 What would you do with $50,000? |
| I was in a car accident about 6 months ago and had a fracture in my lower back. I wasn't driving and I didn't sue the driver. My back is healing slowly and I’ll be 100% sometime soon. His ... |
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 Why is this world obsessed with money? |
Hello,
I'm very curious,
Personally I would give it all up,
I would rather have my happiness than money.
What are your opinions on this matter if ... |
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 What would you do with a billion dollars? |
| If you were given on billion dollars today what would you do with ... |
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 Im 13 yrs.old what kind of job can i get to earn some money? |
| i need some money quick and i need the job before the 22 of ... |
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 How can teens earn money? |
Without a job i might add?
And no internet sites please :)... |
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 I have $150.. what should i spend it on? |
i need real suggestions! i just sold my cell and i have money and i don't know what to do. lol
should i just save it?
probs.
well, thanks!... |
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 Im 14 years old and I have 1000 to spend? |
| what should I do with it, (this 1000 is how much i have after giving to my church , relay for life, and other charaties, and after putting some away for college) please dont call me a spoiled brat, I ... |
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 How can you make some money if your only 12? |
| I'm 12 and need some cash for a phone. Know any jobs for 12 year olds?... |
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Tom A | How has your life been affected by the global economic downturn? |
This is a question for Australians: Have you changed your ways (or been forced to change your ways) since the economy slowed? How has your life changed in the last few months? |
 |
 
ROGUE RAGE - cloned again!
|
It has affected us a little. More worry than anything else.
We have become more aware of our spending habits and toned it down. I have even started to buy some food at ALDI instead of Coles to save $$.
The government & media has caused this financial panic and made it worse that it should be.
This time last year we were told to stop spending or inflation would sky rocket, now we are told to spend spend spend to help the economy recover.
Its a gamble..do you save $$ in case it gets worse and you lose your job, or do you continue to spend this Xmas in hope it will help the economy.
On the postive side, the furniture and plasma's are dropping in price - just in time for our renovations!!
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-brassmonkey-
 |
The contract I was working on was closed down two weeks ago - supposed to have gone up to xmas. Then the company laid off 20 people.
So I'm now unemployed for the first time in absolutely ages and the job market in Sydney is impossible right now... Just before the summer holiday. Great stuff...
We'd already put all our savings into term deposits at the high rates guessing that interest rates were about to drop, so for once, we did well. As for the rest of it, I'm not spending anything unless I really really have to, and we've changed our supermarket habits to buy only absolute necessities. No more little treats.
We're not eating out like we used to - used to be once a week, now it's maybe once a month. I've suspended my gym membership, cancelled my credit card (don't want the temptation), and stopped meeting friends for coffee - round my house or round theirs is fine, but $4 every time when it's four or five times a week, or more, and it all adds up.
We're also not spending on booze or going out for drinks. We'll drink what we have in the house, but when that's finished...
I'd already bought the xmas presents I needed to buy, so that won't be affected (not that I ever spend much anyway). We're driving to Melbourne for xmas to visit family, thankful that the price of petrol has dropped to a dollar a litre.
My partner's still working, so we have money coming in. But I'm used to having ready cash all the time and not spending savings... will be hard to get used to!
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fucawi
 |
Brilliant ..my pension has gone up as the dollar has fallen in value ..petrol has gone down and the mortgage interest rate is falling
Brilliant |
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Music Freak
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Nothing really, we just have to watch our spending a little bit more than before. |
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David C
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I manage a branch of a medium sized company in Victor Harbor SA.
Most businesses here report around a 25% drop in income.
My November has been a disaster.
My income is down over 80% and I have been here over 2 years now.
I have no orders for Christmas when normally I would be inundated with orders and chasing them daily.
It is quite frightening as obviously my job will be on the line very soon if business doesn't pick up.
So merry Christmas to everyone and good luck to us all.. We'll need it.
Cheers. |
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Betty D
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My fixed income is $13,000 pa as a single pensioner and I really wish I could just die sometimes
My late husband and I were not educated people both having to leave school and go to work at the age of 14.
As unskilled workers (no Superanuation until the last 10 years of employment and I think it was only 3% of the wage then) we both worked very hard to raise our four children and pay off our home.
When our home was paid off we bought a little shack on the peninsular and life was so good.
Then 5 years ago at the age of 70 my Husband passed away (cancer
Prior to his passing with the married pension and my carers pension we got by, and as a child of parents who came through the depression years I am very frugal money I bake or cook everything and live very basically no fast food the only outings are no cost to see my kids or go to their homes for dinner.
This year has been the most deppressing in my entire life.
By the time I take out my rates, water, electricity gas phone Insurance house and content, car insurance, petrol, car rego which have gone up tremendously, emergengy ater levies and all levies this Gov whacks on everthing
petrol and an extra $10.00 a week for emergencies like car service, tyers ect I am left with $70.00 a week .
Meat is off the menue but I eat well on pasta, chicken and fish.
