Not all Milk and Honey

Since coming here 7 years ago, we have seen our standard of living erode to a point whereby we hardly have one, I mean a good standard of living
This clip was taken from a report by a popular morning breakfast show
Much of the pain is caused by greed and little competition, In Uk and Eu there is such a high level of competition, that grocery prices are affordable, kept low
Here we have two big players who dominate and charge what they like
We are seriously considering a Move, what's it like for you in UK, Eu? Can USA, here gas is 5.98 an imperial gal(4.6 l. USA GAL 3.8L
For myself I have no house mortgage, but I struggle
this is the finding

David Koch
A staggering 98% of our Sunrise viewers are struggling to pay for basics like food, petrol and bills. The emails have been flooding in from all across the country with the same message; financial times are tough!

You may have seen our special edition of Sunrise this week on Australia's cash crisis. We wanted to make a stand against the Reserve Bank's fight against inflation, and highlight the pain many Australian's are suffering thanks to higher interest rates.

A staggering 98% of our Sunrise viewers are struggling to pay for basics like food, petrol and bills. The emails have been flooding in from all across the country with the same message; financial times are tough!

Thousands of Australians have shared their stories with us; some have given up their homes because they can't keep up the mortgage repayments, some are working three and four jobs just to make ends meet, some are preparing to walk away from their business, and others have had to give up their health insurance to pay the bills!

And it's little wonder; just look at the costs associated with buying a home, paying off a mortgage, taking out a rental property, buying your weekly groceries or filling up the car at the petrol bowser.

For example, in Brisbane the average house price is $425,000, an increase of 20% from the year before, and units cost an average of $322,000, up 11%. The average cost of unleaded fuel last month was $1.28 a litre, a jump of $0.12 from only six months ago.

In Sydney, the median house price is now hovering around $553,000, a rise of 5% over the past 12 months. Petrol prices have shot up by $0.15 a litre to $1.38 over the past six months, and the average cost of a basket of groceries now costs around $241, a rise of $4 since last year.

It's the same story in Melbourne where house values have soared by 25% over the past year, apartment prices are up by 6% and petrol is up by $0.15 per litre.

In Perth, it's a similar story with the average house price now around $509,000, a rise of 2% in the past year. Petrol has also risen by $0.13 per litre over the past six or so months.

Without going into every State and Territory, you get the picture; the cost of living is unmanageable for the majority of Australians.

So, what can you do about it?

While there's not a simple 'one-size fits all' solution to this cash crisis, there are some simple steps you can take now to save yourself some money.

1. Firstly set up a realistic budget, and stick to it;.
2. Buy less takeaway food and take your lunch to work;
3. Give up smoking;
4. Avoid using credit cards; and
5. Invest in your own skills so you can potentially earn more money.

[masalai]

Recognise ones fiscal limits and LIVE WITHIN THEM... Fcuk keeping up with the "Jones', be an indi(bloody)vidual and do your own thing.... You do not need a "prissey & manicured" front yard - plant some pumpkin seeds & other stuff that is almost self sustaining - for your own fresh vegies... - - - I do

Originally Posted by masalai

Recognise ones fiscal limits and LIVE WITHIN THEM... Fcuk keeping up with the "Jones', be an indi(bloody)vidual and do your own thing.... You do not need a "prissey & manicured" front yard - plant some pumpkin seeds & other stuff that is almost self sustaining - for your own fresh vegies... - - - I do

we grow pumkin, we cant grow others cos the bugs chew em, obviously you have not tried, I have not got my own car, I hate the bloody Jones mentality
come down here for coffee 7 roms crt
Eu has free uni, we dont, there is no public transport so kids have to have car, my kids are apprenticed, 5.60 hour, try live on that, NZ wage is over twice that
now be reasonable and say something constructive

[charmc]

LJ, I think Mas was throwing out stuff in general, describing what he does; not aimed at you.

You asked about the US. Regular grade petrol much like everyone else's; $.92 USD/liter=$3.40 US gallon. EU say it "costs more" there; actually it costs about the same, the govts just tax it much more, so the user price is more. Current prices are predicted to rise as the USD loses value vs others.

Housing may be a bargain in the next year or so. We're coming off a 2-5 year fastrack run up in RE prices, fueled in large part by phony cheap mortgages. Now the markets in many regions are collapsing; hard to sell because no one knows when prices will bottom out, so most buyers and lenders are reluctant to commit. I believe that particular aspect of the economic woes will stabilize in another year or two. There will be good buys for those who are ready.

