I was thinking about my comments again, and after reading some other stuff here, I would like to add that while our cost of living has certainly gone up a lot in the last decade, I think that is largely because our standards have gone up a lot too.
I think Oz is expensive these days, but our standard of living is very high too, so I'm not really complaining.
Now, if only I could get some wind..........

stehsegler said...

Flanagaj,

. Two big conglomerates own everything and hence can control the prices they pay farmers and prices they charge consumers.

http://www.insideretailing.com.au/Latest/tabid/53/ID/5551/Australias-top-20-retailer-rankings.aspx

There are 5 grocery chains listed in Australia's top 20 retailers. You can save money by shopping at Aldi if you can be bothered.

Ian K said...

stehsegler said...

Flanagaj,

. Two big conglomerates own everything and hence can control the prices they pay farmers and prices they charge consumers.

http://www.insideretailing.com.au/Latest/tabid/53/ID/5551/Australias-top-20-retailer-rankings.aspx

There are 5 grocery chains listed in Australia's top 20 retailers. You can save money by shopping at Aldi if you can be bothered.

You do realize that the majority of shops in that list are all owned by the two conglomerates?

Ian K said...

No didn't realise that. How many competing grocery chains would you say there are? There are fair trading laws that you'd hope are being abided by.

Westfarmers = Coles, Coles Express Petrol, BI-LO, Liquorland, Vintage Cellars, 1st Choice Liquor, Pcik'n'Pay, Bunnings, Harris Technology, Office Works, Target, KMart, Kleenheat Gas, Westfarmers LPG + 50% stake in FlyBuys + other interests in Insurance and Industrial

Woolworths Limited = Woolworths, Woolworths Liquor (formerly Mac's Liquore in some states), Safeway, Safeway Liquore, Flemmings, Thomas Dux Grocer, Macro Wholeffods, BWS (Beer Wine Spirits) Liquore, Dan Murphy's Liquore stores, Caltex, Big W, Dick Smith, Tandy, Lowes Hardware + Everyday Rewards / money and mobile

As you can see, there isn't much left as far as grocery retails is concerned. According to Costco's Chief financial officer both Coles and Woolworths have been trying to hold up and block the opening of Costco shops in Australia by objecting council submitted plans for new stores. Apparently this was done via Coles / Woolys funded laywers. Something both companies denny but it was apparently done in the same way for the Melbourne location as well as the Sydney location. In the case of the Sydney location it took Costco 2 years to get council approval for the store.

As for fair trading laws, anyone that believes those are working probably also believes in the tooth fairy and Santa Claus. Just face it we live in a country driven by greed at any cost.

after some offline discussions with some people it seems to dawn on me that the situation in regards to cost of living doesn't seem to be as bad in other states such as WA and SA compared to NSW. Not sure if it has to do with the most incompetent state government in the history of the universe or the fact that every greedy f..cker has descended on this state... maybe it's something in the water???

what do you do for a living flanagaj, it may not ne a problem if your on the right side of town.
We are becoming a segregated society of the haves, the neraly haves and a lot more have nots.....

Boris said...
Jesus christ. Take a box of tissues with you on the way out, or grow a pair, shut the F up, and start talking about windsurfing again.

Anger issues?

BTW, I think this fall into the same category as the person complaining about too many GoPro videos... yeah I don't like them either... but don't like don't look.

stehsegler said...

Boris said...
Jesus christ. Take a box of tissues with you on the way out, or grow a pair, shut the F up, and start talking about windsurfing again.

Anger issues?

Not at all. quite the opposite acutally. Just found it quite humerous.
I guess there are those that p1ss and moan, and those that suck it up and get on with it. I fall into the latter category. Each to their own.

It's 2011, not 1950. You can no longer ride the bus to town, see the midday show at the theatre, get a bag of fairy floss and ride the bus home again and expect change from the 2 shiny shillings you got each week as pocket money for milking the cows for old aunt Doris.

However, nothing wrong with p1ssing and moaning about it if you back it up with a plan.
eg. Grow a vege garden (cheap food for yourself and/or sell them to your neighbours), run for government, start your own supermarket empire...to name a few.

What's your plan?

And hardly relevant using the Go-Pro thread comparison in reply to my post.
I have an opinion on this topic and I have stated it. Doesn't have to align with anyone elses.

stehsegler said...

Boris said...
It's 2011, not 1950. You can no longer ride the bus to town, see the midday show at the theatre, get a bag of fairy floss and ride the bus home again and expect change from the 2 shiny shillings you got each week as pocket money for milking the cows for old aunt Doris.

I do grew my own herbs

If you grow the right "herbs", then the cost of living will no longer be a problem for you.