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News$700k worth of savings tips from the government
$700k worth of savings tips from the government

$700k worth of savings tips from the government

Tags: Energy Information
Last updated by Someone on

Unless you’ve been living under a rock lately, you would have noticed all the talk about energy prices. If you have been off the grid (pun intended), there’s no hiding from your energy bill, which will find you eventually. 

And so will the Federal Government’s latest $700,000 ad campaign!

Launched this month, the Powering Forward Campaign reportedly cost tax-payers $300,000 for 60 seconds of airtime during the AFL & NRL Grand Finals, and as much as $700,000 in fees to a Melbourne ad agency.

There's some useful information buried in there, but it's hidden behind propaganda pushing the government's energy policy credentials.

What do you think of the campaign?

Our take? The website contains some useful info for people wanting to save on power bills, for example it links to the Energy Made Easy comparison site and the Victorian Switchon site to compare offers.

It also contains energy efficiency tips for households, which can be handy.

But all that useful stuff is buried behind the silly “powering forward” slogan and some bumph about the Government’s Snowy Hydro 2.0 and gas reservation policies.

They’re important, but we’d like to see the moneysaving info up front and centre!

Here’s something else you can do to save.

A couple of months back, the Fiftyup Club started our Power-Up Campaign,  which now boasts a staggering 50,000 registrations nationally That tells us that you do want to do something about energy prices even if it’s just to send a message to power companies that enough is enough.

While Australia may rank second in the world for quality-of-life, we rate first in the world for the highest energy prices. Data from the Carbon + Energy Markets' MarkIntell service says we’re ahead of Germany, Denmark and Italy with 4 Australian states in the top ten (click here to see the list).

This despite Australia having every energy resource available in the world including coal, wind, solar, nuclear and sea-water hydro power.

What can you do? It’s as easy as picking up the phone, calling your energy retailer and asking for a better deal. Don’t take no for an answer. The energy market has never been so competitive and you can get results, with many members reporting savings in the hundreds of dollars.

Click here to see the latest Fiftyup Club energy offers, extended for a limited time only


 

 

Originally posted on .

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Jenny
Jenny from QLD commented:

I have just joined switched my car insurance to Coles and saved $270 . Not bad for a few minutes of my time. Thank you fiftyupclub , much appreciated.Jenny P. 

Jess - FiftyUp Club
Jess - FiftyUp Club from QLD replied to Jenny:

Great news Jenny! 

Ian
Ian from QLD replied to Jenny:

I will NOT join either Coles or Woolworths because of what they have done to the private business owners and to the farmers. Profit before people is their moto. 

Peter
Peter from NSW commented:

Anonymous from NSW Why should we give these so call Liberal party a large pension and take it of them and give more to the every day person to live on and also they will not work and get their pension at the same time 

Valerie
Valerie from NSW replied to Peter:

Labour pollies have their fingers in the pie along with their union mates. Leaving this beautiful country of ours in a total mess. 

Peter
Peter from QLD commented:

Those who have worked & paid taxes all their life have EARNED the right to a pension. By all means stop the handouts to undeserving people but treat each case on it's merits, e.g. work for the dole should start with those who've been on welfare the longest. Politicians should be forced to lead by example & be subject to the same rules as everyone else, having to wait to reach a qualifying age to access their overgenerous taxpayer funded super, the increased retirement age should apply to them as well, it's time to put an end to their hypocrisy. Perhaps Mr. Hockey would like to comment on this. 

Felicity
Felicity from NSW replied to Peter:

If you had read the info it said the Age Pension is quarantined from the revision 

Peter
Peter from QLD replied to Felicity:

That's true Felicity (for now), but can the government be trusted? They're already looking at including the family home in the assets test. Something I forgot to comment on was Mr. Hockey's statement that the age of entitlements was over. Of course he didn't stipulate WHO'S entitlements did he? They hide behind that word when they're trying to justify their obscene perks, which should never have been handed out in the first place. 

Anne
Anne from QLD replied to Felicity:

I agree with Peter. Nothing is quarantined.. it is political jargon ... You just wait. 

