Today Tonight Story on Pensioners

[yeahlow34]

Don't know if anyone saw, but they had a story on TT about pensioners and how their struggling financially. Long story short, there's a bloke organising cheaper goods for pensioners to ease the financial burden. He doesn't seem like a rich guy, but just phones around various places to organise deals with restaurants and functions.

He organised a cheaper movie session, and was genuinely amazing to see how happy it made these pensioners. Something so simple, and something most take for graned. Really good stroy. Makes you think if you have elderly grandparents/parents, that it really is a big struggle to live on around $500 (or less) a fortnight. It made me think, for some small $$ I'd contribute to something like that, or even just to give to my own grandparents.

What about this for a TT story, antilag.com lump sum payment to a pensioner organisation. Imagine the reaction! What!?! Hoons actually have a heart...Better yet, deliver said sum in a yellow r34 dropping 2nd. Skids 4 Pensioners haha.

[MMM]

i have no sympanthy for pensioners. They have been in this world what 65+ years and are struggling finacially? please pull the other one

i do feel sorry for disabilty pensioners tho.

[tahni]

i have no sympanthy for pensioners. They have been in this world what 65+ years and are struggling finacially? please pull the other one

i do feel sorry for disabilty pensioners tho.

Yeah i mean why would they be struggling financially, i mean living costs havent changed a bit, wages have always been this high, and super contributions have always seemed so important.
Bigger picture maybe? Not everyone has been given the opportunity to live so fruitful as us.

I think it is a great idea, showing them some support and would definately be keen to help any way i can.

[MMM]

nah see the differance was these people thought the government would look after them in old age. Ive learnt never rely on anyone else but yourself, so go out there and make your own money and live the way you want to and dont rely on government funding. Its quite simple really, doesnt matter when you grew up.

[ossie_21]

He should be a real sikunt & organise a skidpan day for them. Burnouts will see them having the time of their lives.

[RICEY]

i have no sympanthy for pensioners. They have been in this world what 65+ years and are struggling finacially? please pull the other one

i do feel sorry for disabilty pensioners tho.

Thats a fairly narrowminded and uneducated response. Many factors can affect a persons situation no matter how long theyve been alive. They could have had a business fail, been ripped off by scammers and lost all their savings, only earnt enough to survive while in the workforce, the list goes on.

[Ryan1080]

nah see the differance was these people thought the government would look after them in old age. Ive learnt never rely on anyone else but yourself, so go out there and make your own money and live the way you want to and dont rely on government funding. Its quite simple really, doesnt matter when you grew up.

Narrow minded indeed... Wait till you retire and see if you have enough to make ends meet once you stop working. There was no superannuation back then. People lived on day to day basis. It would have been fine if it wasn't for the baby boomers now retiring...
Even in the current times, the minimum 9% super contribution your employer pays on your behalf will not be enough for you to keep the same lifestyle when you retire, then if you were working. Some academic 15 years ago (name escapes me, who cares) worked out that each employee needs to contribute double the 9% of super contributions in order to have anywhere near the same level of lifestyle they had throughout their life. Considering the average wage around the country for a full time worker is around $50K-60K, that is farkall enough to save extra money for retirement, whether it's super or investments or whatever, when they got mortgage and family to feed as well. You want your average 50K a year income when you retire? Make sure you have accummulated at least $1M in your super/investment balance by the time you stop work :eek3:

[anton]

skids for Sids!!!

[MMM]

Narrow minded indeed... Wait till you retire and see if you have enough to make ends meet once you stop working. There was no superannuation back then. People lived on day to day basis. It would have been fine if it wasn't for the baby boomers now retiring...
Even in the current times, the minimum 9% super contribution your employer pays on your behalf will not be enough for you to keep the same lifestyle when you retire, then if you were working. Some academic 15 years ago (name escapes me, who cares) worked out that each employee needs to contribute double the 9% of super contributions in order to have anywhere near the same level of lifestyle they had throughout their life. Considering the average wage around the country for a full time worker is around $50K-60K, that is farkall enough to save extra money for retirement, whether it's super or investments or whatever, when they got mortgage and family to feed as well. You want your average 50K a year income when you retire? Make sure you have accummulated at least $1M in your super/investment balance by the time you stop work :eek3:

easy

[Ryan1080]

easy

For some yes, for some no ;)

There will always be poor people. They're an essential element of the society lol! :p

[RICEY]

easy

Dont be so naive, anyhting can happen between now and then that could totally fuck your life up. It can and does happen.

Bagging those out whos situation you know nothing about is pretty lame imo.

[Frenchy]

Not to mention most of our pensioners had to deal with WW2, vietnam war, recessions etc etc etc

They had much tougher times than any of us will ever know...ask your grandparents what it was like knowing their husbands/wives were off to war and most likely wouldnt return....they didnt have any kinda support like our local defence forces have.

