Lifestyle
Still working while your partner is retired? You’ll love Corinne’s smart, honest take on life together
Corinne shares her practical approach to life, love, money and making it all work – especially when your partner's retired and you're still working.
By Bron Maxabella
Corinne Frenken (58) is Citro’s Managing Director Ash Frenken’s mum and it was such a delightful day when she joined us in the office as one of our Chief Customer Officers (CCOs). Not only because Corinne happily spilled the tea on what Ash was like as a kid, but also because we quickly realised that it’s a wise, thoughtful and smart woman who raises a successful person like her son.
Corinne’s warmth and pragmatism shine through in the way she talks about home, family and finances. She’s someone who believes in being prepared, but also rolling with life’s curveballs – something that became especially clear during a recent 5-week adventure through South America with her husband Harry Frenken (69) and Ash. From mastering Google Translate to navigating international money mishaps with humour and grace, Corinne proved she’s both the planner and the steady hand behind the scenes.
“I’m the researcher and the planner,” she says. “I like to know that the accommodation is sorted, that the flights are in order, that we’ve got the travel insurance. Harry’s a bit more relaxed—he’s like, ‘It’ll be right!’”
No surprise then that when Harry retired from corporate work, life didn’t suddenly switch into quiet mornings and long lunches together. “Harry’s retired now, he has been for a couple of years, but I’m still working,” Corinne says. She loves her casual role in disability support, but she can sometimes have her head turned by Harry’s new lifestyle. “Sometimes I’ll be like, ‘Oh, I’ve got this meeting,’ and he’ll say, ‘Oh, I’ve got lunch with the boys.’”
While their schedules might differ, it’s something they’ve learned to navigate with mutual respect and good humour. “He’s good at giving me space when I’m working. And I just try to be clear about what I need.”
For his part, Harry is still working out what retirement looks like, after years of working around the clock. but it works because they’ve found their rhythm. “It’s about recognising that we’re in different phases, and that’s okay.” It’s a classic example of how midlife isn’t one-size-fits-all – and that love and logistics can happily coexist.
Advice for navigating different retirement timelines
When one partner retires and the other is still working, there’s potential for friction, but also opportunity. Corinne shares a few ways she and Harry make it work:
- Communicate your needs and expectations – “You’ve got to make sure you’re still giving each other room to move. We’ve got a small house, so if I’m working from home and he’s wandering around, it can get a bit much – but we manage.” It’s about giving each other space, whether that’s for quiet time, social time or time together.
- Understand that there is compromise on both sides – Corinne also acknowledges that while retirement is an exciting end-goal, it’s also the beginning of a whole new chapter. One that can be emotional to navigate and requires consideration and support from the still-working partner, she says.
- Respect each other’s rhythms – You don’t need to force a shared routine, as Corinne discovered when Harry’s decades of early commuting hours suddenly morphed into leisurely retiree hours. “We’re in different routines now. Harry might have a slow start to his morning, while I’m already at my desk. We’ve learned to respect those differences.”
- Divide tasks thoughtfully – It’s not about sticking with traditional roles or even dividing the work at home evenly. Instead, Corinne emphasises that couples need to play to each other's strengths to find the balance that works for you. That may look completely different to what ‘society’ or ‘everyone else’ thinks is fair, and that’s perfectly okay.
Making a home that works for now (and later)
Corinne takes great pride in her home, both the ‘dream family home’ Harry built for the family and the new ‘dream downsizer’ the couple recently completed. The move meant the couple became mortgage-free, a privilege Corinne is grateful for. It also meant they could customise the home for ‘chapter 3’ of their life together – including rails in large showers, wider doors and no stairs. “ I work in disability and I now know that if you want to stay in your home long term you may as well think and plan for that period of your life,” she says.
She takes a practical approach to creating a space that’s comforting and functional. “It’s not about perfection,” she says. “It’s about making life easier for yourself in small, thoughtful ways.”
That means organising things so they’re easy to access, making space for downtime and finding joy in the everyday – like cooking a favourite meal, playing music, or simply enjoying the garden or pool. “Our home reflects us, it’s not staged or shiny, but it’s warm and lived-in. That matters more.”
Corinne’s no-nonsense finance tips for real life
Corinne approaches money the same way she approaches life – with calm, clarity, and just the right dose of flexibility. “I’ve always been a planner,” she says. “It gives me peace of mind to know where things are going, especially when it comes to finances.” While she’s not the type to obsess over spreadsheets, she believes in being informed, realistic and proactive.
Here are a few of Corinne’s smart money habits worth stealing:
- Don’t leave it all to chance – “You don’t need to know everything about the share market, but you should know what’s coming in, what’s going out, and where your money’s sitting,” she says. Don’t bury your head in the sand about what’s coming up, instead educate yourself and plan ahead.
More on this: Willfully avoiding retirement planning? You’re not alone
- Know your expenses – “You've got to look at your super and your pension and so forth, but your expenses are what you can really control. You've got to know what you need so you know how much you can afford to spend.” Corinne also believes in keeping an eye on your everyday costs, citing solar panels as a great way to keep a lid on energy expenses and reviewing things like utilities and insurances every time they come up for renewal. “Harry's been wonderful, he's changed our electricity supplier numerous times to our benefit – and why not, if you can do it just do it,” she urges.
- Plan for treats and surprises – Travel is important to Corinne and Harry, so they adequately plan for it. They also know that unexpected expenses are going to pop up with alarming regularity, making them less ‘unexpected’ than you’d think – so factor ‘surprises’ into your monthly budget planning.
- Think long-term, but stay flexible – While she’s a pragmatic planner, Corinne is also a realist: “You can plan as much as you like, but life throws curveballs. Have your foundations sorted, then adapt as you go.” Staying flexible and adaptable is key here – as is relying on your experience in navigating life’s many twists and turns. “You don’t need to be wealthy to feel secure. You just need to be conscious of what matters,” she advises. “Make a plan that fits your life, and stick to it. And if things change, that’s okay – you adjust.”
- Have regular money chats as a couple – Being on the same page as a couple is important to Corinne and Harry. It’s the way they’ve always lived their life and they don’t plan to change their winning strategy now. “Harry and I talk about our finances often. Not in a formal ‘meeting’ way, but casually, checking in on what we’re saving for or what we might need to adjust.”
A life built on love, laughter and shared experiences
Above all, it’s clear that Corinne and Harry thrive on a deep, respectful partnership. Their recent travels highlighted not just their differences but their strength as a team. “It was about seeing the world through our son’s eyes, creating new memories, and embracing the messy, wonderful adventure of it all,” Corinne says. And while one half of this couple may still be working while the other is happily retired, they’re both deeply present in the life they’re building together – one practical step, open-hearted conversation, and well-planned itinerary at a time.
Fast-faves
We asked Corinne our rapid-fire fast-fave questions to find out his favourite:
Person: John Farnham
Destination: Anywhere tropical
Food: Anything I cook
Movie: The Notebook
Book: I'm currently reading The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté
Life advice: Don't take yourself too seriously
Money tip: Know your expenses
Find out more about Citro’s CCO program:
Feature image: Corinne Frenken
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