Welcome to Australia, will you be choosing electricity or food?!

[Nemises]

Page 4 from today’s Sydney Daily Telegraph...

 

 

A GROWING number of families in Sydney’s west are turning to charity for food after spending all their money on power bills.

Salvation Army Auburn Major Paul Moulds said yesterday the charity had expanded its food program in the west because of the increase in calls for help as people struggle to afford both electricity and groceries.

“I think one of the greatest images of inequality today in our society is people who are heating huge mansions who never think about their power bill and other people who are sitting shivering at night because they’re afraid of what it will mean for them if they put the heater on,” Mr Moulds told 2GB’s Ben Fordham. “Some people have paid their bill and they’ve got no food to eat.”

Mr Moulds claimed the charities were forced to step up because of a failure to help people in need.

“Just recently with the cold snap that hit Sydney we just were inundated with people coming in asking for blankets, we ran out. We had to put an appeal out for extra blankets because people don’t want to use their electricity,” he said.

 

 

[mfd101]

It's terrible. I just don't know how 80% of Australians manage.

[steven100]

Australia has become one of the most expensive countries in the world and consumers largely have the Government to thank, new research suggests.

Bananas, books, cars, housing and retail are all areas where Australians are paying too much, according to Dr Hartwich.

"We are always told we are living in this miracle economy, the envy of the world, the one economy that survived the GFC, and it's all true, but ordinary consumers do not feel they are living in this blessed economy - they actually feel ripped off and overcharged," Dr Hartwich said.

Australia is more expensive than in New Zealand, the UK, France and the US.

[ezzra]

The Australian government in it's sheer stupidity has decided to privatise many industries chief among them is electricity generating where by just as quickly, kowtowing to the Greens party demands, coal fired plants worth billions were summerly abandoned without a contingency plans as how to replace the shortfall, now in Victoria there are frequent power outage every time there is a surge in demand, al-la third world country, gas reserves are being sold to Japan at a higher cost the what they can get in the domestic market hence the skyrocketing prices of water, gas and electricity.. Way to go Australia...

[mfd101]

21 minutes ago, steven100 said:

Australia is more expensive than in New Zealand, the UK, France and the US.

Yes, and Oz incomes are roughly 50% higher (greater still in the case of the Kiwis).

Edited June 6, 2019 by mfd101

[mfd101]

11 minutes ago, ezzra said:

The Australian government in it's sheer stupidity

I think you'll find the fault lies largely with State governments & their incompetent bureaucrats, not with the Federal government (whose powers in this area are quite limited).

[steven100]

35 minutes ago, steven100 said:

Australia is more expensive than in New Zealand, the UK, France and the US.

And the quality and service is crap ....

You go into the Queen st Mall and order a coffee and ham & cheese croissant, I can bet you'll be slugged  around $10-$12.00 .. and it'll be crap, chances are it'll be a small stale croissant from yesterday's food, and the coffee will be a cheap crap brand. The service staff will be near useless as they will ignore you if you try to complain. 

It really has gone bad ....  I know, I've witnessed it several times.

[steven100]

18 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

I think you'll find the fault lies largely with State governments & their incompetent bureaucrats, not with the Federal government (whose powers in this area are quite limited).

I think it's a bit of both, no one really cares because if they were serious they would fix it.

They ( the government ) have been taking about reeling in the power companies for the past two-three years and still nothing has changed, it's all just BS talk.

[madmen]

1 hour ago, Nemises said:

people who are sitting shivering at night because they’re afraid of what it will mean for them if they put the heater on

Move to North qld.  Not to far up cause you will need AC. I found The sunshine coast to be perfect weather, no ac or heat required. I disagree that OZ is expensive assuming your not living in the major cities. Rent assistance helps a great deal

You also get an extra $36 pension supplements if living in OZ . All states have a remote living allowance of an extra $20 but you need to check the postcodes. The pension card helps a great deal for travel and near free meds, Im paying 56000 baht a year for one imported med here that costs $60 a year in OZ

 

The big supermarkets ALWAYS have specials especially the mark down on meat so a freezer would be a good investment. Beer is expensive but home brew is not illegal like here and its fun to make and cheap! Being a fishing fanatic I always lived by the sea and would usually bag a catch of Tailor and salmon off the beaches so always had fish fillets in the freezer

 

With the OZ dollar bleeding out slowly There must a point where living OZ where a dollar is actually worth a dollar is going to be a good option for some and when you factor in free medicare (not many do because they have no insurance here) then it becomes even more attractive.