Our pensioners dont get 1/1000000th what they should be getting from the government. They built the country we now take for granted!!

Good on that guy on TT for doing his bit....id much prefer to put donation money towards our pensioners rather than any 3rd world country.

[RICEY]

One does have to wonder why the OP was watching TT to begin with...

[yeahlow34]

i have no sympanthy for pensioners. They have been in this world what 65+ years and are struggling finacially? please pull the other one

i do feel sorry for disabilty pensioners tho.
Wow that is a very naive and arrogant commment to make. These are people that have lived through some of the toughest times in Australia's history i.e. war and recessions. The government wasn't so socially minded back then. They built our country to what it is today, so fuck i theres something I can give back - then it aint no problem for me.

Next time you go to the movies, a bar, a club or the drags - or for that matter anything...Maybe look at that as your onetreat for the month. Cos I'm telling you thats what most pensioners do. Worked their whole lives to try and live off <$500 a fortnight. Hmmm what an awesome way to anjoy whats supposed to be the most enjoyable and relaxing time of your life.

As for watching TT, I was watching the news as my Dad thought he'd be on TV. Unfortunately no TV appearance, and a shit rest of the TT episode.

[mc68]

nah see the differance was these people thought the government would look after them in old age. Ive learnt never rely on anyone else but yourself, so go out there and make your own money and live the way you want to and dont rely on government funding. Its quite simple really, doesnt matter when you grew up.


The baby boomers did not have automatic superannuation.

i take it you feel like this towards your own grandparents, and pretty soon, your own parents?

believe me, pensioners would like nothing more than to live off their own money, but sometimes its just not the case. What if for example you dont qualify for a disability pension, but cannot work due to arthritis in your hands, so you get some piss poor centrelink fornightly commission because you cant actually work at the only thing you once knew how to do. No one will hire a near 60 year old with limited experience in an unrelated field of work, due to inexperience and inefficiency. So you tell you son who isnt of age yet that you cant afford to feed him this week to pay the rent rise. rent goes up, car breaks down, cant afford to get its fixed. bills keep coming in, the stress brings on more health problems which medicare dont really cover that well...so you're fucked...then you die.

im not speaking hypothetically either, so fuck off and die cvnt :td:

[Ryan1080]

Compulsory superannuation has only been introduced in 1992. Only a very small percentage of people had super prior to that. Back in those days pension dollars were ok, as there were 6 workers for every pensioner or something like that. Now it's more like 3 or less workers for every pensioner, hence why pension is so low as the govt has not enough cash to pay them decent. Hence move to the private superannuation system. Oh, and it'll only get worse for those about to retire with not much super :(

[yeahlow34]

Compulsory superannuation has only been introduced in 1992. Only a very small percentage of people had super prior to that. Back in those days pension dollars were ok, as there were 6 workers for every pensioner or something like that. Now it's more like 3 or less workers for every pensioner, hence why pension is so low as the govt has not enough cash to pay them decent. Hence move to the private superannuation system. Oh, and it'll only get worse for those about to retire with not much super :(
Well the govt does have enough to pay, considering they have had $20b+ surplus budgets. Their just too selfish to share it round, its much easier just to give themselves pay rises.

Spot on with the superannuation - it'll only get worse.

[anton]

i say why do aboriginals get money for jus tbeing who they are + money from teh welfare, mayby that money they get should be less and given to the pensioners....

[RICEY]

Dont get me started on abos. They bitch and moan for equality yet are quite happy to be paid more in the dole solely for being aboriginal and paid to go to school. They should get exactly the same as non aboriginals, and the parents of those who dont bother going to school should have their payments reduced.

[Gleeso]

Dont get me started on abos. They bitch and moan for equality yet are quite happy to be paid more in the dole solely for being aboriginal and paid to go to school. They should get exactly the same as non aboriginals, and the parents of those who dont bother going to school should have their payments reduced.

Oh i completely agree with you there...dont get me started..i could go on for ever why our dusty cousins shouldnt get more rites than us.. i better stop now before i get all worked up lol

[peter_piper]

i have no sympanthy for pensioners. They have been in this world what 65+ years and are struggling finacially? please pull the other one

i do feel sorry for disabilty pensioners tho.


You're a real pingpingpingping hey.. if you were struggling on the pension i'll bet my bottom fucking dollar you wouldn't have said that.

[Ryan1080]

Dont get me started on abos. They bitch and moan for equality yet are quite happy to be paid more in the dole solely for being aboriginal and paid to go to school. They should get exactly the same as non aboriginals, and the parents of those who dont bother going to school should have their payments reduced.

