If you are on a pension & rent it's going to hurt. In our block of units rents are up to $760pw 2 bed. A unit I let the tenants pay $610pw, that's $31,800pa. I can't see how a couple on a pension can eat & pay electricity etc.

 

I've been a Snopes follower for a long time. Just when I think I'm getting the fact-checking message through to some family and friends they invariably post, share or mention the most absurd things. Now some of them have less smarts than a bag of spuds but some others have successfully operated businesses, enjoyed long successful professional careers and/or have higher degrees. So while I'll keep reminding them to fact-check when they regurgitate dross I've come to realize "blind acceptance vs questioning" comes down to personality not brains. Good topic to post though Buzz.

Not a lot of plain ordinary truth around these days, too much blah blah blah from all sides.
God knows where some of these ridiculous percentage figures come from?

Bicyclecamper wrote:

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The biggest thing we are finding the hardest to live with is keeping up our insurance. It has gone up over 100% on what it was 3 years ago, and this year, it went up a further $400, so had to reduce value of our property down again. We are not allowed to do this again if the premiums go up next year due to having a mortgage on it. Don't know what we are going to have to do then, maybe sell, and go back to renting. Now the last time I mentioned that devaluing our house on here, I was shot down in flames, for it. Just to tell you we have devalued twice since 3 years ago. If we didn't do this, we would be not insured. We have had no claims in 20 years. The reason we were given why it went up this year, was Lismore Floods. Now our property out of town is in a family trust. It is a big property, the insurance went up this year an extra $5000 to $20,000. I could only put in $2000, the family put up the rest. No claims have every been made on the policy for over 30 years. Next year we will have to devalue the property or sell it, and as it is in a trust, that is going to be a nightmare to do. Insurance is murdering the bush. Not one farmer in the area is handling it. This is hurting really bad. As well as in town, what we have done most of the other townspeople, have had to reduce their property values as well. Pretty soon low income earners will be uninsured. This is our future.

-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Friday 1st of April 2022 01:35:45 PM

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 Yes, inequality is getting worse. 

 

A few years ago I was wondering how the gap would be widened but then I saw the floods in Queensland (2011 maybe?) and our premiums were increased dramatically. We asked why and we were told because we were in a flood prone area, when we're not. We went to a different insurance company that didn't charge is 'flood prone' (Suncorp I think).

 

Then there were the summer fires and the recent floods. So many people said that they weren't insured. How can they recover from such a disaster without insurance. They will have to sell and rent.

These disasters will push up insurance premiums so that only the rich will be able to afford insurance. This will push more people out of owning a home into renting and more people into poverty. Inequality will just get worse.

Gundog wrote:

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The biggest issue with the media in news is heavily laden with opinions rather facts, the old adage still rings true " Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story".

As for insurance if you just grizzle about increased premiums the fault lies with you, every year need to check other companies to see if you are getting the best deal. My current insurer for the caravan has only increased my premium less than $10, the previous company wanted an increase over $100.

I for one view insurance as a form of gambling, your betting that you will make a claim where the insurance company is betting you won't. Wether you make a claim or not, your stake will rise at the whim of the companies bosses.

I wonder how many people have been refused insurance in those flood effected area, if an insurance company accepts you as a client but the premiums are not affordable you cannot afford it, so what do you do sell up and take loss, rebuild with no insurance and hope you will never get flooded again. 

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We had to change our insurance company this year again. If not we would now be uninsured. Obviously you are in the well to do financial mob, we are not. Not everybody has a massive super to live on. I am on a reduced DVA disability pension, and a little bit more on a SS pension. We cannot currently afford current cost of living expenses. If you have never lived on a low income, you have no bloody idea how hard it is to juggle  what little money we get. Fuel price alone has gone up 70 cents a litre, as have food prices as well. We moved to the bush to make it easier on us( I was formerly from here). With no buses, traveling an hour for shopping is the norm, so it costs a lot, even though I do have a cheaper car to run. All the costs associated with running a car have also gone up. Might be better if we do get the virus, and all us veterans die from it, would be better for the country and it's rich people in the long run. Also am not in a flood zone, Live on top of a hill 250ft above the highest possible flood that has ever been here, and we cannot get flood insurance. 

