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NewsThe top ten postcodes where paying bills are causing strain on over 50’s
The top ten postcodes where paying bills are causing strain on over 50’s

The top ten postcodes where paying bills are causing strain on over 50’s

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Older residents from Campbelltown, New South Wales and Hervey Bay, Queensland are under the most strain when it comes to paying household bills like private health insurance, electricity bills and council rates, according to a survey of over 50s.

The FiftyUp Club has released the top ten postcodes experiencing household bill strain from a survey of 15,000 members nation-wide.

Postcodes in Victoria including 3199 (Frankston) and Berwick (3806) also showed significant bill strain.

TOP 10 SUBURBS EXPERIENCING BILL STRAIN

And they are not alone; up to 60% of older Australians across the nation suffer stress paying household bills with private health insurance being the hardest to pay according to a survey of over 50s.

The bills they find hardest to pay include;

  • Health insurance (29%)
  • Electricity (22%)
  • Rates (12%)

 

 

 

The 15,000 respondents to the Fair Go for Fifty Ups campaign also listed the sacrifices they had to make to pay day-to-day bills with 47% raiding savings, going into credit card debt and cutting back on essentials such as food and clothing in order to foot their bills.

“We asked older Australians about a range of cost of living pressures and they clearly cited stress over meeting bills as a number one difficulty. Perhaps given the demographic their concern over the cost of private health insurance made it the hardest of all the bills to pay,” said FiftyUp spokesman Christopher Zinn.

Christopher Zinn appeared on Channel 7 News in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney discussing the bill strain expressed by FiftyUp Club members.

The FiftyUpClub.com is a consumer network with more than 129,000 members aged 50 and over. The Fair Go for FiftyUps campaign was launched to gauge the national mood around how older Australians are affected by rising costs and which government policies can help.

Originally posted on .

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The top ten postcodes where paying bills are causing strain on over 50’s

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scott
scott from NSW commented:

After seeing the loyalty our elected leaders did, to a person who has , backed them defended them protected them, they could betray our P.M. what hope is there for us 

margaret
margaret from NSW replied to scott:

"what hope is there for us?" Well yes .Maybe they would have not felt the need for achange if the leader THEY elected had led a government that had backed, defended, and protected the most vulnerable of those who voted for THEM. Unfortunately the discarded promises in the first budget was regarded as such a betrayal of trust, and indication of attitude and intent that the second attempt could not erase.the electorates unease. A few unfortunate remarks only confirmed the problem of 'attitude'. Regrettably this was felt not only by those effected, and those who were not personally unaffected but with a connection to someone who was, but finally it started to affect the vote of those who had little interest in the fate of their fellow human due to a previously held I'm all right so #$@#*# you' way of thinking. As pollies are only human, and humans put their job, and their ability to house and feed themselves and their families foremost when decisions are to be made, they decided rightly or wrongly it was time to make a change. Therefore I think the change of leader was effected by that idea of "what hope is their for us" 

margaret
margaret from NSW replied to margaret:

Sorry the above was posted by mistake and should have first been edited. Should read 'those who were not personally AFFECTED but with a connection...... 

Ivan
Ivan from QLD replied to scott:

It is human nature Scott, they could see the looming prospect of losing their seats in the next election and of course had to look after number one. 

graham and lyn
graham and lyn from NSW commented:

paying power bills is our biggest worry because it leaves no room for an unexpected expense and causes sleepless nights often!! 

Robyn
Robyn from WA commented:

I am so not sure what the solution is for pensioners who are not able to keep up with bills? We are the "Nouveau Poor" and it is extremely serious. The ruminating about Tony Abbott perhaps losing much of his "benefits" since he was deposed only 4 days short of his two years, to be left with only $300:000 annually or thereabouts for retirement made me cry. 

margaret
margaret from NSW replied to Robyn:

Oh I share those tears. It beggars belief that such a man, a good Christian man, a man who goes to church each Sunday, a man not only willing to share his Christian beliefs with one and all but be kind enough to force them upon one and all, should be reduced to such poverty. If only that which he and his government wished upon the less fortunate, pensioners, the unemployed, the underemployed, deserted mothers and children, and others in unfortunate positions, should be his lot. But no, a good, and in fact generous income is to be his. As I brush away yet another tear I am consoled by the knowledge that he will bear this like the man he is. By the way has anyone seen him lately, seems to have vanished? 

Warren
Warren from NSW replied to Robyn:

Compare his payout/pension with Rudd/Gillard who sent us all down the gurgler. 

Robyn
Robyn from WA commented:

I am so not sure what the solution is for pensioners who are not able to keep up with bills? We are the "Nouveau Poor" and it is extremely serious. The ruminating about Tony Abbott perhaps losing much of his "benefits" since he was deposed only 4 days short of his two years, to be left with only $300:000 annually or thereabouts for retirement made me cry. 

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