Having the family over for a meal just can't happen any more ( something I used to love to do ) and it is just so demoralising to think when you have worked all your life and have to give up work at the age of 64, I had a stroke ,then 6 months later my husband was diagnosed with cancer.
Last year was horrid, My hot water service died, $16 hundred dollars, the tube went on the TV, then the washing machine died everything happens in three,
I did a reverse mortage on the shack for as much as they would allow me and replaced not only the those 3 items but had my roof re roofed as it was leaking in several places, now if I live another 10 years the bank will once again own my shack.
I do ot want to reverse mortage my residentional home as it will seem like we worked our life to finish up back where we started with nothing.
I know I am only one of many people who have lost their will, many are so much worse off then me as they have to pay rent out of their $250 a week pension and rely on food packages from the Salvos,
Most of my pensioner friends in their 70s one friend 80 do one or two days cleaning a week cash in hand, they are wonderfull people who live in fear because they are so frightened Centre Link will find out and charge them with an offence and panic everytime someone comes to their door they do not know.
I would get a little house cleaning job myself if I could but since my stroke I have had my hip replaced and have enough trouble getting my own house done.
On the bright side I have 4 well educated good kids all married with kids of their own, buying their own homes and when they retire they will have Super.
Next year electricity up water up etc etc, my garden is dead now, I shower every other day now and only use candles to watch TV but if any on has any other Ideas that work for them maybe we could start up a thread and help each other out
Have a good day things will get better I hope
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kelzie101
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I started to focus more on saving for a rainy day, like loosing my job. I paid out my credit card. But I still have my car loan.
I have become more conservative with my money, I am spending less, and worrying about my superannuation and savings in the bank, will they just disappear one day due to another economic meltdown? |
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Wheateus
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So far I have not been affected by the market meltdown, although I expect it will certainly soon to start to take a toll |
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nz_frangipani
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I lost my job which was in recruitment, in fact everyone did and the office shut up shop! Unfortunately I am one of many particularly in the recruitment industry and many friends who still have thier jobs say its very stressful and people are being let go everyday and there are no jobs coming in :( |
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bob t
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immensly --as a self funded retiree, we have survived on increased share values over last 5 years (no other income). our retirement funds reduced by 65%, and we 're in trouble at a time when we should be relaxing. so desperate --we are looking for work --anything; but even though we can put together good resumes , nobody interested in a 64 year old. it,s a cruel world out there.
no doubt there are many others in similar situation |
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Iggs
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I've tried to be more conservative with my money, trying to put more away in case something happens to my job. Australia hasn't been affected as much as other countries though it seems, it's all talk of doom and gloom but the really bad times haven't hit, or won't hit us as bad. I think Christmas parties and company spending is going to be minimal this festive season though. |
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Megan
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Working in a large recruitment company; number of people we payroll on a weekly basis has not dropped yet!! It’s more about panic at this stage! it would help if the media could just stop talking about it too much |
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Wendy M
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Overtime which has been consistant for a couple of years has now been cut right back due to slower demand for product, thus reducing net income by about $250 per week. One small consellation is the fuel and mortgage interest rate has come down a little bit, but no doubt it will be up again some time in the future.
Just got to tighten the purse strings a bit more. |
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MsShoegal73
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Well living in a tourist town in Far North Qld we rely on the tourist dollar. Things slowed off when the Japanese cut flights etc to Cairns but it has got really bad now. I lost my job along with others, people say why dont you clean toilets........They shut up when I tell them I WAS cleaning toilets!!!! Holidays are the last things on a lot of peoples minds at the moment. Not to mention petrol is still pretty high here so they dont want to drive too far to see places. You try to be positive but it starts getting to you when those bills come in!! |
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Tracy K
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Not at all. My business is booming. I am in the craft supplies, a non essential item, and this quarter has been my best ever and still climbing. The media has ALOT to blame by causing people to panic. I have money invested and am leaving it there because in 5-10 years time everything will be back to where it should be if not sooner. Its the rich that are panicing - us average australians have always had to budget and be careful so it is no different now. |
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Ivona V
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not much because we respect mother earth.lol
it is always up and down |
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Chris C
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Working in sales position, poor sales return in the last few months & staff put off in all areas, including myself.
In general, business & small business finding the public not spending on items as the trend in the past few years.
Car industry also suffering due to poor economic influences.
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Jonathan D
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I have a girlfriend who lives in Japan so am constantly travelling over there. When I last visited in July 1AUD=100JPY but now, 1AUD=62JPY so my money has seen a 38% decrease against the Japanese Yen. Therefore I can't travel there as often. I was going to go on exchange as a student, but it may prove to be too expensive now. |
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maharg
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Driving excursions have been reduced.
Use two wheel transport mostly..cycle/scooter/moter-cycle.
Diet is more hi-fibre (cheaper).
I now have a vegetable garden, and have removed lawns to save on water....
Stopped buying newspapers, use library more, & internet....
We sleep earlier to save on electricity, heating/cooling expences
We are on a fixed income, which has made these changes necessary.