 

[steven100]

2 hours ago, madmen said:

The big supermarkets ALWAYS have specials especially the mark down on meat so a freezer would be a good investment. Beer is expensive but home brew is not illegal like here and its fun to make and cheap! Being a fishing fanatic I always lived by the sea

Woolworths and Coles do have discounts but rarely on meat and it's only ever on a few items that they want to get rid of before it goes off.  Try buying 4 x lamb chops and see how much they are. Beer is very expensive ... if you buy a pot glass QLD or a Middy glass NSW you are looking at $5-7 depending if outside happy hour or the pub location.

As for living by the sea ... any town or location from Caloundra to Mackay is tourist area's and therefore everything is increased in price. As for the fishing,  don't you need a fishing license in Australia to go fishing  ??

[steven100]

4 hours ago, Recession fears as economy hits lowest level since 2009 global financial crisis

Australia’s economy grew by 1.8 per cent over the past year and by just 0.4 per cent in the three months to March, marking the weakest activity since September 2009.

While the quarterly figure was an improvement from the 0.2 per cent growth in final quarter of last year, it still fell below market expectations.

The data was released just 24 hours after the Reserve Bank cut interest rates to an all-time low of 1.25 per cent.

Greenwood added the worst-case scenario for Australia would be for unemployment to rise.

“If that happens, then the economy could go backwards at a very sharp rate of knots which is a reason why there's been urgency from the Reserve Bank in cutting interest rates

[madmen]

44 minutes ago, steven100 said:

Woolworths and Coles do have discounts but rarely on meat and it's only ever on a few items that they want to get rid of before it goes off.  Try buying 4 x lamb chops and see how much they are. Beer is very expensive ... if you buy a pot glass QLD or a Middy glass NSW you are looking at $5-7 depending if outside happy hour or the pub location.

As for living by the sea ... any town or location from Caloundra to Mackay is tourist area's and therefore everything is increased in price. As for the fishing,  don't you need a fishing license in Australia to go fishing  ??

Beer expensive  but I love a bottle of red and thats cheap with no fruit juice nonsense in it. Fishing licence only for fresh water.

 

When they do discount meat you buy a weeks worth rinse repeat..easy peasy. When were you in OZ last? lamb chops $4.40 half a kilo (90 baht !!!) https://shop.coles.com.au/a/a-national/product/part_2917548P

 

Plenty of cheap rent in qld. Gladstone a place I have been to many times as a mate owns a car dealership and a very serious fishing boat.  $130 a week one bedder and thats without rent assistance. I just punched in QLD in the bottom link , plenty of places

https://www.realestate.com.au/rent/between-0-150-in-queensland%3b+/list-1?source=location-search

 

 2 bedroom house in Rockhampton $150 and then knock off rent assistance and rent out the second room and you laughing

https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-qld-rockhampton+city-413922479

 

All the above was a 5 minute search on google . Plenty more about if I searched for a few hours and I like the sea but for those that dont need water there are even cheaper housing

Edited June 6, 2019 by madmen

[madmen]

7 minutes ago, steven100 said:

4 hours ago, Recession fears as economy hits lowest level since 2009 global financial crisis

Australia’s economy grew by 1.8 per cent over the past year and by just 0.4 per cent in the three months to March, marking the weakest activity since September 2009.

While the quarterly figure was an improvement from the 0.2 per cent growth in final quarter of last year, it still fell below market expectations.

The data was released just 24 hours after the Reserve Bank cut interest rates to an all-time low of 1.25 per cent.

Greenwood added the worst-case scenario for Australia would be for unemployment to rise.

“If that happens, then the economy could go backwards at a very sharp rate of knots which is a reason why there's been urgency from the Reserve Bank in cutting interest rates

Beat me to it was gonna post that . Oz dollar will become worthless and we will go back to trading beads and shells

[ParadiseLost]

10 minutes ago, madmen said:

Beat me to it was gonna post that . Oz dollar will become worthless and we will go back to trading beads and shells

Those have already all been exported...

[ParadiseLost]

My daughter mentioned this week that my grandchild had lost her jersey at school ...to replace it - $55! She is 6 years old.

[ParadiseLost]

It just begs the question, with such a small populace and the vast mineral deposits and abundance of fertile land up north, how are the average Aussies so cash strapped?

 

My kids live in WA, all in their thirties - they 'own' large houses and drive new cars and consider themselves 'wealthy' but they have menial jobs (mines) and live paycheck to paycheck. They maintain that is considered a normal existence.

 

The bubble is growing...

 

 

[steven100]

Everything is so expensive because everything is exported to China.

