beforehand. We’re not suggesting that retirement be a time of depravity and self-abnegation, but simply getting at the fact that certain luxuries previously enjoyed won’t be sustainable any longer as a person’s income level drops slightly.

To prevent and/or to overcome the boredom and general remission which certain retirees feel, it is crucial that you lead as active a lifestyle as possible. Perhaps the most significant factor has to do with social events and connections, and you will want to do plenty of networking and tending to contacts before retiring to ensure that you have enough to do in this regard.

Similarly, travel is an excellent activity to be undertaken during retirement. Whereas previously a person may struggle to make the time and room for a leisure trip, after retirement it should be pretty simple to make all the necessary arrangements. To make arrangements simpler and cheaper, consider checking with your retiree association to see if they have any promotions or packages to offer for general travel.

This is a topic worth dwelling on: becoming a member of a retirees’ association can present many benefits. Not only are there special promotions for trips and other things as mentioned above, but furthermore there are discounts on medications and other common expenses incurred by retirees.

Ultimately, leading a fulfilling lifestyle during retirement has a lot to do with resisting falling into a routine. This is the time when, with enough foresight and planning earlier hopefully, you should be achieving the dreams that eluded you up till now.

Gnifrus Urquart recommends Self Managed Superannuation when discussing retirement planning. It undoubtedly is the best vehicle for ensuring a decent superannuation pension post career.

A classic car is a sizeable investment. You need to protect that investment by making sure the car is properly insured. The coverage you need will depend on how you use the car.

There are three types of classic car coverage. The most common coverage is for actual cash, or bluebook, value. In the event of a loss, this kind of coverage pays out the purchase price of the car less depreciation. State value, on the other hand, allows the owner to declare a value for the car that is greater than the book value. And agreed value ensures that the owners of classic vehicles will get all their money value even if the car is a total loss.

These types of insurance are offered through a standard insurance provider. The owner of a classic car should also consider a classic car insurance policy. These policies can be cheaper and less restrictive than a standard car insurance policy. Some classic car insurance policies require the driver to be 25 years or older. Some programs even require the driver be at least 30 years old. Classic car insurance programs could also limit the amount of driving you do to 2,500 miles or less a year. Annual odometer readings could also be required. The insurance provider will give you specific information on what requirements need to be met in order to insure your classic car.

Whether you choose a standard car insurance policy or a classic car insurance policy, make sure you find an insurance policy with flexible usage guidelines. You want to make sure the car insurance policy is flexible enough to meet your needs while providing adequate coverage to protect your investment. Many insurance providers offer mileage programs for classic cars, which tend to be driven less than other vehicles. Some programs will allow the driver to drop down their premium if they only drive the classic car a certain number of months a year. This is an option to consider if you keep the classic car in storage for part of the year.

When it’s time to choose a car insurance provider, do your research. Make sure you find a car insurance provider with the knowledge and experience in insuring classic cars. You want to make sure your car insurance provider knows how to properly protect your classic car investment without taking advantage of you. Research both standard insurance providers and classic car insurance providers. Shop around and get more than one insurance quote. Compare quotes and see which provider offers you the best deal. Just make sure the policy offered meets your needs. You don’t want to accept an insurance provider’s offer because the price can’t be beat, only to discover later that the insurance coverage is not what you need for your classic car and driving situation.

Whichever kind of policy works best for you, be sure you use a licensed and experienced insurance agent. Licensed agents can look at your situation and offer you the exact coverage you need to enjoy your classic car worry-free.

Tom Martens is the content syndication coordinator for Carinsurancesa.co.za. South Arica?s leading car insurance portal.