Nature at its best
01 Jun
Living Gems

Nature at its best – Travellers seeking out eco-friendly destinations

This type of tourism encourages domestic and foreign travel that preserves the integrity of a natural environment and positively impacts the area’s local people.According to the International Ecotourism Society, ecotourists should be guided by the following principles:Minimise social, behavioural, and psychological impact Focus on environmental and cultural awareness Contribute to conservation, either physically or financially Respect and empower locals to ensure that your presence has a positive impactIn Queensland, ecotourism is a huge part of the $23 billion tourism industry and the guiding principles and best practices of ecotourism aim to ensure that visitors, locals, and the environment can all benefit from a sustainable tourism industry.Best practise guidelines ensure key considerations are habitat preservation, waste management and clean-up, species interaction and conservation, and protection of cultural heritage.Among the biggest benefits of ecotourism is that it supports the maintenance and improvement of the areas used as tourist attractions.Being a sustainable traveller helps us to keep exploring the eight million square...
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Resort round up June
01 Jun
Living Gems

Resort Round-up

Another month over and our Living Gems communities have been at it again with lots of fun activities, roadtrips, King’s Coronation celebrations and fundraising events for Cancer Council Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea.Firstly, congratulations to all new Living Gems Toowoomba residents who celebrated their settlements last month. Little Jack, Toowoomba’s newest furry resident, who moved in with mum and dad Peter and Carolyn, is very excited about the new off-leash area and can’t wait to hit the green.Opal residents partied in style to celebrate the King’s Coronation with a high tea, and it was hard to be unimpressed by the authentic Royal Albert Moonlight Roses tea set – a truly beautiful British collection fit for a King. In other resort news, 205 scones were baked by residents for their May Market Day and sold out to Amber and Opal residents within the first hour. Well done, Opal!Ruby put on some great gigs including a White Cocktail Gala where residents had the...
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Roasted Thai Pumpkin Soup
01 Jun
Living Gems

Roasted Thai Pumpkin Soup

Warm up with a hearty and healthy soupSoups are a hearty and healthy meal. This Thai-inspired roast pumpkin soup is also packed with nutrition.To develop better Thai flavours in your base stock, add a knob of ginger, kaffir lime leaves and lemon grass to your vegetable stock and simmer to infuse deeper flavours. Feel free to add extra ingredients if you like. Ingredients (Makes 2 litres / Serves 4)Whole pumpkin about 1kg 2 tbsp of coconut oil or olive oil 1 onion, chopped 3 cloves of garlic, minced 1 tbsp of ginger, grated 4 kaffir lime leaves 400ml of coconut milk or cream 3 cups of vegetable stock 1 tbsp of red curry paste or to taste Salt and pepper to taste 1 lime, peeled and juiced 2 stems coriander leaves and root MethodPre-heat oven to 180-degrees C. For the best flavours, roast the pumpkin whole with the ingredients inside to get a lovely roasted but infused flavour through the flesh. To do this, cut the top of the pumpkin around...
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Waste no want not
01 Jun
Living Gems

Waste not want not

11 tips for growing vegetables from kitchen scrapsAccording to the National Food Waste Strategy Feasibility Study, Australia wastes 7.6 million tonnes of food each year, with 70 percent of edible food wasted.This contributes approximately three percent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions and 25 percent of water used - a wasted equivalent to five times the size of Sydney harbour.You may not already know, but certain fruit and vegetable scraps regrow and can provide your kitchen with fresh produce, saving you money while helping achieveAustralia’s sustainability goals. Next time you purchase plant produce, don’t throw the scraps away, use these fun and simple vegetable-growing hacks. Avocados Save your avocado seed and place three toothpicks in a pyramid sequence into top half of seed. Submerge bottom of seed into glass of water, using toothpicks for balance. Change water weekly, ensuring pointy side of seed is facing upwards. Sprouts and roots will appear in approximately six weeks. Transplant into garden once two to three leaves...
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Tips in nature's favour
01 Jun
Living Gems

12 eco hacks for the home

Tips in nature’s favourThe 21st Century has introduced an environmentally friendly attitude towards living. Becoming more sustainable has never been simpler, so now is the time to upskill your knowledge on what to do to help the planet and start living a healthier and eco-friendlier life.Once you decide you want to live more sustainably, just stick to the three Ps: plan, prepare and preserve. Here’s 12 eco home hacks to get you started. 1. DIY natural beauty productsResearch DIY chemical-free beauty products and make your own. Not only will you save money you will be using natural ingredients that are healthier for your body.Bodywash recipe: Mix 90ml each of coconut oil, honey and castile soap together. 2. Dry clothes in sunDryers use between 1800-5000 kWh of energy per cycle. Hang washing outside and let nature do its job. 3. Plan weekly mealsPlan meals to decrease your weekly food wastage. You are less likely to overbuy and waste food this way. Consider batch meal...
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17 May
Living Gems