No question we're in a recession, with inflation kicking in but no real economic growth (stagflation). The official statistics are bent, by official policy. Some years back the govt said that volatile energy and food price fluctuations were skewing the economic indicators; it was complicated to develop formulae to compensate for short term fluctuations ... so they "solved" the problem by redefining "cost of living" to not include food and energy. So we're facing huge price increases in food and fuel, but the govt says cost of living has gone up only a little.

[Knox]

gas 3.29 a gallon here

Oh Charm my lad, mesalai just came for coffee, here chez moi, he knows I was not getting into him
We know all abt the sub prime stuff, when your markets go down , ours retreat into the depths
, like sheep in a paddock, they all run one way, and then the other
Frinstance, I have WBC, (westpac bank) I had 75k in .It went to 100, the back to 60, all cos of your subprime, for apparently no reason, WBC is not at all exposed I left it there, was not at all tempted to sell, but then again I am not one of the flock, just a black sheep Baaaaaaaa!!

[tinhorn]

When you're in trouble, all you can do is increase revenues or decrease expenses. Just like a business. And sometimes you need to relocate.

Real estate is dropping like a rock in many areas of the US, but is holding steady in others. (My burg is a newly-popular retirement and winery hot spot, which is great because I have a couple of small houses to sell. I want to relocate to the east coast, to a region where real estate is plummeting.) Financing may be a problem, however. Me, I like owner financing on fixer-uppers.

I eat pretty cheap - lotsa grocery chains, and WalMart is, of course, the great equalizer. Not that I cook much, but there are several fast food outlets with dollar menus. I'm sure we'll see $4 gasoline by July 4, but if I wasn't so lazy I could walk or bike to 90% of my destinations.

When the **** hit the fan in the early 80s, I was too young and dumb to be paying any attention, so I started a business and took out an 18% mortgage. I survived. From the sound of things, we're going to be experiencing upheaval again. I'll be playing it much closer to my vest this time.

Frankly, I have no clue how these youngsters just starting out are able to make ends meet. And I have no idea what you're facing in Australia. You do seem somewhat isolated, which MUST limit your options tremendously.

[masalai]

Twas tea LJ, and thoroughly enjoyed... Next is your turn to drop by... Thanks - fancy some slightly diluted (iced) Chivas Regal?

Locked firmly inside the US nappies of the "at risk" so if they sniffle - we get the flu & 5hit

Well we eat no takeaways and we buy meat in bulk,
Home loans are now over 9%
But there are plenty of people doing very well here
i am an advocate of limits on car and boat hp, reduce fuel usage thereby demand, price stays reasonable
What to you think of 6000 shp private yachts for instance?
Nuke up for electricity generation, and cut out home heating oil, which drives price of light fuel diesel throu the roof

[charmc]

Nukes work. US Navy, France, and others have proven that safety and reliability can be commonplace through standardized design, controls, and training. Burning gas and oil to make electricity is dumb, given the alternatives.

I have no problem with limits on fuel consumption; let the mfrs work out how to meet standards, but it's a role for govt to set standards. Fuel consumption standards worked here, except for the stupidity of allowing large passenger vehicles to be rated as trucks, not subject to the rules. I noticed there's a lot of those big thirsty suckers starting to show up on used car lots at low prices lately. Daimler Benz is working on a high tech small engine that will propel an S Class sedan to 100 km/hr in under 7 seconds, max WOT at 140 mph/210 kmph, and get 40 miles/US gallon (2.5 times better than current model).

[charmc]

Lazeyjack & masalai huddled over tea, murmuring together ... nothing good can come of that!

[masalai]

Au contrair - Ahhhh 5hit - can't spell or speak froggie - - in the opposite direction Charlie only good (hopefully for us) - If you believe either send me $5 quick...

[Frosty]

I found Australia expensive. The hotels and of course the cost of living which was about 6 dollar a bottle. I only eat houmos and cellery when im there because i can keep the cellery fresh in the toilet. Pitta bread I buy every day but I cant eat a whole cellery.

Pizzas --forget it, and a pork pie was about 4 dollar.
I never ever bough fush and chups ,I just coud'nt afford it.

I bought a lot of stuff from Bunnings that was cheap.

[masalai]

Saussage sizzles outside many Bunnings stores now - You will be OK if you bring the gold to trade... (Send money now and save yourselves - and pray for your soles)...




shoe type, but money first...

[Frosty]

I saw the sausage sizzler thing but I did'nt have any money left. Even though I had just stole about 40 feet of wire wrapped round my waist, and some stainless steel pipe clips under my hat.