The totally off-topic thread

[blackcat20]

Sounds great TV...did she just help our Qantas shares?
Old folks rock......

While I'm assuming youre joking, watching your parent spend themselves out that quickly is actually quite devastating and stressful. She's not old, and it certainly doesn't "rock". And no, no help for your QF shares.

 

[cove]

Yes I jest blackcat20.
I am an orphan and so I see things a little bit differently.
I would like to still have my mum but we would have to hand paint the balloons seeing she would be 102 now.

 

[whatmeworry]

I remember one flight and there was a NZ couple, struggling with their bags, looking exhausted ect.

Making polite conversation as hubby helped them with their overhead luggage ect (the husband looked like he had a stroke/mobility issues), they said this was their "Trip of a lifetime" and were on their way home and she was miserable. She was tired, just wanted to "go home to my garden", hated the travelling, hated having to do a stop over in SIN. Over it.

I still think to myself, how sad that youve slogged it out for a lifetime and you finally have that trip youve always wanted (in J) and hated it because your body is tired.

If my parents ever go back to Europe, I am going to make sure they break up the trip in Asia. 24hrs plus travel is too much for their bodies in one hit.

 

[Katie]

Age of entitlement is not for every child. In 2017 I get to hear how many older parents are not doing so well financially in retirement.

Indeed. I have friends my age, and their siblings with them, supporting their parents by helping with council rates, and other bills that their pensions/financial circumstances can't cover. I am mentally, and need to financially, prepare to support my mother at some point as I'm not sure her situation will cover her basic financial needs after retirement. She has never wanted to discuss finances with me, but I suspect I'll have to start supporting her at some point. Luckily my in-laws are so far in a better financial position and do not seem that they will require our financial support.

 

[QF WP]

It's a good thing. As much as I'm sad, at least we can start making plans now.

It's always tough to leave the home in which one has spent the majority of life, but it will always be an important part of your memories. The important things is that you and TomVexille create your own plans now (like your first house together).

Not for long if she keeps spending this way, she'll have a couple years before being destitute

Yes, its wonderful. But there has to be enough money to last another 30+ years so its a little concerning when a person runs out after 2.

That's the biggest concern I see in people - champagne taste on a beer budget and understanding the difference between reducing spending to extend financial means or retaining spending which will mean outliving your money (isn't something to which one should aspire). True, retirement is always the most expensive whilst one has the (physical) ability, desire and $. Then it slows down and peters out altogether (as I can attest with my parents who at 85 and 79 have not travelled overseas for 5+ years but are still doing domestic trips). Inter-generational transfer of wealth should be any property (or similar) and personal assets (chattels, etc)

So far the highest fee paid to go into assisted living has been $900,000 in WA and many financial planners have never considered this requirement possibility.

Sydney and Melbourne have some higher RAD's (in the $millions) and only those financial planners who don't specialise in aged care have no idea about the requirements.

 

[blackcat20]

It's always tough to leave the home in which one has spent the majority of life, but it will always be an important part of your memories. The important things is that you and TomVexille create your own plans now (like your first house together).

We are starting to investigate our options; keen to get things moving as I'm looking forward to the security of our own place.

 

[JohnK]

And parents living much longer than previously and enjoying life to the max.

I am constantly being told that I need to leave enough for my daughter. I don't quite agree. I want my daughter to work hard and achieve the best possible results from life not to bludge because her grandparents, her uncle and her parents left her a small fortune.

And I am not sure why people keep whinging about things being harder today to own property. Stop spending and save. Put life on hold. Full stop. Stop staying in hotels in your home town. Stop planning round the world trips. Stop chasing status. Stop eating out. Stop going out Friday and Saturday nights blowing money away on alcohol. Stop buying the latest gadgets. Stop buying designer clothes.

Saving is a very simple concept not understood by many.

 

[Pushka]

I am constantly being told that I need to leave enough for my daughter. I don't quite agree. I want my daughter to work hard and achieve the best possible results from life not to bludge because her grandparents, her uncle and her parents left her a small fortune.

And I am not sure why people keep whinging about things being harder today to own property. Stop spending and save. Put life on hold. Full stop. Stop staying in hotels in your home town. Stop planning round the world trips. Stop chasing status. Stop eating out. Stop going out Friday and Saturday nights blowing money away on alcohol. Stop buying the latest gadgets. Stop buying designer clothes.

Saving is a very simple concept not understood by many.

The best thing you can give your daughter is a good education. That gives her choices. The rest is up to her. You owe her nothing other than that and being a good parent.

 

[TomVexille]

And I am not sure why people keep whinging about things being harder today to own property. Stop spending and save. Put life on hold. Full stop. Stop staying in hotels in your home town. Stop planning round the world trips. Stop chasing status. Stop eating out. Stop going out Friday and Saturday nights blowing money away on alcohol. Stop buying the latest gadgets. Stop buying designer clothes.

Saving is a very simple concept not understood by many.

I wouldn't be surprised if that's aimed at us. All I'll say is that you don't know me so you're very far off the mark.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Age of entitlement is not for every child. In 2017 I get to hear how many older parents are not doing so well financially in retirement.

"Age of entitlement" is only for politicians and their friends. Ans obviously now not for Sunday workers!

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

We are starting to investigate our options; keen to get things moving as I'm looking forward to the security of our own place.

No doubt you'll keep us in the loop where you'll be heading to.

Thinking of buying or renting?