Ricey for PM! :p

[Slip_]

MMM you clever bastard.

[MaTMaN]

They had much tougher times than any of us will ever know....

Too true! my grandfather used to walk to and from school uphill!!!...both ways...in the snow...while cutting firewood!

Old people are champs! And to qoute a line from one of my favourite movies, Dumb and Dumber :

Lloyd: "Hey, I guess they're right. Senior citizens, although slow and dangerous behind the wheel, can still serve a purpose. I'll be right back. Don't you go dying on me!

[BOSS 290]

Not to mention most of our pensioners had to deal with WW2, vietnam war, recessions etc etc etc

They had much tougher times than any of us will ever know...ask your grandparents what it was like knowing their husbands/wives were off to war and most likely wouldnt return....they didnt have any kinda support like our local defence forces have.

Our pensioners dont get 1/1000000th what they should be getting from the government. They built the country we now take for granted!!

Good on that guy on TT for doing his bit....id much prefer to put donation money towards our pensioners rather than any 3rd world country.

I agree. The manner in which the elderly have to live is disgraceful. What has been said earlier but some seem to forget is there was no superannuation pre late 80's IIRC. Further to that, the husband was the one who went to work, the bread-earner, while the wife stayed home and looked after the house/kids. If the husband has died the wife has pretty much bugger all other than what's left to her if anything. They deserve more.

The government has a responsibility to look after the elderly far greater than it currently does. I've a simple solution. Stop the slut-pension and unemployment benefit (for those who can work) and use that money to top up pension payments :D

[joshg123]

easy

I really hope you lose a leg tomorrow at work, so you get fired, so you live off a disability pension and a food packing job for the rest of your life.

In perspective enough for you?

Never take your current situation for granted.

[MMM]

I really hope you lose a leg tomorrow at work, so you get fired, so you live off a disability pension and a food packing job for the rest of your life.

In perspective enough for you?

Never take your current situation for granted.

you didnt read what i posted

i said i did feel sorry for people on a disabilty pension

[joshg123]

I did read what you posted,

My point was more - You could be making a killing doing whatever your doing now. Everything looks great, It can all change in a instant and you can be back to making minimum wage and just surviving. So when it comes retirement time, you will be in the exact position most elderly people are in now.

Leg or No leg. Its not like poor old gladys can jump back into sewing and make a good wage.

[ho57ile]

Problem is those alot of these pensioners are money poor but asset rich, sell your houses, patrols and caravans and live in a small apartmant somwere much more confortable.

Now i'm not saying thats everyone but they are out there.

[Ryan1080]

Then there's lots that have fark all in assets, for whatever reason. They have no other hope but to rely on the government.

[ho57ile]

Well i know that, i never said they dont exist. But dont forget that pensioners arnt the only people doing it tough, theres alota young familys doing it just as hard if not worse out there, you dont see radio stations marching up to government and blokes giving out cheap movie tickets for them.

[joshg123]

Family tax benefit?

Baby Bonus?

Family tickets to various things?

ect ect.

It may not be direct, but the government certainly helps there. + Younger familys can still go out and get a job if need be.

[TJ]

Without getting into it too much, my father has been "lucky" enough to be a disability pensioner for near on 20 years now...

Its a pitiful existence that strips you of most of your self worth, especially when you go from earning 70k in 1989 to just under 18k in 2008, and thats after the generous increases the government has bestowed them in the last few years. However, one must also be gracious, and accept that in some countries there wouldnt even be this afforded, so it could be alot worse.

Now, I believe an old age pension is similar sort of money. Dont blame these guys, they dont have the info we do in todays age.

It mustnt be easy to make ends meet at all, so I feel for them, and commend this guy for doing a little bit to help out.

[Mandee]

Some people have made some ridiculous and uneducated comments in this thread that it infuriates me! I can't believe how the facts here are so skewed and how some people of our society can be so naive and callous!

[evil1]

bitch on a pension suck my dong

[S133LTR]

nah see the differance was these people thought the government would look after them in old age. Ive learnt never rely on anyone else but yourself, so go out there and make your own money and live the way you want to and dont rely on government funding. Its quite simple really, doesnt matter when you grew up.

you truely are a mmmuppet

i hope i can learn to be as smart as you and never rely on anyone else...then everything in my life willll beeeeeeeee OK.

