Gas Prices are cool!

[Bartrim]

That he may be Kup. But in my life experience (ie: "the baby boomers" and "Gen X'ers" I've met and known) that statement seems pretty accurate. In my family growing up we didn't have a phone or a car until I was 5. Why? Simple, we couldn't afford them. The problem today (or as it appears to me) is that people want it all. They want to live the lifestyle and own a house without sacrificing anything from that lifestyle. The way I was brought up was needs come first. If it came down to it my house payments would take priority over collecting TF's or whatever.

If you want to own a house so bad You'll be able to work it out.

[kup]

I cannot afford upwards of $600 per week.

[Bartrim]

Yet you can afford your hobbies? You don't have the time to take a 2nd job?

Before making such a statement you have to consider these things.

[STL]

You are assuming too much with that statement.

It's a sentiment that I've seen battered around by people in the older age group. Not all of them, mind you. I'm not saying I agree with it but it is out there and it kind of scares me.

[kup]

It's a sentiment that I've seen battered around by people in the older age group. Not all of them, mind you. I'm not saying I agree with it but it is out there and it kind of scares me.

My Uncle emigrated from England roughly 30 years ago as a young man with almost no money. When he arrived he quickly found cheap accommodation and people literally knocked his door to offer jobs. Very soon he purchased his own reasonably large home at something ridiculous like $20,000 or less. After a couple years he and a friend saved enough money went on a trip around the world that lasted over a year. A couple of years after this he met my aunt and went on another trip around the world for roughly the same amount of time.

These days his $20,000 home is now worth well over a million and because he doesn't have to pay a mortgage or rent he has 2-3 Holiday trips overseas per year and is pretty much set.

Very tough life indeed.

[STL]

My Uncle emigrated from England roughly 30 years ago as a young man with almost no money. When he arrived he quickly found cheap accommodation and people literally knocked his door to offer jobs. Very soon he purchased his own reasonably large home at something ridiculous like $20,000 or less. After a couple years he and a friend saved enough money went on a trip around the world that lasted over a year. A couple of years after this he met my aunt and went on another trip around the world for roughly the same amount of time.

These days his $20,000 home is now worth well over a million and because he doesn't have to pay a mortgage or rent he has 2-3 Holiday trips overseas per year and is pretty much set.

Very tough life indeed.

I'm not disputing that house prices have soared excessively, just stating that the sentinment is out there. And I agree w/ you. We live in a much different society nowadays.

The market forces have changed dramatically, government social policy has changed, people's values have changed. The gap b/n rich and poor has widened and that carries implications. The middle class is thinning and that places pressures on families. Globalisation has transformed the world and reaped great benefits but it too has sown great detriment. We move forward but what I find grieves me greatly is how the disparity between the rich and the poor. I work 3 jobs. I could gloat on about how much i've done and how I deserve everything I have. But I don't. It saddens me that we forget that. As people, our first priority should be a sense of compassion to one another. Yet so often are interests and agendas put ahead of that. We vigorously defend those interests in a righteous manner when what matters most is not those interests. It is how relate to one another.

The issues are complicated, I acknowledge. There is no easy fix to problems such as negative gearing. There are social and economic forces and motivations here that we cannot pretend to control. I'm not advocating that we sit there and accept it. But at the same time, the necessity of action cannot be ignored. It is not an easy crossroads that we find ourselves at and I believe it is the role of government to shape the direction in which we head, to bridge that disparity. I can't say I'm overly optimisitc, but one has to hope in something.


We have the capacity for self-determination and commitment. We have the capacity to exceed our own expectations of ourselves. We have the capacity to generate an income that enables us to lead the lifestyle we so desire. However, at the same time we possess the capacity for compassion and friendship. We may be stronger willed than others, more prudent than others, more skilled than others but let's not hold that as a bludgeon w/ which we can righteously assert our own selves. Let's use our capacity for compassion, our skill and prudence to help those less fortunate in our society.

[Fungal Infection]

I think you guys are overly pessimistic in your views of home ownership. I don't make that much, work a retail profession yet I own an investment property and am currently looking to buy my first home with my wife. Years ago, I made a conscious decision to sell near to 75% of my TF and toy collection. The reason? Because I knew if I wanted to own my own home sometime down the line, I needed to make sacrifices now. Do I regret selling my TFs and other toys? Not in the least. Why? Because I'm setting myself up for the future where home ownership is a reality for me. So I'm not about to shed a tear for any of you who claim that home ownership is impossible. It is possible if you are willing to make the sacrifice(s) needed.

[kup]

Even if I sell ALL my TF toys at double their cost I still can't afford a $600pw mortgage.

[Fungal Infection]

Thats where investment properties come in. I bought that first, made my money, now I'm looking for my own home. If I can do it, anyone can, and I mean anyone.

[dirge]

The Baby Boomers are only able to buy these houses b/c they have money to invest. It's their right to.

Which is fair enough. But the way the system in Australia is set up, much of that investment money is being channeled into residential property, which is a large part of the reason why our housing prices are so high.

I don't have any issue with an individual choosing the best way to invest. I have an issue with those in a position to do something to work towards a better long term solution whose not even willing to discuss it because of short term unpopularity.

I think you guys are overly pessimistic in your views of home ownership. I don't make that much, work a retail profession yet I own an investment property and am currently looking to buy my first home with my wife. Years ago, I made a conscious decision to sell near to 75% of my TF and toy collection. It is possible if you are willing to make the sacrifice(s) needed.

See, I've got a deposit. I save quite a bit - even with my collecting. But the thing that really kills it is the _income_. With a single income, the repayments just screw me. Now with any luck I'll marry and be able to buy one day. If not, that's that.

I'm not complaining, personally. The rent I pay is pretty good. And I like where I live. Yes, I'd like to own, but I can with with renting, provided I'm in a decent situation (as I am now). But on the level of society, the housing market just seems so unhealthy.