The totally off-topic thread

[Pushka]

I had the pleasure of experiencing both ADL and MEL 42 & 43 degrees today

It's been 43 every day since Monday.

 

[Austman]

half priced mojitos

You eat them Tuesday, vomit Wednesday, have diarrhea on Thursday and then you get well and can enjoy Friday.

Eat? Now I'm feeling sick!

 

[Flashback]

Landlord has offered to install air-conditioning if I accept the $10/week rent increase. Has a spare one sitting around somewhere. I guess that would be acceptable and saves me from having to move.

Also buying and installing a new fridge without wasting time trying to find out what is wrong with current fridge.

See! Don't ask don't get

 

[whatmeworry]

I think the systems themselves were much more expensive back then too so it probably all comes out in the wash. I'd install solar but don't plan on being here in five years time. This house, that is.

Adding a solar system to your home can add value.

Well it's starting to cool down in MEL now. Approx 30 down from +40.




Let's hope it does a Coles and goes down down.

The temp reading from car earlier.

It's still 42 in Adelaide. Enough already.

Change should be there now?

 

[JohnK]

See! Don't ask don't get

I never asked!

All I said was have a look at the fridge as my stuff in there is going off.

But obviously someone needed $10/week more than I needed it. :mrgreen:

 

[Buzzard]

I'm moving house sometime in the next week. Am I right to assume that I have to tell Medicare and the ATO my new address?

Stuff 'em......

 

[yo yo ma]

I just won a book
I'm thinking about opening a SMSF so it should come in handy!

FAMOUS money man Paul Clitheroe's newest book is all about do-it-yourself self-managed super funds.
But even he concedes the best option for most Australians is to stay put if they are in a low-cost bank or industry fund that has a good spread of investments.
So, while the target market for Control Your Own Super Fund might be small, it is one he says desperately needs an education.
"These DIY funds are not for everyone," he said over the phone from the north coast of NSW, while on a working holiday after taking part in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.
"It's a personality thing...you have to be willing to do it yourself. You need a reasonable level of knowledge and you have to be interested. It can't be a whim.
"You will need an accountant or a specialist and you need to get it audited each year.
"The problem I see is people setting up these DIY funds to avoid fees, but they end up investing money where it was before, or they actually increase their costs.
"So before you race out and start up your own fund, have a long think about why you are doing it. If all you want is a balanced portfolio, well I reckon you're better off staying where you are."


To be in the draw, send an email to: business@scnews.com.au with your name and suburb - and put "Paul's super book" in the subject field.
Winners must be able to collect the prize from the Sunshine Coast Daily office in Maroochydore.
Entries close 3pm this Friday, January 17.

How to stay in control of your own super | Sunshine Coast Daily

 

[Buzzard]

My power consumption in MEL has increased by $12/day since Tuesday.

Our upstairs air con is a ducted evaporative system that cost about the same as a 100w light globe to run. In this heatwave we just leave it on 24/7 as the cost is insignificant.

Downstairs is tolerable in summer even when it's in the mid 40's. Cant remember when we last used the air con except in winter for heating.

 

[amaroo]

Our upstairs air con is a ducted evaporative system that cost about the same as a 100w light globe to run. In this heatwave we just leave it on 24/7 as the cost is insignificant.

Downstairs is tolerable in summer even when it's in the mid 40's. Cant remember when we last used the air con except in winter for heating.

Living in SEQ, we don't have any form of AC...not even a fan.

The position of the property and house design ensures a cool house in Summer and warm one in Winter.....the house was built in the 60's. The architect knew what he was doing!

