This popped up on twitter … quite a few rocking up in modern cars, not exactly giving off the battler vibe.
Are these people that bad at budgeting they have financed a new car and now can't afford food?
Hopefully no one is taking advantage of this…
Either way the demand on these services are clear evidence of the impacts of cost of living increases.
Video: https://twitter.com/9NewsMelb/status/1543509769230733312?t=Z…
Article: https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theage.com.au/national/vict…
Some people just like to take, take, take and then take some more just because they can.
Prob a few Oz'bers lining up too
Guilty as charged. You know anyone on here making less than $250k on one income is below the poverty line.
A bit rich coming from OZB when some of our members will go through greater hassle to get a free sample.
LMAO and it's 100% true too. People getting fake SIMs, virtual cards, using VPNs, etc.
go through greater hassle to get a free sample
I was one sample short last month and ended up on the food bank queue. It was frosty, cold and hungry. I'll do better next month to make my quota.
you have to be a little arsehole to scab free food when you don't need it from a charity line.
Man, i can still remember the conflicted feelings when I was offered free bread at a Salvos store. I love to opshop, but i just could not bring myself to take free bread when I have a white-collar job…
thats correct, i love a bargain and free shit but i wouldnt take it at the expense of someone who actually needs it
The world is full of arseholes…. sadly
Elon says the world ain't full yet.
Look through history and you'll see it's the arseholes that always get ahead in life.
you have to be a little arsehole to scab free food when you don't need it from a charity line.
These people have no shame, it's all about take, take and take.
Modern cars, yes. This is Australia and most cars are modern. I don't see any flashy cars in the video and they looked and sound genuine to me. This inflation is real. Just received an email from AGL 2 days ago increasing their price 20-22% from 1st Aug.
If you still have a full time job or better yet from a double income family you will be okay. Unfortunately this is not the case for many many people. Their income can't keep up with the inflation and standard of living.
Exactly. We've had skyrocketing house prices, cheap money, huge debts which the banks were happy to provide, and suddenly the cost of everything has gone up AT LEAST 10% across the board. It's not crazy to assume that there were people who took on too much debt (in hindsight)
This is an off-topic rant, but it annoys me when people say that people who bought houses and are now struggling are suckers and should have bought a cheaper house. Yes you can make that argument but it takes a bit of a crystal ball to think of the cost of living going up 10-20% over a few MONTH period, and then interest rates go up back-to-back-to-back in that same few months. You always allow for some movement, but that is unforeseeable!
cost of living going up 10-20% over a few MONTH period
I am not sure whether you can use that %
If taxes went up 20% then yes I'd agree.
Basics going up 20% I'd agree but I'd just have to buy a $200 Big W 40" LCD rather than a $1k 64".
The central banks are betting on demand destruction to reduce inflation (people stop spending because people are not willingly doing it on their own).
Cost of living has undoubtedly gone up 10-20%. Ok you can argue that petrol isn't cost of living perhaps, but it's hard to live without a lot of these things, and I'm pretty sure that the inflation "basket of goods" includes it
Petrol has gone up about 50% in the last 6mo
Electricity and gas have gone up
Bread and milk, and everything at the supermarket have gone up 10-20%
I actually refuse to believe that the inflation rate is what has been stated, i reckon there is some accounting trickery in the background otherwise the voting public would have a freaking coup. A bit like the employment rates are artificially tampered with to make them seem ok
Also i think the thing people always fail to realise about inflation is that its a rate of change. So even once inflation is back "under control", those prices are now the new norm. The prices ain't coming back down
Petrol has gone up about 50% in the last 6mo
How many kilometers do you drive? Assume 15,000km a year 10L/100km. 1,500L at $2 a liter is $3000. Even if it went up 100%. How much is your income? For someone on $60k take home $54k, 5.5% of your salary. Was 2.9%. what else you spend money on?
Electricity and gas have gone up
Same as above it is like what $3k up 20% but still a small percentage of your income.
If you lived pay check to pay check with nothing you can cut back on then you are indeed stuffed.
We've had it too good for too long (I don't like the punishing cost of living either) but remember 40" LCD TVs were big. Now we're buying 65"+ for the fraction of the prices.
@netjock: Come on, the argument that petrol and utilities are only a small piece of income is a bit nuts. Only 5% of salary on petrol, only 5% on utilities, only 5% on mobile phone, only 5% on car maintenance…that adds up pretty bloody quick!
only 5% on mobile phone, only 5% on car maintenance…that adds up pretty bloody quick!
If you spend $3k on mobiles and $3k on car maintenance then you got bigger problems.
Lets check how much cost there really is:
$30k all up a year. ($18k + $12k)
On take home of $54k you still have $24k left. That is $2k a month for a mortgage. Until recently that could be a $500k loan?
