Phyl, I have never said that pensioners are greedy and whingers. I was just pointing out that to believe that this government had a sudden change of heart about the plight of pensioners would be a mistake. The pay-out was made purely for economic not humanitarian reasons, and to think otherwise would be gullible. I am neither greedy nor a whinger, just concerned that pensioners will become complacent thinking that the government, and I mean any government, will pay attention to their plight unless we keep lobbying them. It's the squeaky wheel that gets the attention.

I am with you Jade realising The Pension in all cases is in need of an overhaul and

it needs to be brought into line with living a decent existence.



But I personally think asking people to "adopt a Pensioner" is degrading to any person who payed taxes for 50 years and little kids giving their pocket money to their cause also (I do not think this is necessary) sorry! but then again I am loathe to hand up a Seniors Card either (yes pride comes before a fall) I know..........



I AM saying that Seniors are still alive! and part of the Community and if we can help the economy (if we want to and not forced to) by spending on all the things many Pensioners have been saying they are desperately in need of over and over! then that is a bonus and a win win situation for everyone surely. Many are spending some on a big piece of household equipment or car repairs etc. while putting a little aside but nobody says any person HAS to spend the $1400 in any way, other than the recipients choice. I just feel "Thanks" is a nice word but some seniors will never be happy.

It would not matter what Mr. Rudd did. Some will die kicking and screaming and wanting and wanting regardless of their fortnightly payments for "Not having to go out to work each day" are and being able to enjoy their time still here on this earth, and hence never will be happy. Maybe it is more fun to be misery guts lol so to each his/her own I suppose. Lets hope next year and every year after, will see a rise for pensioners so pensioners will not be seen in such a poor light and can be more dignified maybe......

All the best.

Over and out on this subject phew lol. Phyl. :)

I for one am very pleased in getting the $1400--and will spend it very wisely

As a carer, I will be getting $1,000. I will put this in my bank in a high interest bearing account, and it will help pay for my private health insurance for a year - carers can't get sick, so we need the best of care!!

I think most aged pensioners are needy - not greedy. The OECD report states that we are fourth amongst all the reporting nations in having pensioners living in poverty.

[size=3]Many pensioners are not fortunate enough to own their own home, and have to pay rent, which in some cases, can consume 40% of their pension.



What a pity that they are being termed misery guts and never satisfied.

I feel particularly sad for those pensioners who are on their own, perhaps living in a tiny flat, no family, no internet to keep in some sort of contact with the outside world,.........that would be a luxury.....many prescription medicines, unable to utilise public transport to at least go out and have a look around occasionally, some even having to rely on "meals on wheels", and then being told they should be grateful for a measly pittance to just survive.[/size]

Many penioners like ourselves are still paying off a mortgage. Also renters do not have to maintain their homes - the landlord pays for that. So this business I have seen on other sites where some moan that people particularly married couples do not deserve the money if they own their own home is rubbish.

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Evryone has to replace something or other - even those renting have to - but owning means that you are also up for stove or HWS and in our case changing over from galvanised pipes to copper which we have been saving for for 5 years to date but which gets put back because something else goes bung. Like our Australian made electric cooker which has Chinese made elements and temp controls in it which seem to last about 18 months and now the light has gone in the oven - which can stay off as not important to cooking. With pensioners most of their stuff like ours is old and breaks down and is a huge thing to replace.

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There are good and bad in both situations but probably those in public housing are best off as their landlord cant dodge the repairs like some and cant sell them out of their home as private ones do.

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Koko - pensioners in Tassie can get a refurbished computer setup for $200 and can be on broadband for around $9.90 a month - less for some if you bundle with home phone rental or mobile if mad enough to use one -pay as you go is about the best option but I dont feel a bit like we whinge when I see that Centrelink wants my mobile phone number and if you go down there or talk to anyone on benefits they all have mobiles and along with Pay TV these are two of the eaters up of money along with takeaways - we live near a housing dept area still renters and just about every house ihas unemployed families and all have kiddies galore and Pay TV dishes .

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If any good comes from the coming recession - it would be that the PayTV companies go broke go broke and we get back the good free TV we used to have and that the ABC then goes ahead with ABC3 an all day kids channel free 6 am to 9pm so families dont have the excuse - Pay TV we get it for the kids channel!!! See that all the time. It may go ahead but Phyl your Mr Rudd bowed to the PayTV companies and stopped it going to air january 2008.

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Mr. Rudd is not mine :) but he is kinda cute lol

I liked Mr. Howard at one point to be honest but the complete turn around with the GST and the in fighting with Mr. Costello with the thoughts they should have learnt from the previous episodes with Mr. Howard and Mr. Peacock changed my mind to voting Labour.......

I feel that all Pensioners deserve to live a decent existence whether married or single but I do believe it is a little more difficult living the single Pensioner life especially not having someone to talk to and cuddle :) and I have always said Pensioners should have a more realistic base rate especially because of things breaking down and needing to be replaced as it IS difficult and I do hope Mr. Rudd will listen as I do feel he has been (yes he was not when he should have been I will say) but he was VERY new to the job and I believe he had/has to be given a break and not bagged or condemmed too soon as Pensioners were not well off with the Libs. now were they!!!

Thank goodness for the $1,400 for single Pensioners and the $1,000 for carers and the $2,100 for married couples as it is life changing for some.............It came out of the blue and a wonderful gesture surely..

I do abhor some and I know it is only some being so nasty because others other than Pensioners have received some money and feel it should have all been for Pensioners.

Many are having a difficult time not just one group.....and if many (as they were saying are desperate for things they need to buy) spend the money and a by product is the economy

gets a boost we can all pat ourselves on the back and say "We are not too old to help" but if others need it for pre paid funeral expenses or savings, well hold onto it. All Pensioners have the choice.

Thank goodness many see it this way but those who do not their choice like everything else

Some just moan about everything but hey that is how they get their kicks and I think most have always been mean spirited and it is not just an afliction of old age to grizzle lol

Phyl.

Yes many things are made to last just a short time these days--and they talk about--global warming--maybe if they made things to last there would be less of it.



Talking of the Oven light--they are cheap and easy to replace--mine went the other day--cost me about $2-50 and easy to do.



Trouble is with those cheap Broad Bands they have hardly any downloads--and as I get a pension discount on my rental from Telstra--it makes it worthwhile to stay with them for my land line--and so not able to bundle with them for the net--as they are quite dear for that.



As far as mobiles go I have a Telstra a plan called "My Hour" which enables me to call any phone for 20 mins at a time in the hour I choose--and it saves me heaps as I make all my STD calls then and from that--and it costs me $20 a month with also 40 SMS allowed free--plus $15 of other calls--I never use it any other time.



Yes I have noticed that many that cry poor mouth have the pay TV and many kids--and the reason why they say is because the kids like to watch kids programs--well about time they got off their backsides and took the kids places where they can learn other things--take them out and do some bush walks etc etc--but no they choose to have the kids baby sat with the idiot box.



I have watched the Pay TV and wouldn't bother with it--as the programs are very old--and most of them ___other than the History/Nat' Geo' and the like I would not bother with at all and seeing that I hate sport on TV it would offer me nothing. I find that free to air TV has lots of interesting Docos and I alway record them and have them to watch--I am never short of something to watch.