Keep in mind, though, that when we're looking at taxes and benefits, the Government is actually us.
If the policy were changed so that every unemployed person received a benefit, regardless of his or her partner's income, where would that extra money come from? Higher taxes.
While I think that it's fairer to tax people as individuals rather than couples - although that is certainly debatable - it seems clear that benefits should be paid according to need. If that means our tax and welfare policies are inconsistent, so be it.
It allows most of us, except unemployed people with earning partners, to enjoy endless cake.
And many of those unemployed people don't really miss out either. They will be earners at other times in their lives, and while they are earning, they will pay lower taxes than they would if welfare was more generous.
Q: In last week's column, you asked readers how much they needed to live on in retirement.
You are correct when you say that everybody's circumstances are different and that their needs, desires and plans to achieve those will differ markedly.
I would consider us a Joe Average couple: I am 69, retired nine years, and my wife is 67 and most unlikely ever to retire.
We started in 1959 with a simple plan: she would stay home and be a housewife and mother, and I would provide the family finances. We are still on that plan.
A: Sadly, most people would put more time and energy into planning the financing, building and furnishing of a new house than they would into their retirement.
There are four conditions conducive to a good retirement: the condition of your health, your house, your car and your debt.
If you have arrived at retirement with no debt and everything else is in good condition, New Zealand Superannuation will allow for a reasonably comfortable retirement.
If you are savings-conscious and have wrapped your hotwater cylinder, use energy-saving lamps, walk to the shop, grow your own vegetables and make your own bread, then add in a couple of weeks in Australia or one of the Pacific Islands.
You can either look back and say, "Where did it all go?" or look forward and say, "This is what we are going to do." A world of difference.
I can't resist adding that it doesn't seem quite fair that you've retired but your wife hasn't. Give her a hand, mate.
NZ Super, before tax, is about $23,830 a year for a couple; $14,450 for a single living with others and $15,710 for a single living alone.
Q: I believe that common assumptions about the level of income required for a satisfactory retirement often miss some important points.
Living debt-free in your own home, with control over capital assets additional to those delivering your budgeted income level, is a different thing from being dependent on a fixed pension only, while paying rent or a mortgage.
We are not yet eligible for NZ Super. For the past four years, we have lived happily on an annual income of about $29,000.
This amount comes from small inflation-adjusted pensions of about $14,000 net and about $15,000 gross from part of our investments.
The pension income covers our basic living expenses. The investment income is used for car running costs, personal and optional household items, entertainment and holidays.
In our perception, our standard of living has not decreased since retirement. The (considerable) additional income we enjoyed then went on things no longer needed, with support for children at university being the main item, along with building up savings.
Lifelong habits of saving and budgeting and the enjoyment of no- and low-cost pursuits helps, but our indulgences nevertheless include expensive items such as opera, overseas magazine subscriptions and travel.
By maintaining carefully chosen priorities for regular discretionary spending, we are able to reserve a proportion of our capital assets for growth, and can call on capital for healthcare, car purchases and so on without compromising our chosen income.
The sense of control and ability to make choices that comes from managing our own savings enhances our sense of wellbeing.
PS. At risk of exceeding the word limit, may I add that we have found your columns to be extremely useful over the years in which we have actively managed our savings.
Our approach to investing, which has enabled us to retire well before qualifying for NZ Super, has followed your general precepts.
A: Feel free to exceed the limit if you're going to make such kind comments. Many thanks.
It's interesting that your income is not that much more than NZ Super.
Your message supports a survey done a while back that showed many retired people were reasonably happy living on what the Government gave them, or not much more.
Does that mean workers who expect to have mortgage-free homes by the time they retire should stop bothering to save?
Only if you're confident NZ Super will continue at present levels - and that's a pretty optimistic assumption - and you're prepared to live fairly frugally
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