You obviously missed the $100K+ Landcruiser in white being loaded in the rear.
You know nothing about their circumstances. That could be a working vehicle used on a rural property. Or a friend or relative driving for someone who doesn’t have a car.
Getting a tax deduction on an expensive vehicle and still poor. Must be fun times.
@netjock: Entirely possible. Work equipment is expensive and there may be times business isn’t doing well but people can’t always sell up to pay bills and groceries because they’d lose their income. But also entirely possible that the food isn’t for the owner of the car. The charity says ‘no questions asked’ they know their work best.
@morse: You imagined most of the possibilities except suggesting they may be bad at budgeting . Turth is we don't know and me and you are both imagining
@treekangagaroo: Well yes could be that too. I guess my point is, don’t judge. OzBargain isn’t the gatekeeper for the charity.
Entirely possible. Work equipment is expensive and there may be times business isn’t doing well but people can’t always sell up to pay bills and groceries because they’d lose their income
You mean when times are go you spend up and when times are bad you ask for a tax payer bail out. How much you can live it up and then give you creditors cents in the dollar (preferably zero) when in liquidation is the only game in town.
@netjock: I’m not sure if I’d describe a food package as a “taxpayer bail out”.
Sure the organisation would receive some gov funding but much of the food is donated that would have been thrown out, eg close to expiry.
I’m not sure if I’d describe a food package as a “taxpayer bail out”.
Food banks are an outcome not the cause. I described the cause. When the sun shines you make hay and squirrel away the savings for those lean years.
@netjock: Sure but this thread isn’t about the economics of running a business and whether producers should receive subsidies during times of drought or flood - it’s about people receiving a food package with vegetables and groceries. So if in this circumstance the landcruiser driver was a struggling producer (we still have no idea) it would seem very reasonable to me that they receive some food. If they did a few small things like this, it might end up being just enough to pull them through so they don’t end up liquidating.
Regardless the landcruiser might have been picking it up to drop it off for an elderly neighbour, single parent or whoever.
The charity has thought about the best way to get assistance to people, there’s no need to scrutinise everyone in the line. Would you rather there was no help available? Or that people (who might have kids or elderly to look after) are too embarrassed to come forward due to dialogue like this on the internet and in the media?
It is actually getting tough for people. I’m fine myself. But the other day I got a full tank of petrol and it was $100 (paid $205.9/l) that will last me 2 weeks, possibly longer. But I can remember times in my life where if I had to pay $100 for a tank of fuel I would have needed help to buy food. Especially if mortgage payments had gone up or a bill had just come through.
There are far more suitable and cheaper work vehicles for use on a rural property.
there is a land cruiser in the twitter video, they are over 120k
Are these people that bad at budgeting they have financed a new car and now can't afford food?
Bit rude to assume they are bad at budgeting. Perhaps they purchased their car 5 years ago when rapidly rising interest rates, inflation, cabbage replacing lettuce, >$2/L petrol and covid weren't a thing.
Only boomers who own two or three properties and a corolla hybrid aren't suffering at the moment.
I've always been of the opinion (probably privileged position…) that if you can't buy the car almost 100% outright then you shouldn't really buy it. Its pointless debt for a depreciating asset. But i can totally understand how people have found themselves stuck in a lousy position
if you can't buy
the caralmost 100% outright then you shouldn't really buy it.
FTFY
Credit cards, BNPL and other types of predatory financing are pitfalls for the poor and uneducated.
I know someone who bought a brand new SUV as soon as she got her Ps, financing from the dealership. By the time she paid it off, she had paid almost double the price of the car. Doesn't help she crashed it twice in that time.
I sold some furniture on gumtree over the weekend and had all sort of people come collect stuff- some gold some usual bad. The worst 2 were these annoying women who wasted a lot of my time on the phone begging and pleading to reduce prices coz they can't afford anything due to being very poor etc. Words like "I am begging you please I'm on my feet please reduce the study desk from $50 to $10 each and please give the chairs free plz im begging you I am very poor its for my son his future is in your hands etc". So in the end I gave them what they wanted. One came in a new Mercedes suv to collect and the other one in BMW, dressed fancy and clearly well off! Both were absolute pests, nosey and started making double digit lowball offers on my new furniture that was not even for sale!
I learnt there is this whole incredibly shameless type of people out there that are worse than the usual scumtree bargain hunters and I suspect it's these people who are taking advantage of such charity events.