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

And I am not sure why people keep whinging about things being harder today to own property. Stop spending and save. Put life on hold. Full stop. Stop staying in hotels in your home town. Stop planning round the world trips. Stop chasing status. Stop eating out. Stop going out Friday and Saturday nights blowing money away on alcohol. Stop buying the latest gadgets. Stop buying designer clothes.

Saving is a very simple concept not understood by many.

Sounds like a rather depressing existence.

Not too sure that advice would assist the very fragile Australian Economy at present.

 

[QF WP]

The best thing you can give your daughter is a good education. That gives her choices. The rest is up to her. You owe her nothing other than that and being a good parent.

You're starting to sound like my parents Pushka .

my parents told me "we're going to give you the best education we can afford, it's up to you from there".

 

[Pushka]

You're starting to sound like my parents Pushka .

Oh. That makes me feel reeeeeally old. Or very wise

 

[blackcat20]

I am constantly being told that I need to leave enough for my daughter. I don't quite agree. I want my daughter to work hard and achieve the best possible results from life not to bludge because her grandparents, her uncle and her parents left her a small fortune.

And I am not sure why people keep whinging about things being harder today to own property. Stop spending and save. Put life on hold. Full stop. Stop staying in hotels in your home town. Stop planning round the world trips. Stop chasing status. Stop eating out. Stop going out Friday and Saturday nights blowing money away on alcohol. Stop buying the latest gadgets. Stop buying designer clothes.

Saving is a very simple concept not understood by many.

Saving is one thing, being able to service a mortgage on the 'average' home is quite another. To buy an average home in a cheaper area than where we currently live would require my entire pay to go on the mortgage. And that's with a decent deposit. No point having the house of your dreams if you have no life. You've only got one.

 

[QF WP]

Oh. That makes me feel reeeeeally old. Or very wise

They're really old (well, much older than you) . You're very wise then

 

[GarrettM]

If I were home and get such a call I would take a note of the business and never use it.Come to think of it I will do the same as when I see a vehicle branded with a business name doing illegal things-phone or email the business and let them know my disgust with their drivers attitude and why it makes me less likely to use their business.I don't identify time or place as I don't want someone losing their job even if sometimes they are stupid.Pointless letting Telstra know though.

Spacebar

A few months ago I saw someone in a fire safety company vehicle throw a lit cigarette out of the window onto grass. I was furious.

Last week a bloke in an unmarked tradies ute - possibly a sparky - flung a bag of discarded junk food on the side of the road. I do not understand such people, and would happily place them in front of a firing squad.

 

[QF WP]

Saving is one thing, being able to service a mortgage on the 'average' home is quite another. To buy an average home in a cheaper area than where we currently live would require my entire pay to go on the mortgage. And that's with a decent deposit. No point having the house of your dreams if you have no life. You've only got one.

Here here!! Housing affordability has been steadily declining, see current figures here: Housing affordability in Australia – Parliament of Australia

[FONT=&quot]Table 1: Capital cities’ nominal median house prices[/FONT]

Sydney*

Melbourne

Brisbane*

Adelaide

Perth

Canberra

Hobart

Darwin

[TD="align: right"]March 1980[/TD][TD="align: right"]March 2016[/TD] [TD="align: right"]$64 800[/TD][TD="align: right"]$999 600[/TD] [TD="align: right"]$40 800[/TD][TD="align: right"]$713 000[/TD] [TD="align: right"]$34 500[/TD][TD="align: right"]$480 000[/TD] [TD="align: right"]$36 300[/TD][TD="align: right"]$445 000[/TD] [TD="align: right"]$41 500[/TD][TD="align: right"]$520 000[/TD] [TD="align: right"]$39 700[/TD][TD="align: right"]$570 000[/TD] [TD="align: right"]Not available[/TD][TD="align: right"]$385 000[/TD] [TD="align: right"]Not available[/TD][TD="align: right"]$582 500

[/TD]

Considering that income growth has not kept pace with median house prices..this information shows the disparity (although it is Sydney, it is still fairly representative of Melbourne pricing)

[FONT=&quot]Affordability for owners[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Housing affordability in Australia has broadly declined since the early 1980s. The OECD’s price to income ratio index shows a 78% increase between 1980 and 2015. In Sydney, which has experienced significant price rises over the period, Parliamentary Library calculations indicate that the ratio of average disposable household income (Australia-wide) to median house prices has increased from approximately 3.3 in June 1981, to just over seven in June 2015. The following graph illustrates Australia-wide ratios from the early 1970s to 2012.

[/FONT]
It's going the wrong way...

 

[JessicaTam]

Spacebar

A few months ago I saw someone in a fire safety company vehicle throw a lit cigarette out of the window onto grass. I was furious.

Last week a bloke in an unmarked tradies ute - possibly a sparky - flung a bag of discarded junk food on the side of the road. I do not understand such people, and would happily place them in front of a firing squad.

You can do something about it if you like: Report litter thrown from a vehicle | EPA Victoria

And speaking of vehicles, I am about to get that new car feeling!

 

[Flying mermaid]

My husband is 56 and Im 48, we agree that we're travelling now as much as we can so in a couple of years, we can be happy enough to say home/local travel and still be able to afford day to day living and not be screwed.

I think this is very sensible. We have always travelled, but have noticed since getting into our 60s that we can't push ourselves like we used to. We still intend travelling for as long as we can but are adding in extra stops to make it less tiring. E.g. getting rid of connnections so we are not stressing over delayed flights. We are trying to do the harder trips now and leaving closer destinations for when we get older (even older!) Well that's the plan anyway, but with trips to Fiji and Langkawi last year instead of the gorillas I think our planning went astray!