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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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Maureen
Maureen from NSW commented:

Maureen. NSW we were doing fine until we got full Hospital HealthCover.Fees high and I had a few sleepless nights thinking about it but we had to do it! 

lucia
lucia from NSW replied to Maureen:

When my husband went to hospital,(many times, for long periods,) because we had top health cover we had huge gaps to pay, so i told them next time we had no private health, then felt bad about the lie, so told them the truth & said i wanted him under the public system, however, i wanted to nominate the specialists we wanted. I was then told something they usually keep from you, you can go in as a private patient with NO GAPS.& that's what we did from then on, had we known this earlier we could have saved a bomb. 

Brent
Brent from NSW commented:

Real savings and not just another marketing show.. 

Margaret
Margaret from NSW commented:

The cost of insurances could be better. Currently have car insurance with Apia, who are supposedly for the over 'over 55s' and initially premium was well below others. However, in the ensuing years, cost has risen to above other well known companies. Why is that? Am yet again looking to change providers for a better deal. 

lucia
lucia from NSW replied to Margaret:

It pays to shop around every year. I know it's a nuisance, but worth it 

Someone
Someone from NSW replied to Margaret:

Margaret, APIA is a joke. The only helping they want to do is to help people lose their money. They need to be named and shamed. Their premium for my car was way higher than my current insurance. NRMA is a joke as well. 

Terry
Terry from NSW commented:

Why do we have to get onto facebook or twitter to view deals. I personally HATE both of them. I actually DO have a facebook account & get CONSTANT messages & POKES that have NOTHING to do with me??????????????? Put the deals on email for crying out loud otherwise I'm outa here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Margaret
Margaret from NSW replied to Terry:

Totally agree! Not everyone prescribes to Facebook and Twitter - myself being one of those people. Emails would be far better for access. 

Lisa - Fifty Up Club
Lisa - Fifty Up Club from NSW replied to Terry:

Hi Terry, When the future campaigns are up and running you won't have to log on to Facebook or Twitter to see the deals. Customers (where applicable) will receive emails and those who don't have computers will hear future deals advertised on 2GB / 2CH so the word will be out there and nobody misses out! Thank you for your feedback. 

Valerie
Valerie from NSW commented:

With regards to children staying home longer, I have a daughter who is a single mum of 4 teenagers, she had trouble renting because landlords didn't Want 5 adults in a house so I put a deposit on a house which she is paying off. My son at 36 needed somewhere to live so I bought him a micro apartment (on site van). He pays the loan in the form of rent. I don't think our children can manage without their parents help. Why wait till you are dead to help them, it is nice to see them happy and settled while I am alive 

Antonius
Antonius from NSW replied to Valerie:

If we spend enough time, energy and money on our kids they would not need any help by the time we retire, both of mine are doing better than I ever expected. GYRO 

Valerie
Valerie from NSW replied to Antonius:

Hi Antonius, I couldn't agree more, we never know what lies around the corner for us or our children, and grandchildren, you never waste an investment of time in your family 

Lisa - Fifty Up Club
Lisa - Fifty Up Club from NSW replied to Valerie:

Hi Valerie, It is great you are helping your kids out and thank you for the feedback. Hopefully future deals will be up and running soon enough! All the best. Lisa 

Jennifer
Jennifer from NSW commented:

Just a fair go is all we should be asking for, all could benefit from the reductions everyone is asking for not only the over 50's. Health services in rural areas, fuel and power would be a great start 

brian
brian from NSW commented:

yes fifty up readers, I would like to see someone lobby the nsw government on road tolls, we are getting new tolls every year and very soon o.a.p will not be fit to pay for the road, I would like to see all 65 ear old and over have a $2 limit on all road tolls throughout australia 

lucia
lucia from NSW replied to brian:

DITTO! Also, why don't they give seniors free dog registration,(we need the company at our age) & free police checks when we have to have them for volunteering work? 

Paul
Paul from ACT commented:

There is an article in the latest newsletter about "1st Home Buyers Forced To Stay Home" - do what we did, as most of us have a lot of equity in our homes we bought an investment property and put the kids in it, they pay rent and we have a tax deduction which pays for overseas holidays each year !! a win-win all around - my boys and their partners get along well and they do pay the rent on time. 

Someone
Someone from NSW replied to Paul:

typical Canberra person always wanting a tax-free vacation, another hand-out! 

Olivia - FiftyUp Club
Olivia - FiftyUp Club from NSW commented:

Hi there, please keep your comments to constructive feedback or just general information on what FiftyUp Club members are in need of. 

Anne
Anne from NSW commented:

Discounts on energy and insurance. An end to paying GST on essential services such as energy. Also an end to paying both GST and stamp duty on the same bill eg insurance. 

Margaret
Margaret from NSW commented:

Would like to see reduced Council rates for self-funded retirees and also assistance from the Federal Government in the form of access to a Health Card. After all 95% of retirees have paid taxes for years so it wouldn't hurt the Government to give a little back 

Someone
Someone from NSW replied to Margaret:

that would be wishful thinking Margaret but good luck on that one ..... 

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