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Irena
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I've stopped spending, because there's an air of caution in the air, I don't know what about, exactly, it hasn't affected my life, I still live the same, but I think it's the media. I have already heard, on the grapevine, about someone losing their job, before christmas. |
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ozgurl6827
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Actually interestingly enough, it means that my scholarship for university will cease to exist. My scholarship is provided by a foundation, whoguaranteemoney from, gives some return to investors and uses profits to fund scholarships. Because in Australia the Govt decided it would guarantee all bank deposits, but not other investment organisations, many people took their money out of the foudnation and put it into the bank. This foundation has resultingly gone in recievership- meaning I no longer have a scholarship will now have to take a loan from the govt to pay my fees....
Secondly I am finding it very difficult to get employment over christmas as places are hiring less xmas staff. |
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Julie C
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We will never be truly informed about the scale of the global financial meltdown as long as the media in Australia insists on putting stories about (AFL) footballers/cricketers as headline news. Ignorance is bliss, maybe, but my opinion is that we are living in an deceptively safe bubble. Hate to say it but wait til reality hits in the New Year.
Sorry not really answering your question just responding to some of the above answers. |
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Kelly Watch The Stars
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I now try not to use my cards for purchases, I've cut down with my spending and I'm saving more. I really need to buy my first home in the next few years, so with whatever I save, that goes there. My holidays (especially yearly one to Brisbane) have had to be cancelled and put on hold, but airfares and accommodation are the least of my worries. Sure, with the economy as it is now, it's been tough, but I'll survive.
Kelly |
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Ian
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The changes in the exchange rate between the Australian Dollar and the US Dollar are no longer favourable enough.
I'm not buying any overseas mail-order items until it gets back to the Australian Dollar being worth a minimum of 80 cents US.
Life's the same otherwise. |
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Orguss05
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I agree with lggs, everyone will likely be more conservative with their spending until the exact extent of the national & global situation becomes more clear. Although I personally feel nothing has greatly changed, others may either think, feel, or have xperienced something differently.
I personally have recently discovered my book keeping hasn't been the best & am stightly in the red. However, the key here I believe is not to succumb to the gloom & doom scare tactics, but rather just continue to enjoy ourselves within our budgets, as has always been the case. |
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mgreer_34726@y7mail.com
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petrol seems to be a little cheaper now
Was AU$1.76 where i live just last month, now it's AU$1.49, and getting better. |
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Rebecca H
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nothing really. I lowered my mortagage repayments, to the minimum monthly payments, but i still pay it fortnightly and i now pay extra.
But i am still paying off my few other small debts (eg radio rentals, study) I still budget the smae amount for everything. I can vist a bit more (i live in the country) as petrol is cheaper.
Our only major change is we now shop at our local IGA instead of driving 30 mins to the local coles/woolies. But this was more to see if buying as we need was cheaper then buying in bulk, where we tend to double up on things or buy more then what we need for the fortnight.
But we havent changed anything to be honest my partner is even cutting back on overtime, it hasnt greatly effected us. its given us more oppurtunities to save but cutting back on our mortagage. and the ability to go see people a bit more but thats it.
Also wanted to add the older generation (sorry i dont mean disrespect but i am only 23 and did experience it last time), went through this years ago our finanical market goes through cycles of rises adn falls, it has got like this before when everything went up hit the sky limit then fell like a tonne of bricks. Personally i stress more when our interest rates and petrol prices rise.
There is always a way out and a chance to deal with it and be ok you jsut have to look for it, and accept it. EG we are using the gov bail out to pay off a P. loan. Redrawing on the mortgage to pay off our dining set, and credit card, and due to interest rate drops our mortgage payments dont chagne as we where paying extra.We can also start saving again properly (we have a 5 month old and used our saving when he was born as my husband took time off and we had to survive in the midst of the expensive time on base pay.
There is nothing to stress about i know some people are struggling and i feel for you. I really do. But no matter how bad thigns seem you need to realsie life can always be worse and someone out there is worse off then you are. Appreciate what you do have |
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BigAlWolf99
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To be honest - not much. Apart from gas becoming cheaper and the Xmas sales starting early nothing has changed for me. The company I work for is prepared for what is to come and my line of work (HR) is quite well protected from the global downturn. If anything, life has become a bit cheaper!! |
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Ngoc O.O"
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lol, nothing really
But my family is looking forward to buy a house this year, since the interest rate going down; beside the money we pay for rents probably more than the money we're going to pay for the bank every month.
Plus my mom used around $50k buy shareholders and stuffs, she kinda lost everythin because market slowed :| |
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kjay
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Honestly, its only done good things for us because our interest rate on our home loan has decreased. We havent really cut back spending, but thats only because we didnt really have a great deal left over to spend in the first place after all the bills and what not had been taken care of. Job security is something that im slightly concerned about, however moreso for my partner than myself, as my job is very secure. |
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Celtoi
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Not at all. I live a balanced life, and dont overspend. Materialistic people are the ones who will suffer. As you have seen, the greedheads are all selling their boats and big cars. |
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