Anne
Anne from QLD replied to Peter:

How true Peter ... Well! for Mr Hockey .. he is too busy watching his waistline .. which he did not achieve from hard work and exercise ... Wonder if he claimed on Medicare .. hmmm! 

Bill
Bill from NSW replied to Anne:

How true Anne, I also wonder if he went on the waiting list or just jumped the cue as all pollies do. 

Anne
Anne from QLD replied to Bill:

Don't think he jumped queue. He was too huge. I think he started his own list and he was the only on that list.. 

Dell
Dell from QLD commented:

I know of so many people on a disability pension that should not be. One is a man about 45. He and his wife get a pension because he can't take orders. The wife buys and sells cars and makes a very good living on the side. what about the woman that was on current affair on Monday night having the baby with 2 faces and 2 brains. They have 7 children already and she is on a disability pension and he get a carer's pension. I could not see why she is on a disability pension. There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with her. How much would they be getting per week with 7 children. Leave the old age pensioners alone. They have worked all their life and paid taxes so have earned their pensions. Crack down on these bludgers on disability pensions and people on the dole who are too lazy to work. Cut the dole out after 6 months. Then they would have to look for work. 

Anne
Anne from QLD replied to Dell:

I too was appalled when watching a current affair. Yes big bucks for the 7 children. Furthermore wasting all that money spent on pre natal and later anti natal care for a child that will not survive. - That is cruelty to the unborn child. If she can have a child - she must either have good morphine shots for her pain or is just a bludger. At one point when Tracey Grimshaw asked her what she would do for money and how she would bring up the child she answered -'Well I will have to go back to work' Yes says it all.. And the husband looks bloody fit ... And to think they will get old age pension eventually when I too have worked my arse off to save for retirement and buy my house which may be taken into account as an asset. Well you can't eat a house - unless it is gingerbread ... We are going to be stuffed as a country in 10 or 15 years. 

Valerie
Valerie from NSW replied to Dell:

I know quite a few young men on the disability pension because they are illiterate. 

Anne
Anne from QLD replied to Valerie:

Being illiterate is not a disability. If children stuff uo schooling or were not fortunate to be educated ..these days one has a second chance. . Go to tafe. Just an excuse to bludge. No sympathy from me. 

Robert
Robert from NSW commented:

Leave the Family home alone, I help vote this Government in but if the family home is ever taken into account I will help vote you out. Rob 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

stop the hand outs they are now to be expected all the time for the wrong reasons, be firm on union threats and stupid unrealistic demands, Help people in need but not for life any body who have not worked for over six months should be looked at carefully and to see if there is a pattern of avoidence to look or try and work. First look after our own people, Help those who need it. New arrivals must show they can prove who they are and at least have a traceable background befor setteling here. 

Frank
Frank from NSW commented:

When I voted in September I thought I knew the policies...how can one prepare for retirement if only contributing to super for the last few years. Especially if the family home is to be considered as an asset. how do you set up a family trust 

rodney
rodney from NSW commented:

I have never been out of work and have now retired with part pension and a small allocated pension from a small super account. If the family home is included in the asset test I will probably lose the part pension. Will Joe then start to give out food vouchers or coupons like after the war or just let us starve.. GOOD ONE JOE !!!?? 

Frank
Frank from NSW commented:

The age of responsibility is a interesting term, I suppose that the pollies will be quite responsible in ensuring that their retirement is well catered for. 

Rhonda
Rhonda from ACT commented:

I agree with Alan from Qld. I don't think there is anything to which we are 'entitled' and letting people think there is does them a disservice. If we get any assistance from any source, Government or other, we should be grateful . Life doesn't come with guarantees and sadly many have been raised to think it does. I think it is good policy for the vast majority to stand on their own two feet. That way the government can offer a safety net to those dealt the hardest of blows and not be expected to hand out for every situation. Out country is way out in front of most when it comes to education and medical care - but we only seem to notice the times we are refused something. I am extremely glad to have been born in Australia rather than elsewhere. If you know anything of most other places the opportunities and benefits here are way better! 

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