Average/necessary salary vs. living expenses

[Knobby22]

Jesus Julia, that's bloody extortion!

My electricity bill for me + wife running 2 PC's 24/7, a fridge & bar fridge and using a clothes dryer often, as well as both being a sucker for long showers is about $1600/year, without solar. Rates and water on the gold coast is about $3000 a year. Not sure about Brisbane, where I now live, as I've never seen a rates notice up here and haven't gone digging for the info.

I've read a lot of your posts on here over the last year or so and I figure you're a smart enough lady to know how to find a better deal, so if that's the best on offer where you live, that's just nasty...

I'm shocked. Have a family of 4 and I'm the same! Rates $1500 a year.
Electricity and water $1400 a year but we use a clothesline. No dryer, don't water garden, no solar etc. One fridge.
We have gas though - is that the reason for the big difference, Julia?

 

[Julia]

Jesus Julia, that's bloody extortion!

My electricity bill for me + wife running 2 PC's 24/7, a fridge & bar fridge and using a clothes dryer often, as well as both being a sucker for long showers is about $1600/year, without solar. Rates and water on the gold coast is about $3000 a year. Not sure about Brisbane, where I now live, as I've never seen a rates notice up here and haven't gone digging for the info.

I've read a lot of your posts on here over the last year or so and I figure you're a smart enough lady to know how to find a better deal, so if that's the best on offer where you live, that's just nasty...

I'm shocked. Have a family of 4 and I'm the same! Rates $1500 a year.
Electricity and water $1400 a year but we use a clothesline. No dryer, don't water garden, no solar etc. One fridge.
We have gas though - is that the reason for the big difference, Julia?

Agree that the rates are extortion. A cousin living in one of Sydney's nicest areas on a large block with a $2M home pays far less, with access to all that Sydney has to offer.

To be fair about the electricity, I'm running a pool which is what takes up most of it, including both solar and heat pump to heat the pool in winter.

I do water the garden (though I have three 5000 litre water tanks also) and lawns if necessary.

Re finding a better deal, there's no choice. Council sets the rates, I'm not eligible for any discount, and ditto water.

 

[Smurf1976]

I've read a lot of your posts on here over the last year or so and I figure you're a smart enough lady to know how to find a better deal, so if that's the best on offer where you live, that's just nasty...

I know your comment was intended for someone else, but if you're outside the major cities there is no such thing as "choice" for many people.

Electricity - it's either Aurora Energy, build my own power station, or sit in the dark. No choice there.

Rates - either I pay the council the $1400 a year that they ask for or I'll end up in court.

Water - again either I pay or I'll be in trouble. Even disconnection isn't an option - they still have a legal right to charge for the service being available whether I use it or not.

Car rego and third party insurance - again either I pay the government for this, don't have a car, or wait for the fine to arrive and take the risk of not having third party insurance. No choice there.

Even where there is "competition" there isn't much to be gained in many cases. What is the real price difference between Coles and Woolworths? Or Shell and Caltex? In some industries there are significant differences, for example insurance, but for many common purchases there's little or no difference even where there is a choice.

 

[Smurf1976]

I'm shocked. Have a family of 4 and I'm the same! Rates $1500 a year.
Electricity and water $1400 a year but we use a clothesline. No dryer, don't water garden, no solar etc. One fridge.
We have gas though - is that the reason for the big difference, Julia?

Rates - I pay about the same here in Tasmania.

Power - I'd say that anything under $2000 a year is pretty low these days but it will depend hugely on where you live and whether or not you also use gas, oil, wood or solar. There's really no such thing as a "normal" bill or a "normal" consumer these days - it's not like 25 years ago when there was far less variation between individual houses since most had pretty much the same appliances and usage.

 

[Julia]

Exactly, Smurf. Only one energy supplier here. They can charge what they like.
Every bill shows an increase in the kw hour charge. Nothing we can do about it.

 

[Vixs]

I know your comment was intended for someone else, but if you're outside the major cities there is no such thing as "choice" for many people.

Electricity - it's either Aurora Energy, build my own power station, or sit in the dark. No choice there.

Rates - either I pay the council the $1400 a year that they ask for or I'll end up in court.

Water - again either I pay or I'll be in trouble. Even disconnection isn't an option - they still have a legal right to charge for the service being available whether I use it or not.

Car rego and third party insurance - again either I pay the government for this, don't have a car, or wait for the fine to arrive and take the risk of not having third party insurance. No choice there.

Even where there is "competition" there isn't much to be gained in many cases. What is the real price difference between Coles and Woolworths? Or Shell and Caltex? In some industries there are significant differences, for example insurance, but for many common purchases there's little or no difference even where there is a choice.

Fair point. There is obviously some inefficency in the economies of scale for providing water and rubbish disposal to an area of 55000 people. Must be a nice part of our beautiful country if noone's kicked down the council's door and asked to see the budget though .

Back on topic: Addressing the issue of 'I've found what I like but it doesn't pay well.' - Is there something you particularly excel at in your field? Is there something you would like to change? An inefficiency that drives you nuts? A product that would make the job easier not just for you but for everyone that does it? They're all opportunities to make a little more cash while still being part of the industry you love.