5 Reasons to Choose a Lifestyle Village Over a Retirement Village

 It's a question we come across all the time: retirement villages vs. lifestyle villages - what's the difference? The truth is, there's a lot.So why would you choose an over-50s lifestyle village like Living Gems over a traditional retirement living option?Let's dive in. 5 Reasons to Choose a Lifestyle Resort Over a Retirement Village?  You're bound to have a long list of questions before you choose a retirement village option - where do you want to live? what's the atmosphere like? Is it going to suit your lifestyle? So we'll get right to the point.Our list isn’t exhaustive – there are bound to be more reasons than the ones listed here. But they are choices personal to you such as location – being close to family, friends, and other important connections. Here are 5 reasons why a lifestyle village may be the right choice for you: 1. Lifestyle Resorts Cater for Active, Independent Australians  Over-50s lifestyle resorts like Living Gems communities are designed for...
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Understand the real cost of retirement villages
16 May
Living Gems

12 Hidden Costs of a Retirement Village

Australia’s aging population has spawned a boom of development catering for people over 50.According to a 2021 Property Council of Australia Survey, retirement village occupancy has risen 3 percent to 90 percent, and 42 percent of all retirement villages are in Queensland.So, before you decide on your retirement options, we reveal 12 hidden retirement village costs that you need to consider before you buy and before you sell. 12 Hidden Costs of Retirement Villages You Need to Consider 'Rightsizing’ to a new home after the age of 50 should be a simple proposition – sell your family home and then buy into a retirement village with the proceeds of the sale of your home funding your future lifestyle.Unfortunately, it’s a lot more complicated than that. 1. Entry Fees  One common type of entry fee is the ‘ingoing contribution’ or ‘entry contribution’, which is a lump sum payment made by the resident at the beginning of their occupancy in the retirement village. Depending on the...
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Look at the simply lifechanging Living Gems
16 May
Living Gems

20 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Retirement Village

A Checklist for Choosing a Retirement Village  Choosing a retirement village can be a complex, puzzling process, and having the right information can help simplify the process. Here's a checklist of the 20 questions to ask so you can confidently pick the right retirement living option to suit your lifestyle. Location and Lifestyle When choosing a retirement village, it's important that it's centralised to the things that are important to you.1. Is the retirement village close to my family and friends?2. Is my new home close to local shops and services?3. Do I like being close to nature - mountains, water, or another view?4. What are the public transport options nearby?What Locations Do Living Gems Offer? Whether you’re looking for easy M1 access for trips to Brisbane, or prefer a relaxed semi-rural, country lifestyle, our resorts have been specifically chosen in charming locations across Queensland. Close to local amenities and with great transport links to major cities, our resorts are situated in some of...
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We look at why retirement villages charge deferred management fees and why Living Gems don't.
16 May
Articles, Living Gems

Why Retirement Villages Charge Deferred Management Fees (& Why We Don’t)

Selling your home is stressful enough, but when you’re hit with extra hidden and deferred management fees to deal with, it can quickly turn into a financial mess and take a hit on your retirement savings. Protecting your finances is crucial when you sign a contract, so it’s important to understand what you’re getting into before you decide on a retirement village. Here, we’ll break down what deferred management fees are, why retirement villages charge them and why alternative retirement living options like land lease communities don’t.  What Are Deferred Management Fees?  Deferred management fees (DMF) are exit charges that are imposed on a seller when leaving a retirement village. Charged annually but usually deferred until exit, it is typically calculated as a percentage of your original purchase price or resale value and capped around 25-35% after three years. Ensure you read the contract and terms and conditions clearly when you’re looking at retirement villages. Why Do Retirement Villages Charge Deferred Management Fees?  Retirement villages in Australia charge deferred management fees (DMFs) to cover the cost of managing and maintaining a village’s facilities and infrastructure. It also covers the cost of providing ongoing services...
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Are you aware of the exit fees you may be up against when you leave a retirement village?
16 May
Living Gems

Exit Fees: What Happens When You Leave a Retirement Village?

Many people put a great deal of time and consideration into their new retirement home, but very few give consideration as to what happens when they should decide to leave.The reasons for leaving are many – perhaps the location wasn’t quite right, you’d like to move closer to family, or you need to move to somewhere that offers a higher level of medical care. Unfortunately, in more cases than not, exit fees in retirement villages are what tend to catch residents off guard.In this article, we look at:What happens when you decide to leave a retirement village Some of the hidden fees you might not have been expecting Retirement options without some of these feesWhat Happens if I Decide to Leave a Retirement Village? Moving house is a stressful time – especially if it is accompanied by ill health or other family considerations.Under those circumstances, thinking about the financial implications of your move might be the last thing on your...
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Frame that shot
01 May
Living Gems

Frame that shot

Living Gems has launched a 2023 photo competition to highlight some fabulous destinations, favourite local spots, macro shots, action photos, best pet shots and lots more from our homeowners. So, get your cameras and phones ready this year (or dig through your archives)!As a Living Gems resident, you can submit as many photos of your choice each month and be in the running to be selected as the month’s overall photo winner for the Living Gems community.Each month, one winning photo will be chosen from across all Living Gems resorts and featured on the back page of Thrive magazine and shared on the Living GemsFacebook Page, so get your exclusive bragging rights ready and share your masterpieces with us.Send your submissions, with your full name, resort name and where the photo was taken, to [email protected] Photo Winner Congratulations to this month’s winner, Robin Widdowson from Living Gems Toowoomba, for her stunning flower on the lake shot.Submission GuidelinesPhotos must be:Taken horizontally ...
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