[BritManToo]

3 minutes ago, ParadiseLost said:

My kids live in WA, all in their thirties - they 'own' large houses and drive new cars and consider themselves 'wealthy' but they have menial jobs (mines) and live paycheck to paycheck. They maintain that is considered a normal existence.

My definition of wealthy, is not having to work.

Paycheck to paycheck is poor.

[ThaiBunny]

Whenever I stay with my brother and his wife in Sydney I help my sister-in-law with her weekly grocery shop. Time after time I am gob-smacked at the amount of sheer rubbish food other people are buying at the checkout - and that's without concentrating on buying the weekly specials and the own-label and generic goods the supermarkets sell. Prime example - paracetemol - which many Australians seem to think is a form of lolly. Supermarket own brand 70 cents for 20 x 500mg tablets; well-known brand is 3 to 4 times as much for a product with exactly the same active ingredient. Laundry liquid 2 litres - $1.50 for the generic supermarket brand; up to 7 or 8 times as much and sometimes more for the well-known labels. Dishwashing tablets (recommended by Choice) - $6 for a packet that costs $20 if bearing the logo of the best-known brand.  I could go on and on. My sister-in-law is a canny shopper (aka. a "cheap charlie") who claims her grocery bill is a third to a half less than what her sister - who always "buys the label" - spends

 

Electricity prices - my brother has cut 30% off his previously discounted electricity bill by choosing the "No Frills" product (no discount) from one of the three major suppliers

 

The fact is most people are incredibly stupid/ignorant/time poor (take your pick) and the retailers and other suppliers trade on that

Edited June 6, 2019 by ThaiBunny

[totally thaied up]

5 minutes ago, ThaiBunny said:

Whenever I stay with my brother and his wife in Sydney I help my sister-in-law with her weekly grocery shop. Time after time I am gob-smacked at the amount of sheer rubbish food other people are buying at the checkout - and that's without concentrating on buying the weekly specials and the own-label and generic goods the supermarkets sell. Prime example - paracetemol - which many Australians seem to think is a form of lolly. Supermarket own brand 70 cents for 20 x 500mg tablets; well-known brand is 3 to 4 times as much for a product with exactly the same active ingredient. Laundry liquid 2 litres - $1.50 for the generic supermarket brand; up to 7 or 8 times as much and sometimes more for the well-known labels. Dishwashing tablets (recommended by Choice) - $6 for a packet that costs $20 if bearing the logo of the best-known brand.  I could go on and on. My sister-in-law is a canny shopper (aka. a "cheap charlie") who claims her grocery bill is a third to a half less than what her sister - who always "buys the label" - spends

 

Electricity prices - my brother has cut 30% off his previously discounted electricity bill by choosing the "No Frills" product (no discount) from one of the three major suppliers

 

The fact is most people are incredibly stupid/ignorant/time poor (take your pick) and the retailers and other suppliers trade on that

It cost me the same amount to shop here then in Thailand. I shop the no thrills way, get everything so much cheaper on farang foods so it is peoples choice on how they shop for branded stuff that makes up the big difference. The above post is very true. My powerbill for four people over the last three months was $194. Water was $30. My power bill in Thailand is $140 a month due to air conditioning. 

 

Bash Australia as much as you want. It's a great Country. You can live cheaply if you are careful and own your own Condo/House. Healthcare is great.

[steven100]

3 minutes ago, totally thaied up said:

You can live cheaply if you are careful and own your own Condo/House.

agree .... If you own your own House or Appartment you can live cheap if you shop wisely and buy only the cheapest woolies/homebrand products. But don't think you'll any spare cash left over because you won't and you won't be eating steak too often that's for sure.

Don't even think about going out for dinner .... you, the missus and two kids $60-80 minimum at any club or cheap place. In Thailand I can eat out almost every night for $10-15.

Some things are cheap in oz but generally it's expensive.

 

[totally thaied up]

12 minutes ago, steven100 said:

But don't think you'll any spare cash left over because you won't and you won't be eating steak too often that's for sure.

Rubbish. I have spare cash every week. I go buy bulk rump steak that's cheap and way better than the seconds you get in Thailand. Wife and I can eat out with a beer included for $20-24 between us. It all comes down to how you shop. 

Edited June 6, 2019 by totally thaied up

[kevvy]

4 hours ago, steven100 said:

Australia has become one of the most expensive countries in the world and consumers largely have the Government to thank, new research suggests.

Bananas, books, cars, housing and retail are all areas where Australians are paying too much, according to Dr Hartwich.