You're on an investment forum, so you are aware that there are many ways to supplement your wage. Keep that door open, supplemental income doesn't end with dividends, interest and rent.

 

[Eager]

Is that right, Eager: I live in such a location (pop 55,000, coastal fast growing city within reasonable distance to capital city.
Rates: $2300 p.a.
Electricity & water: $5000 p.a.

So maybe don't be so sure of your suggestions to others when you are not factually aware.

Oops, I obviously wasn't thinking of coastal towns, which come with the associated premium on property prices.

Consider a place like Ballarat, population 100,000, rich in history and arts/culture and just a 70 minute train ride to Melbourne. You can still buy a 700m2 block of land close-in for not much more than $100k. That is where the real difference is - land prices.

The savings can be put towards the cost of commuting if necessary, or put towards an energy efficient and mostly self-sustaining home.

(No, I don't live in Ballarat).

 

[waza1960]

Well this is a contest I wish I wasn't winning annual power bill $4,800/yr.Has been $3,500 to $4,000/yr for the last 8 yrs and I have solar hot water
BTW I am with the cheapest energy provider in my area which is DODO.

 

[CanOz]

Well this is a contest I wish I wasn't winning annual power bill $4,800/yr.Has been $3,500 to $4,000/yr for the last 8 yrs and I have solar hot water
BTW I am with the cheapest energy provider in my area which is DODO.

Good grief waza, what the heck you doing with all the power?:kiffer::dance:LOL!

CanOz

 

[McLovin]

Good grief waza, what the heck you doing with all the power?:kiffer::dance:LOL!

CanOz

I'll take a guess...

 

[waza1960]

Good grief waza, what the heck you doing with all the power?LOL!

CanOz

Well I'm on tank water so have to pump household water ( no water rates though),pool,8 computers,big house,older fully ducted AC 3 phase ( not very efficient by current standards).
Probably use the clothes drier too much...........

 

[waza1960]

I'll take a guess...

LOL I wish . Then trading would be fun just use it to launder money

 

[CanOz]

LOL I wish . Then trading would be fun just use it to launder money

LOL@ McLovin...you dug that up quickly McDrug Baron....!:nono:

Quit wasting your time with FX Waza!, Put that power to some good use!

CanOz

 

[Smurf1976]

I'll take a guess...

Either that or there's a potline (aluminium smelter) sitting in the backyard.

Or maybe the whole house is heated to sauna-like temperatures all winter?

Throws a "welding party" every weekend and gets mates to bring their welders around and plug them in?

Seriously, that bill sounds too high to me and I'm sure it could be cut by at least $1000 without too much hassle.

 

[waza1960]

Seriously, that bill sounds too high to me and I'm sure it could be cut by at least $1000 without too much hassle.

I know what your saying but I have been unable to make a significant reduction over the years despite my best efforts.1K saving would be difficult I reckon

 

[numbercruncher]

Exactly, Smurf. Only one energy supplier here. They can charge what they like.
Every bill shows an increase in the kw hour charge. Nothing we can do about it.

Decreasing your dependance on these thieves is a great start ..... Solar , more efficent appliances etc etc ...

Our ancestors lived comfortably for thousands of years without flick of the switch electricity , im sure we can live very comfortably with all our new technologies and rebirthing some old ones ....

 

[Julia]

Decreasing your dependance on these thieves is a great start ..... Solar , more efficent appliances etc etc ...

Our ancestors lived comfortably for thousands of years without flick of the switch electricity , im sure we can live very comfortably with all our new technologies and rebirthing some old ones ....

I have no wish to live in the sort of misery endured by my ancestors, thanks.
Already have 150% of the pool's surface area in solar tubing on the roof.

And I have no interest in having wet clothes strung across a verandah eg rather than run the dryer for half an hour.

Why make the assumption that the appliances are not already energy efficient?

 

[CanOz]

And I have no interest in having wet clothes strung across a verandah eg rather than run the dryer for half an hour.

We don't have kids yet, but its amazing how you don't miss the dryer when you don't have one. In China its very difficult to even buy a dryer, there is no demand for them. We just use a frame that we set up and take down. Works ok, but there is only two of us. I also miss the dryer for blowing off the cat hair!

CanOz

 

[McLovin]

And I have no interest in having wet clothes strung across a verandah eg rather than run the dryer for half an hour.

Really? I actually hate clothes out of the dryer, they just feel strange. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

 

[Julia]

We don't have kids yet, but its amazing how you don't miss the dryer when you don't have one. In China its very difficult to even buy a dryer, there is no demand for them. We just use a frame that we set up and take down. Works ok, but there is only two of us. I also miss the dryer for blowing off the cat hair!

CanOz

You may not miss one if you don't have it. I do.
And I feel no compulsion to make my life more difficult by doing without it.

Really? I actually hate clothes out of the dryer, they just feel strange.

Perhaps you're using the dryer on the wrong setting or drying too many articles from wet. Mostly I'm able to get things dry in the sun, but if I can't, it all feels exactly the same out of the dryer as just off the sun warmed line.