We might live in a global economy, but why are there so many local?

I’ve often read about new product launches with great excitement, then been disappointed when the local release date is ages away.

We’ve always had this issue with music and books in Australia, and more recently we've had the issue with technology. Many electronic items take a long time to hit our shores when they have been commonplace in Asian, European and North American markets for months.

plain packaging

The success of the Australian government's push for the plain packaging of cigarettes in a landmark High Court case this week is a rare example of why I still believe in politicians. We don't often see our elected representatives putting their necks out for a real cause, but there are still many who entered politics to make a difference.

Having said this, i have no doubt that we have not heard the end of this case. The tobacco industry will rally and spend some of their significant profits on further legal battles over brand ownership, compensation for loss of profit and other spurious arguments aimed at stalling a final outcome.

So, why am I so interested in this subject?

In the last 10 years I have watched three people near and dear to me die slow and agonizing deaths as a direct result of smoking a substance that is freely available and regulated by the government.

little rip-offs can add up

In the past week I have saved myself $5 a month plus over $7 in fees that I shouldn't have paid. This was simply from glancing at two statements - my mobile phone bill and my Myki account - and feeling something wasn't quite right. Whilst this does not add up to a great deal of money in the grand scheme, it has made me wonder how many other organisations charge accidental or incorrect fees somewhere on some obscure line on any of the many statements we receive. 

When I was young I never thought about owning property

When I was young I never thought about owning property. I was brought up in a broken working class family where money was tight. Somehow Dad still managed to buy a family home by being extremely frugal and not very picky. Interest rates were up around 20 percent, but property prices were rock bottom. For what he paid for the family home, I could afford two and pay them off in a couple of years if I was as frugal as Dad. That house was paid off quite a few years ago and is now worth a lot just for the land.

what can else can happen to a recently unemployed guy with a baby on the way just before christmas?

Last week I was made redundant from a job I enjoyed. It was a shock, and for me it came out of the blue. Over 100 people suffered the same or a similar fate to me. It's all about the bottom line and saving money in the short term for big companies answering to short sighted boards and shareholders. So be it!

should i sell the big issue?

I experienced two “firsts” this week wrapped up in one. My first ever redundancy and the first time I have ever been unemployed when it wasn’t my choice.