"We are always told we are living in this miracle economy, the envy of the world, the one economy that survived the GFC, and it's all true, but ordinary consumers do not feel they are living in this blessed economy - they actually feel ripped off and overcharged," Dr Hartwich said.

Australia is more expensive than in New Zealand, the UK, France and the US.

In America they have competition in grocery stores , in Australia they had the big two for years , woolworths and coles . Coles reported net profit after tax of $381 million for the six months to December 31, down 29 per cent from the same period a year earlier. This is why groceries are so expensive . Plus for a supplier they pay big money to have their item in a prime location .So there is more cost 

[steven100]

6 minutes ago, totally thaied up said:

Rubbish. I have spare cash every week. I go buy bulk rump steak that's cheap and why better than the seconds you get in Thailand. Wife and I can eat out with a beer included for $20-24 between us. It all comes down to how you shop. 

oh well, you won't have to worry soon because you'll be in a recession according to the Financial news. Maybe food stamps will be the go  !!

good luck in Oz ... nanny state.

[ThaiBunny]

1 minute ago, kevvy said:

In America they have competition in grocery stores , in Australia they had the big two for years , woolworths and coles . Coles reported net profit after tax of $381 million for the six months to December 31, down 29 per cent from the same period a year earlier. This is why groceries are so expensive . Plus for a supplier they pay big money to have their item in a prime location .So there is more cost 

I've lived in various American states and I'd have to say in my experience there were one or two retailers in each State who dominated, and then there were the also-rans. In Australia there's the Big Two but there's also Aldi and IGA, with the American Costco available in some areas of Sydney and Melbourne.  You can live quite cheaply if you're not suckered in by labels and always buy what's seasonal. For example when blueberries were in season they were $2 a container. Now they're $4.50. That's not cost of living inflation, it's simply living in a temperate climate where fruit and vegetables are seasonal. While I'm not a vegetarian (and despise New Age religions like veganism) I acknowledge that no-one needs to eat meat (or fish) on every one of the seven days a week, and meat is something that pushes food prices up

[madmen]

Aldi shook up the super market world. For far two long the big two dominated.

The other thing is Medicare. When you take into account the woeful exchange rate it's no wonder hardly anyone here has insurance.


Regarding dining out well I don't know anyone in oz eating in resteraunts all the time like they do here. I live lower Sukhumvit and surrounded by resteraunts but prefer to cook at home. Thai food here is cheap but it's crap 80 % boiled rice, low grade slivers of meat with half a cup of sugar and msg yuck..

Sent from my star using Tapatalk

[ParadiseLost]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

My definition of wealthy, is not having to work.

Paycheck to paycheck is poor.

Agreed, but my daughter has not spoken to me since I pointed that out to her.

 

Typical Australian attitude, I think.

[BritManToo]

24 minutes ago, madmen said:

Regarding dining out well I don't know anyone in oz eating in resteraunts all the time like they do here. I live lower Sukhumvit and surrounded by resteraunts but prefer to cook at home. Thai food here is cheap but it's crap 80 % boiled rice, low grade slivers of meat with half a cup of sugar and msg yuck..

I think a lot of the 'wealthy' expats posting on TV have very small condos without any cooking facilities, so they have to eat out all the time. I can't imagine living a life like that.

[kevvy]

25 minutes ago, madmen said:

Aldi shook up the super market world. For far two long the big two dominated.

The other thing is Medicare. When you take into account the woeful exchange rate it's no wonder hardly anyone here has insurance.


Regarding dining out well I don't know anyone in oz eating in resteraunts all the time like they do here. I live lower Sukhumvit and surrounded by resteraunts but prefer to cook at home. Thai food here is cheap but it's crap 80 % boiled rice, low grade slivers of meat with half a cup of sugar and msg yuck..

Sent from my star using Tapatalk
 

My wife and I do not eat out , I cook from home , we tried eating out and the food was crap. The food at some restaurants are just frozen crap and a sauce put on .My dinner last night was homed cooked and very nice . And cheaper than going to a restaurant .

[ParadiseLost]

Last time I was in WA, I accompanied my daughter to a skin clinic to check moles for cancer; I was almost hospitalised for shock when informed it was $100 for the check and $250 to have them treated.

 

Now, if you have an image in mind of a Thai clinic, forget it - this place was in a swank new building, cctv everywhere, a few nice BMWs and Mercs parked in the doctors only parking. Inside was like an art gallery and I don't mean paintings of warts...

 

For a country with such harsh summers, it should be free to check - I am almost certain it was in the mid 90's...