[Roobiks]

bitch on a pension suck my dong

such a serious thread, then i read this and lost it haha

[zxz]

i watched storey on AC or TT once where a family had 'sponsored' an old person. basically the kids would save there spare $'s from their pocket money and the parents would use a swear/spare change jar or smilar, and at the end of the week/fortnight/month the parents would deliver it to their 'sponsored' pensioner so they could use it to help with their life (bills or enjoyment).
was inspiring.

i kind of had an idea where i would get into contact with *insert whatever society that looks after stuggling pensioners* and offer to put on a big meal once a fortnight for a selected few.
basically i would get 2-3 pensioners that are struggling to survive etc, and collect them one arvo once a fortnight and bring them home to where i would cook a nice big roast dinner or something for them.
or even better, they would cook it for me ;) (stick old people in the kitchen and they love it!)
i dont mind blowing $40 or so on all the trimmings of the meal etc as they would see it as a total treat to have say roast pork, with crackle and gravy, and veges - especially when on the TT/AC storey they were saying they would water down their soup to make it last 3 days....
plus it would be a sort of social occasion for them as they get a chance to meet the other people that they would be spending the evening with and socialise etc.
and of course after dinner i would drop them back home again.

bonus for them is that they get out of their house at no cost, get to socialise, and get to eat an awesome meal at no cost
bonus for me is that i get to have a fortnightly roast. they just arent worth making if it is just 1 or 2 people. :D

will have to look into it i think

[SSICK]

and then take them out for skids. or in their language "screechies" (wat my old lady calls skids)

[poombah]

bonus for them is that they get out of their house at no cost, get to socialise, and get to eat an awesome meal at no cost
bonus for me is that i get to have a fortnightly roast. they just arent worth making if it is just 1 or 2 people. :D

will have to look into it i think

Just don't get them started on the stories of the good old days or you will slip into a coma :uhh:

[yeahlow34]

i watched storey on AC or TT once where a family had 'sponsored' an old person. basically the kids would save there spare $'s from their pocket money and the parents would use a swear/spare change jar or smilar, and at the end of the week/fortnight/month the parents would deliver it to their 'sponsored' pensioner so they could use it to help with their life (bills or enjoyment).
was inspiring.

i kind of had an idea where i would get into contact with *insert whatever society that looks after stuggling pensioners* and offer to put on a big meal once a fortnight for a selected few.
basically i would get 2-3 pensioners that are struggling to survive etc, and collect them one arvo once a fortnight and bring them home to where i would cook a nice big roast dinner or something for them.
or even better, they would cook it for me ;) (stick old people in the kitchen and they love it!)
i dont mind blowing $40 or so on all the trimmings of the meal etc as they would see it as a total treat to have say roast pork, with crackle and gravy, and veges - especially when on the TT/AC storey they were saying they would water down their soup to make it last 3 days....
plus it would be a sort of social occasion for them as they get a chance to meet the other people that they would be spending the evening with and socialise etc.
and of course after dinner i would drop them back home again.

bonus for them is that they get out of their house at no cost, get to socialise, and get to eat an awesome meal at no cost
bonus for me is that i get to have a fortnightly roast. they just arent worth making if it is just 1 or 2 people. :D

will have to look into it i think

That is a fucking great idea. As I have originally said, it doesn't take much to make pensioners happy, or to make their week. What I think everybody would take for granted, older pensioners could only dream of.

And to say that these people don't deserve some benefits, well, I think your a fucking uneducated tool imo. There are so many stories of pensioners who water down their soup to make it last longer, skip meals, and even not fluch the toilet to save on water. May sound stupid, but gives you an idea of how tough some people are doing it.

[WRCjosh]

how can we guaruntee their not going to go out and spend it on bingos or the pokies. Bunch of addicts these old folk.

[Fryman]

how can we guaruntee their not going to go out and spend it on bingos or the pokies. Bunch of addicts these old folk.


more of a lifestyle then an addiction

familys moved on and in career mode they have lilmited resources, casino offers then discounted or near free meals if you sit at the computer and it tickles your prostate

[Ryan1080]

and even not fluch the toilet to save on water.

We had a tenant a while ago, old lady, who flushed the toilet once a day or so to save money. Really sad, but some just don't have enough money for the simple basics in life... Having them as tenants is good and bad at the same time. You'll know they won't wreck your property and will take care of it, but at the same time you will think ten times before you raise the rent...

[SLEEKA]

i work in the bank and every pension day i see them flocking into the bank to get there 420-440 each fortnight. You know the ones that really struggle becuase they have 1 or 2 dollars left in their account, they are the ones on their asses.

But there are also aged pensioners with million dollar houses, over 50k in cash sitting on their accounts and because they have a financial adviser thats half clever so they are still entitled to a pension...

I know personally of some clients that own their million dollar house and really struggle with day to day living expenses, but they refuse to reverse mortgage or "equity unlock" their house, even for only a couple of hundred thousand to see them out, purely because they want to provide something to their family when they go..

Its not so black and white, there are plenty of pensioners doing quite nicely but at the same time the ones that have to live off that shit pension really hurt