Comments on: Cost of living rises a furphy?

By: spindocbob

spindocbob — Thu, 03 May 2012 10:20:02 +0000

I agree with the study. For example, one indicator of the extra costs we incur is measured by the number of power points in the house. Our house was built in 1960 and when we moved in our lounge room had only two single power points. We immediately had an electrician friend install two double points. Why the difference? In 1960 there was no VCR, DVD, surround sound system, Foxtel, cordless phone, WiFi, laptop charger, wireless stereo bridge, Wii, digital TV tuner or PVR. That’s just the lounge room. No wonder the average electricity bill is higher.

Add to that cost, the before mentioned Foxtel, internet, mobile phones, childcare, and sky-mortgage and you start to see the difference.

The cost of living is lower, it’s the cost of ‘keeping up with the Jones’ that is higher’.

Admittedly, not having a lot of these ‘luxuries’ would mean each of us would be living in another century, but I tend to agree that a lot of the higher costs we have today are self-inflicted. If you don’t believe me, compare the cost of bread, milk, fruit and vegetables, clothing and even petrol today with that twenty years ago – in today’s dollars. I think you’d be surprised. (http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/were-kidding-ourselves-on-living-costs-20110215-1av1p.html).

If you can’t feed the kids at night, maybe it’s time to think about whether you really need that iPhone, $40,000 SUV or McMansion.

By: mudgeemalibu

mudgeemalibu — Thu, 03 May 2012 04:00:52 +0000

That study cracks me up. The cost of food, electricity, water, rent, etc has skyrocketed. But it’s apparently offset by cheaper computers and big screen tv’s?!? I can’t feed, clothe or house my kids with electronics, unfortunately.

“What’s for dinner, mum?”

“A 52 inch plasma, darling, it was cheaper than meat and vegetables. And it’s raw because I can’t afford the electricity to melt it in the oven. Here, have a chainsaw to chop up your dinner. And make sure you chew it thoroughly.”

By: theresultsmayvary

theresultsmayvary — Wed, 02 May 2012 22:54:06 +0000

In reply to alanamaree. I couldn't agree more. I drop better than $5000 on extra activities for my kids. Singing, drama, piano, art and swimming lessons all add up and then there is the cost of driving around town to drop them off. The cost of Starbucks to get me through waiting etc. None of these things were possible for me as a kid and now they become expected and since they are expected, they become less valued. Mind you, the cost of groceries has sky rocketed too.

By: alanamaree

alanamaree — Wed, 02 May 2012 04:12:59 +0000

Our fridge is making ominious buzzing noises, that’ll make a scary dent in our budget if it clags. But it’s the after-school activities that have to be paid each term that knock us around most. When I was a kid I was lucky to have swimming lessons, these days kids seem to have things on every day of the week.

By: homeagainjog

homeagainjog — Wed, 02 May 2012 01:09:41 +0000

BWAAA HAA HAA HAAAAAA!!!! “Plenty of money to go around” *wipes tear from eye* Umletmethinkno.

But it is true that things that were formerly “discretionary” like a cable modem, really aren’t anymore… Maybe there’s something to that.