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We also asked them whether they were worried about having enough super when they retire.
WORDS KERYN DONNELLY PHOTOGRAPHY ISTOCK
Talking about money is one of the last remaining taboos. We often don’t feel comfortable disclosing our salaries or having difficult conversations about savings, debt and superannuation.
But we need to start having these conversations, especially as women. Currently, one in three Australian women retire without any superannuation. And because we make less than our male counterparts, we have to work harder to make the most of every dollar we earn.
So, to get the conversation started, we asked our Graziher readers to open up about their superannuation. We asked them to tell us exactly how much is sitting in their superannuation accounts right now, whether they’ve ever made any extra contributions to their super, whether they think they will have enough super when they retire, and if super is something that worry about in the current life stage.
This is what they told us.
Age: 44
Occupation: Agronomist
How much do you currently have sitting in super? I have $161,000 in one account and almost $200,000 in a defined benefit scheme which I can’t roll into the other one.
Have you ever added extra contributions to your super? Yes.
Do you think you’ll have enough super when you retire? I hope so but I worry that I won’t.
Is superannuation something you worry about now? Yes, I worry about not having enough for retirement. I don’t have kids, so I will need be 100 per cent responsible for my own needs in old age.
Age: 37
Occupation: Farmer and Allied Health Assistant
How much do you currently have sitting in super? $15,000
Have you ever added extra contributions to your super? No.
Do you think you’ll have enough super when you retire? The farm is my super too!
Is superannuation something you worry about now? Yes.
Age: 39
Occupation: Doctor
How much do you currently have sitting in super? 230,000
Have you ever added extra contributions to your super? No
Do you think you’ll have enough super when you retire? No
Is superannuation something you worry about now? Yes
Age: 39
Occupation: Accountant
How much do you currently have sitting in super? 343,000
Have you ever added extra contributions to your super? Yes.
Do you think you’ll have enough super when you retire? No.
Is superannuation something you worry about now? Yes.
Age: 33
Occupation: Winery Assistant
How much do you currently have sitting in super? $66, 867
Have you ever added extra contributions to your super? No.
Do you think you’ll have enough super when you retire? No.
Is superannuation something you worry about now? Yes.
Age: 35
Occupation: Receptionist
How much do you currently have sitting in super? $117, 118
Have you ever added extra contributions to your super? No.
Do you think you’ll have enough super when you retire? I hope so, I’m not really sure..
Is superannuation something you worry about now? Not really – until I check it and then I freak out a little bit!
Age: 42
Occupation: Communications
How much do you currently have sitting in super? $220,000
Have you ever added extra contributions to your super? Yes.
Do you think you’ll have enough super when you retire? No.
Is superannuation something you worry about now? Sometimes.
Age: 39
Occupation: Mum/Bookkeeper
How much do you currently have sitting in super? $130,000
Have you ever added extra contributions to your super? Yes.
Do you think you’ll have enough super when you retire? I don’t know.
Is superannuation something you worry about now? Yes, because now I live rurally, I work a lot less as I’m doing the unpaid jobs like child rearing and getting the kids where they need to be.
Age: 55
Occupation: Teacher
How much do you currently have sitting in super? $428, 754
Have you ever added extra contributions to your super? Yes.
Do you think you’ll have enough super when you retire? Not sure.
Is superannuation something you worry about now? Yes.
Age: 39
Occupation: Project Officer
How much do you currently have sitting in super? $92,000
Have you ever added extra contributions to your super? Yes, I make an extra contribution each fortnight.
Do you think you’ll have enough super when you retire? No.
Is superannuation something you worry about now? Yes, I think so more now as the cost of living is sky rocketing and it’ll only get worse over next 20 years.
Age: 39
Occupation: Senior Manager
How much do you currently have sitting in super? 483,000
Have you ever added extra contributions to your super? Yes.
Do you think you’ll have enough super when you retire? Maybe.
Is superannuation something you worry about now? Yes.
Age: 32
Occupation: Marketing Manager
How much do you currently have sitting in super? $94, 162
Have you ever added extra contributions to your super? I’ve never added extra to my super! At this stage of life, I’m thinking those funds are best kept in my savings/everyday bank accounts, and for things like my mortgage.
Do you think you’ll have enough super when you retire? Yes, I think there’ll be enough. I also hope to have other assets to supplement my retirement like property – I currently own one property.
Is superannuation something you worry about now? No
Age: 35
Occupation: Primary School Teacher
How much do you currently have sitting in super? $165,000
Have you ever added extra contributions to your super? Yes – I’ve made a 3% extra contribution each fortnight for the past five years.
Do you think you’ll have enough super when you retire? Yes.
Is superannuation something you worry about now? No.
Age: 30
Occupation: Marketing
How much do you currently have sitting in super? $30,000
Have you ever added extra contributions to your super? No.
Do you think you’ll have enough super when you retire? No.
Is superannuation something you worry about now? Yes and no. Like superannuation is in place, but with cost of living, home prices etc, I often think of how I’m going to need it in the next five years, not when I’m retired.
Age: 25
Occupation: Sales Support Officer
How much do you currently have sitting in super? $33,000
Have you ever added extra contributions to your super? No.
Do you think you’ll have enough super when you retire? No.
Is superannuation something you worry about now? Yes , I’m currently on maternity leave and Centrelink doesn’t contribute to super. When we were contracting, we barely contributed to super – the joys of not having a good accountant early!
Age: 21
Occupation: Medical Receptionist
How much do you currently have sitting in super? $9,500
Have you ever added extra contributions to your super? Yes.
Do you think you’ll have enough super when you retire? Yes.
Is superannuation something you worry about now? Yes.
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To hear more extraordinary stories about women living in rural and regional Australia, listen to our podcast Life on the Land on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major podcast platforms.
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