 

[Mal]

Thanks for the reminder of having my stomach rubbed by a random lady in Macau 'for good luck'

 

[cove]

With a self managed superfund I was given a recommendation to look at esuperfund.com.au
Running your own fund is certainly not for everyone.
I changed over 2 and a half years ago and so far it has cost $1398 in total and the documentation has been perfect and the audit has been straight forward for the two of us in the fund.
I use Comsec and ANZ Bank and the esuperfund folks have visibility of those 2 accounts. They also allow E Trade as a broker.
Read up about this from their site.
I would suggest only about 20% of the community could handle a SMSF so if you have doubts do NOT make a switch just because it is fashionable.
I am an accountant, I was an auditor and I am experienced in investing funds in shares and bonds since I started at 17.
Pitfalls would include making excess contributions and getting fined by the ATO, figuring out life cover and lodging documents in a timely way.
Then can you invest safely better than the fund you are currently in?
80% of our community should use a qualified financial advisor and if you asked a financial advisor they might put that number at 100%

 

[Austman]

Our upstairs air con is a ducted evaporative system that cost about the same as a 100w light globe to run. In this heatwave we just leave it on 24/7 as the cost is insignificant..

Have you checked your water bill?? They use huge amounts of water! Once that didn't much matter, but in 2014 Melbourne (and I guess Adelaide) it can be very expensive (unless it's your own water...)

(Edit: They can use >100 litres/hour. So the water supply and disposal costs for that have to be factored in. In MEL that can cost between $4 and $5.80/1000 litres (so > $0.40 to $0.58/hour). Still probably cheaper than electricity ...)

 

[Pushka]

We've had an SMSF since 1996, way before they became popular. Gosh, almost 20 years ago. There is no way we would have achieved the growth we have, in a mainstream super fund.

We've always made our own investment plans and just check with the accountant it is it compliant. We made one particular investment that he was wary of (in terms of risk not compliance) but after three years the gain was extremely satisfying.

It isn't for everyone and there are strict compliance rules. But given we were salary sacrificing at the time I'd prefer to make my own decisions rather than others. My risk, my loss or gain. But DYOR.

 

[amaroo]

With a self managed superfund I was given a recommendation to look at esuperfund.com.au
Running your own fund is certainly not for everyone.
I changed over 2 and a half years ago and so far it has cost $1398 in total and the documentation has been perfect and the audit has been straight forward for the two of us in the fund.
I use Comsec and ANZ Bank and the esuperfund folks have visibility of those 2 accounts. They also allow E Trade as a broker.
Read up about this from their site.
I would suggest only about 20% of the community could handle a SMSF so if you have doubts do NOT make a switch just because it is fashionable.
I am an accountant, I was an auditor and I am experienced in investing funds in shares and bonds since I started at 17.
Pitfalls would include making excess contributions and getting fined by the ATO, figuring out life cover and lodging documents in a timely way.
Then can you invest safely better than the fund you are currently in?
80% of our community should use a qualified financial advisor and if you asked a financial advisor they might put that number at 100%

The trend is changing.

We've had a SMSF for around 20 years.....I've just turned 46.

SWMBO is a CA and owns a CA firm specialising in SMSF.....I agree with cove it's a minefield and will not suit the great majority.

 

[erkpod]

I am loving all the updates on the weather in Oz as I throw another log on the fire in Whistler

There's a dense fog advisory here overnight in PDX which is going to make my next leg PDX - ATL - MIA interesting if it is like this next Wednesday. I leave at (for me) OMG o'clock.

My little ray of sunshine's overnighting in DC as they couldn't get her back into NYC due to a blizzard. I hope that doesn't happen to me when I fly into NYC after overnighting in MIA as my NYC time is limited (23-26/1) as it is.

 

[bass_ke]

Saturday = market day, my favorite! Currently in uki

 

[whatmeworry]

Our upstairs air con is a ducted evaporative system that cost about the same as a 100w light globe to run. In this heatwave we just leave it on 24/7 as the cost is insignificant.

Downstairs is tolerable in summer even when it's in the mid 40's. Cant remember when we last used the air con except in winter for heating.

Our local council laws mean that you can only have cooling on till 11pm.

 

[Hvr]

Our local council laws mean that you can only have cooling on till 11pm.

Is that because of the noise? If nobody else can hear it then surely it cannot be a problem?

 

[Simo]

Our local council laws mean that you can only have cooling on till 11pm.

But when can you turn it back on?

 

[Hvr]

But when can you turn it back on?

I reckon that would be 7am Mon-Sat and 9am Sun.