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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

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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jeff
jeff from QLD commented:

save on discount offers 

Shirley
Shirley from NSW commented:

Saving on Insurance - I have had driver's licence for 57 years without an accident. I am a good driver and practice courtesy on the road 

David - FiftyUp Club
David - FiftyUp Club from NSW replied to Shirley:

Great to hear you're a responsible driver Shirley. You certainly should be rewarded for being so. 

Someone
Someone from NSW replied to Shirley:

good for you Shirley and you like me deserve a better deal on our insurances. I have been driving for over 50 years both in Australia and the USA and had only received one traffic infringement ticket when I was 23. No accidents either ! but how does my record help me with my annual insurance premium. So far it hasn't ! 

Glen
Glen from VIC commented:

I've just received the renewal notice for my car insurance. It has jumped from $720 per annum to $812 per annum. My car is a small Ford Focus. The increase is approx 13%, The company is one which claims to look after pensioners. 

James
James from NSW commented:

A better for the most reliable sector of the consumer group, The current Apia insurance product does not deliver very competitive prices I tried them every year only to find that my current insurance is cheaper. Also how a lobby group for tax reform on saving accounts, not just superannuation which favours the wealthy. 

Noela
Noela from QLD commented:

Help me save on many products 

Graeme
Graeme from QLD commented:

to Anonymous of NSW Your comment I have worked all my working life, pay my taxes and pay into super so I feel I have a right to go and look at caravans or whatever I like as I have worked hard for what I intend to do with my money. My wife and I are raising our grandson with no government benefits no hand outs we get no discounts on medical we pay top dollar for scrips and yes its nice to look at what could be one day maybe grandparents who raise their grandchildren can get a little discount now and then. There you have some of my story and now can I say the question was when do you become a senior, I think I deserve now be classified as one. 

Someone
Someone from NSW replied to Graeme:

I'm nearly seventy and a pensioner and I'm not telling you what to do with your money but there are so many on this site that seem to want something for nothing. If you want to buy yourself a caravan, then go ahead and buy it but don't complain that you're not getting government assistance, when you have sufficient funds to look after yourselves. Just be grateful! 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

exactly, Annon, exactly !! If one can afford a $35,000 caravan then they don't obviously need discounts on things. They've already had their share of discounts in the form of child allowance when their kids were growing up. Now they want to jump to the front of the cue and get more discounts. They obviously are greedy people who have their priorities in the wrong order. Single people got NOTHING in the form of tax breaks all the way through their working lives. I have to work one day a week to pay for the essentials as again I get no break. I have saved up all my post tax money and have a meager amount in the bank for the future. That meager amount in the bank is earning meager interest on which I have to pay tax, again and again. Where does it ever end ?? !! 

Dennis
Dennis from ACT commented:

Hi ROSANNE I haven't tracked down a company for house/content yet. will keep you in the loop. Have you contacted Aussie Post yet? 

Loreen
Loreen from QLD commented:

to anonymous from NSW the point was when do you become a senior 50 I would of thought you were a senior by then 

Someone
Someone from NSW replied to Loreen:

I would have thought when you quality for a Seniors Card and that is age 60. 

Jeannette
Jeannette from NSW commented:

ATO DRAFT TAX RULING - Relocatable Home Parks GST Exposure ... Just got word about this. I've signed a petition about it. We're in a relocatable home, the ruling is going to add GST to our weekly site rent. All over Australia, people living in relocatable homes will be paying an extra 10% per week. Plus there's a rumour going about the park that the government will STOP the rental assistance subsidies. Please contact ... steven.Iselin@ato.gov.au (ATO Contact) and voice your objections. 

Bronwyn
Bronwyn from NSW commented:

Thanks Paul, I do have a good accountant & so far so good. Tax return improved this year( I've only owned it for 2 yrs) . I've got my knockers too, so I appreciate ur positivity. 

Paul
Paul from ACT replied to Bronwyn:

Have a chat to him/her about Capital Gains Tax as this will bite if you sell the property at any time - my solution is to rent until it's paid off, depending upon the loan arrangement etc.of course 

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