 

-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Saturday 2nd of April 2022 05:35:05 PM

I thought it was a bit rough this week when Bill Gates told us lesser beings that we should eat meat substitutes. Now, I have almost turned vegetarian, via doctors advice "meat is bad for you" now I am wondering if this is all part of social engineering to keep us in our proper place.

Some people have mentioned problems with insurance and many have found that the insurance payouts have taken a long time to come. This may be a solution:

 

A new type of insurance pays out as soon as extreme weather hits - and we could try it in Australia

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-30/new-type-insurance-extreme-weather-pays-hits-australia/101025576

JayDee wrote:

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Depends on what level one describes as Poverty.

If someone of the rich and famous were living my lifestyle, they would be absolutely devastated and looking for a cliff to jump off.

Whereas we are happy in our current life and situation.


Always remember that the Media thrives on "BAD NEWS"


But 'tis what it 'tis.


Jay&Dee

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i agree .

if your happy with what you have good for you, if you live beyond your means and are envious of others who seem to have more than you,
you have a problem .

i wonder how those people in new cruisers an flash caravans can afford it , maybe they cashed in all their chips (sold the house ) and having a last fling in style, maybe cashed in the super, maybe they are spending an inheritance ,they might even have won lotto or maybe the worked long hours lived within their means and invested well .

it does not affect how the rest of us live unless we have a green eye . enjoy what you have and do the best you can with what you got, while you got it

watsea wrote:

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Bicyclecamper wrote:

Also am not in a flood zone, Live on top of a hill 250ft above the highest possible flood that has ever been here, and we cannot get flood insurance. 

-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Saturday 2nd of April 2022 05:35:05 PM

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 Ric,

you posted something like that earlier.  I meant to ask if you are wanting flood insurance as you maintain that you are so far above any possible flood.  Where I live is well above any flood level so I do not need flood insurance and now I do not pay any.

Do you really want flood insurance?

Our previous insurance company had automatic flood insurance for which we paid some contribution, though a lesser amount than those near or in a flood zone.  Our insurance bill was going rise more. We didn't want the flood insurance. That company would not come down, so we changed insurers.

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 We also switched our insurance company when we were being charged for flood insurance and didn't need it.

markf wrote:

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In the 1890's William Randolph Hearst said "if it bleeds it leads"

 

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 Years ago I was in a helicopter doing a photo shoot. We had almost finished & the pilot said we have to finish now so he could get to the next job. It was urgent.

 

There were supposedly multiple dead people from a serious car accident. On the way back he got another call, job cancelled, not enough people dead.

Here's some more about insurance in the news:

 

Climate change means 1 in 25 homes could become uninsurable by 2030, report warns

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2022-05-03/climate-change-floods-cyclones-bushfires-house-insurance-costs/101021438

Valkie,

Unfortunately the tax you paid, as with everyone else, was not just to get a pension, as I am certain you are aware.

Defence, Health, Social Security, Infrastructure, Education, the Environment, Foreign Affairs and Aid, and the cost of running the country are just a few of the things that our taxes are needed and used for.

As for the benefits politicians receive, they do in fact contribute more as compulsory super payments than most, if not all of us. The main exception for them is the ability to access it as soon as they get ejected at an election. I dont know what happens for public servants.

Remember, if we want more benefits, we must pay more tax, and if you compare tax rates from when we were younger to those in effect now, it appears no one is volunteering for that to happen.

Valkie wrote:

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The sad part for me is that when i retire, assuming that they dont change the rules again and the few dollars I have stashed isnt counted, i will receive a pension less than the tax I have paid every week of my life.
For several years i have actually paid twice what the pension is in taxes ( including GRAB SNATCH and TAKE tax).
Meanwhile, our useless politicians and senior public servant FAT CATS will retire on several times what the actual workers get.
Not a very fair or equitable system.
Ruled over by corrupt, self serving parasites.

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if your paying that much in tax why would you need to rely on the pension ?

We can thank Thomas Midgety for the hole in the Ozone layer and for for putting lead in petrol to stop engine knocking.

Did more damage to the world's environment and peoples health than any other human.They even made him chairman of U.S.academy of sciences.

https://interestingengineering.com/thomas-midgley-jr-the-man-who-harmed-the-world-the-most