I need to know....

[dedja]

Don't put all blue collar in that bucket. I can tell you most blue collar would be earning well above my white collar salary.

Who wears a white collar these days anyway?

Things were so much simpler in the 70's ... says the old bastard

[Mr Beefy]

People who are doing well are doing really well, those struggling are really struggling ... it's two paced, exacerbated by the Covid years and the fall-out we are experiencing now.

Agreed but would those not doing well not be doing well anyway? No matter how tge economy is going there is a portion struggling

People may have been getting by, not struggling, but when your rent goes up $100-$200 a week it can turn it into a real struggle

[am Bays]

People who are doing well are doing really well, those struggling are really struggling ... it's two paced, exacerbated by the Covid years and the fall-out we are experiencing now.

Agreed but would those not doing well not be doing well anyway? No matter how tge economy is going there is a portion struggling

People may have been getting by, not struggling, but when your rent goes up $100-$200 a week it can turn it into a real struggle

When your loan goes up $100-$200 a week it can turn it into a real struggle too.

[MW]

People who are doing well are doing really well, those struggling are really struggling ... it's two paced, exacerbated by the Covid years and the fall-out we are experiencing now.

Agreed but would those not doing well not be doing well anyway? No matter how tge economy is going there is a portion struggling

People may have been getting by, not struggling, but when your rent goes up $100-$200 a week it can turn it into a real struggle

When your loan goes up $100-$200 a week it can turn it into a real struggle too.

I know which one I feel more for...

[am Bays]

I know which one I feel more for...

Are you suggesting that people spending X% of their income on rent are more special than people spending the same X% on a mortgage?

[Booney]

[Booney]

.

[am Bays]

Is there an echo in here??

[MW]

I know which one I feel more for...

Are you suggesting that people spending X% of their income on rent are more special than people spending the same X% on a mortgage?

I'm suggesting that people spending X% of their income on rent are more special than people spending the same X% on a rental mortgage

[amber_fluid]

I know which one I feel more for...

Are you suggesting that people spending X% of their income on rent are more special than people spending the same X% on a mortgage?

I'm suggesting that people spending X% of their income on rent are more special than people spending the same X% on a rental mortgage

Spoken like a true white collar worker!

But I do agree also

[MW]

I've never rented a day in my life and hope I never have too.
Just can't get my head around paying someone else's mortgage, but totally understand why and how some have to rent.

[dedja]

I've never rented a day in my life and hope I never have too.
Just can't get my head around paying someone else's mortgage, but totally understand why and how some have to rent.

Yes you do … when you go on holidays.

[MW]

Well yeah I suppose

[Dutchy]

Interesting stat I saw the other day, last year 1/3rd of all house settlements were paid in cash (no mortgage)

[MW]

Interesting stat I saw the other day, last year 1/3rd of all house settlements were paid in cash (no mortgage)

The source of that cash is what concerns me

[Pseudo]

Interesting stat I saw the other day, last year 1/3rd of all house settlements were paid in cash (no mortgage)

Nationwide, or just in QLD?

[Dutchy]

Interesting stat I saw the other day, last year 1/3rd of all house settlements were paid in cash (no mortgage)

The source of that cash is what concerns me

OS investors?

[MW]

Interesting stat I saw the other day, last year 1/3rd of all house settlements were paid in cash (no mortgage)

The source of that cash is what concerns me

OS investors?

Yeah you’d think so

[heater31]

People who are doing well are doing really well, those struggling are really struggling ... it's two paced, exacerbated by the Covid years and the fall-out we are experiencing now.

Agreed but would those not doing well not be doing well anyway? No matter how tge economy is going there is a portion struggling

People may have been getting by, not struggling, but when your rent goes up $100-$200 a week it can turn it into a real struggle

When your loan goes up $100-$200 a week it can turn it into a real struggle too.

Can vouch for that.....now paying around $1000 per month on the mortgage than when the loan was first taken out in 2020 at the start of this shit show!

Changed jobs too in that time for more $$$ but even that has been taken up by the general expenses.

Chery on top was being informed that I have a tax bill!

[Jim05]

I know this many cause some stick and I preface it that it doesn’t effect me as I am older and financially stable but…


Is the Cost of Living crisis as bad as the media makes it out to be or is it a media beat up? Certainly some are struggling but would those people be struggling anyway?

Just to mention a few things of recent times.

Melbourne GP sold out for the three major days, Thursday is close.
Record crowds at the Fringe
Record crowd for Round 1 of the AFL
NRL crowds up.
NBL Finals sold out.
Auction results/clearance rates very high.
LIV sold out
Gather Round sold out.
I know house prices and rent is increasing to some but not all.


Just a thought.

Had the exact conversation on the weekend.

In short I arrived at the fact people are still living life on the back of the COVID restrictions, people are out and about as we were pre-COVID and big ticket things are the ones suffering.

Harvey Norman sales were down 7.8% in the back half of last year ( year on year ). Travel is hard to gauge, there's less planes in the air and prices are up based on demand but my guess is people, in general, are taking less big holidays compared to before COVID. Particularly the middle of the road trips, weekends to Melbourne for the footy type thing.

New car sales were a record high last year, that number is already slowing on the back of the post Xmas period.

I also think post-COVID people are just living life as opposed to worrying so much about nest eggs or what might come in years ahead.
.

I think it’s a good conversation to have.

Harvey Norman would have to be lower in sales as they had record sales and profits in the three previous years They couldn’t keep that up.

Lot of people still seem to be holidaying in our own country are than overseas although I know many from all ages going O/S

International outbound travel from Australia is sitting at close to pre Covid levels but inbound is suffering and less tourists choosing to come here. Domestic travel is also close to pre Covid levels. Has been a massive increase in Premium fares for International flights out of Australia though and most business class seats are sold well in advance. A lot of Australians on our cruise and out and about in Europe currently