sjp on my friend's list made a poll today and asked what people were most worried about. One of the options that I picked was the Collapse of the Global Economy. I think what you have described is a step in that direction.
I would not purchase a house in Sydney right now if I had it thrown at me. Interest rates have risen three times in the past 12 months. Yet the government keeps insisting that these are prosperous times. In addition, I see the market price of homes looking a lot like they did in California before the boom went bust. Many people lost money on their homes there when they sold, and had to continue paying the mortgage and move to find work and cheaper housing.
I believe we are at the top of the market here and anyone who purchases now will lose in the long run. It's pretty scary. Nobody really knows what is going to happen after the election. I feel we will get a new government but they are planning to pull money out of their asses if they come through with half of their promises.
It is very worrisome.
We have good public medicine here but I see it getting more and more like the US system. We also do not have dental on our public medicine and I don't understand that. Another thing is that in the past years, private insurance, to help pay the gap for physiotherapy, medication not on our PBS and other formerly fully-covered medical procedures has become necessary. We now have long waiting lists to access the public health system and fewer doctors will bill Medicare directly - it's hard to make a living when the government kicks in less and less.
Schools will be the next to suffer, I believe. Parents are having to pay more and more for supplies and fees for both public and private school. Food and petrol, like in all areas, is going through the roof and now in year eight of a very bad drought, farmers are simply walking away from their properties. We are the driest continent on the planet so it is already bad.
For example, they say that our produce costs will double within the next two months. We are now paying $7.99/kilo for bananas. After a typhoon 18-months ago, we were paying $14.99/kilo but as banana trees are re-planted each year, the industry recovered. But now, lettuce that we pay $3.99 a head for will be nearly $8 within two months time. This is shocking. We do get yearly cost of living raises - but there is no way any average family will be able to keep up with all the other cost rises.
I am glad that I am thrifty. I am glad that we garden, can and preserve, love to cook and entertain at our home and also...dumpster dive. No matter how much we make, it all goes so quickly these days and it is going out faster now.
These are scary times. I think what makes it even worse is that the world is so connected now, financially. If one major country takes a dive, I fear many others that are dependent upon imports or exports from that country will go down with it.
no subject
I would not purchase a house in Sydney right now if I had it thrown at me. Interest rates have risen three times in the past 12 months. Yet the government keeps insisting that these are prosperous times. In addition, I see the market price of homes looking a lot like they did in California before the boom went bust. Many people lost money on their homes there when they sold, and had to continue paying the mortgage and move to find work and cheaper housing.
I believe we are at the top of the market here and anyone who purchases now will lose in the long run. It's pretty scary. Nobody really knows what is going to happen after the election. I feel we will get a new government but they are planning to pull money out of their asses if they come through with half of their promises.
It is very worrisome.
We have good public medicine here but I see it getting more and more like the US system. We also do not have dental on our public medicine and I don't understand that. Another thing is that in the past years, private insurance, to help pay the gap for physiotherapy, medication not on our PBS and other formerly fully-covered medical procedures has become necessary. We now have long waiting lists to access the public health system and fewer doctors will bill Medicare directly - it's hard to make a living when the government kicks in less and less.
Schools will be the next to suffer, I believe. Parents are having to pay more and more for supplies and fees for both public and private school. Food and petrol, like in all areas, is going through the roof and now in year eight of a very bad drought, farmers are simply walking away from their properties. We are the driest continent on the planet so it is already bad.
For example, they say that our produce costs will double within the next two months. We are now paying $7.99/kilo for bananas. After a typhoon 18-months ago, we were paying $14.99/kilo but as banana trees are re-planted each year, the industry recovered. But now, lettuce that we pay $3.99 a head for will be nearly $8 within two months time. This is shocking. We do get yearly cost of living raises - but there is no way any average family will be able to keep up with all the other cost rises.
I am glad that I am thrifty. I am glad that we garden, can and preserve, love to cook and entertain at our home and also...dumpster dive. No matter how much we make, it all goes so quickly these days and it is going out faster now.
These are scary times. I think what makes it even worse is that the world is so connected now, financially. If one major country takes a dive, I fear many others that are dependent upon imports or exports from that country will go down with it.
China seems to be doing very well, though.
hmmmm....