Wow. Somehow I feel like folks who are actually very poor don't need to go around proclaiming it
I had 2 decent blokes rock up in ratty old cars and torn hiviz clothing, were very polite and respectful, took shoes off at entry, introduced themselves, apologised for the delay, made full payment and took the furniture away without trying to bargain. Can't judge people by their cars or looks at all these days!
being very poor
Sounds like poor (lack of) morals for your Merc and BMW example.
Ugh… I would have blocked anyone sending a message like that straight away. If I’m going to donate something I’ll do it on my terms. I regularly give things away but don’t like to be embarrassed into it.
One came in a new Mercedes suv to collect and the other one in BMW, dressed fancy and clearly well off!
I always tell people. Rich people don't become rich because they are generous. If you worked in retail you'd know those in flashy cars are the most stingy.
Or the alternative saying is a fortune is a crime committed but conveniently forgotten (think the poet Byron coined that one).
Very few honest mega rich people. Or they keep it quiet because they don't need acknowledgement of people or name buildings / foundations after their dearest to wash away their guilt.
I will not be surprised if they live on government dole because they have mastered the art of how to claim maximum government benefit.
During covid lockdown, my local church was distributing food every Sunday morning between 9 & 11 am. That was the time i was going out from my walk and what I noticed was that there are few who are genuine need of food from their dress and footwear, but few of them had LV bags and they come in SUVs and cars park just a little 50 meters away to pick food. I was not sure whether they really need free food or they just want to claim their share because the food is given free. I do feel pity for real needy ones who are waiting in queue silently and these people who come early and block their number to claim the best stuff available, since it was first come first serve.
few of them had LV bags and they come in SUVs
Paid for by free food. If they paid for their foods they'd have to wear K mart clothes like rest of the plebs.
Later, she went back home, made a big deal in front of her son how she sacrifices everything for him and then he had to drag the desk upstairs. Once it was all set up, she stood at the door and said, "Talk to me when you Doctor!" and slammed the door.
a few weeks ago i put a nice lounge chair for free on marketplace. it was still in amazing condition and i could have got money for it but i couldn't be bothered giving it a clean and wanted it gone that day. i was very clear that 1st person to pick up would be getting it as i wanted it gone asap. of course the first lady that messaged gave me a bit of a sob story how she was a single mum, and it would be perfect for her daughters room blah blah but was at work and couldn't collect it until the afternoon. normally i'm ruthless but because i'm a single mum as well i let my guard down. i swear i had about 100 hundred messages but i held it for her as i at least i knew it would be going to someone doing it tough. got to the afternoon, and she was apparently stuck at work. finally gets to mine quite late at night, in her giant landcruiser mind you. she seemed super nice and we had a great chat about the struggles of being a single parent, told me how she'd been searching for a chair like that but couldn't afford one (its a very particular style). next day, see my chair on fb marketplace for $200. i was fuming. i laugh about it now but seriously, some people have no shame.
Should’ve messaged to buy it
Off her; than rocked up late like she did and say you actually needed it back cos you’re a single mum and you realised how much you needed it back
I would’ve told them I’d changed my mind in selling them the furniture. They had, obviously, lied to you.
Our local food charity (very cheap groceries, free fruit, veggies and bread) specifically says it’s not just for the absolutely destitute but also for those who might be struggling with bills, rent and mortgage stress.
People need cars to work and take kids to school etc. Unfortunately public transport isn’t practical in many circumstances. They may have also bought the car when their circumstances were different. Selling it to pay for food wouldn’t be wise in most circumstances.
Having said that there are probably some who lined up who believed they needed it but actually didn’t.
I feel fortunate not to need food charity but don’t begrudge anyone else needing it, even if they have made poor financial decisions.
I'd better not rock up in my high yield investment then… if only I had one :(
In the Brisbane area (Logan actually) the Tribe of Judah used to do this weekly for years. Huge long lines for free food. They have since moved premises and to a cheap supermarket model.
The free food service they provided was a very much appreciated and needed in the community it served.
The service was for everyone too, you didn't have to show a pension card or anything like that.
I am torn about this.
I have volunteered at Foodbank before and the work they do to ensure food is not wasted and goes to people in need is just amazing.
I have seen all sorts come through and yes some didn't look like strugglers but it wasn't the organisation's policy to challenge.
I look at all these people constantly taking Centrelink handouts, concessions on transport / utilities / medicine, Rent assistance, and they still need free food. When are they ever going to be self sufficient?
And since they are gleefully having their snouts in the trough, why can't everyone else?
The more I see it the more the level of disdain grows.
I have volunteered at Foodbank
Me too! Great experience with an amazing organisation.
I did it alongside a number of people from a number of people from an insurance company who were there for a corporate volunteering event. Less than six weeks later, a couple of them had #OpenToWork tags on their LinkedIn profiles after the company outsourced most of their full stack coding to a company in India.
I can only speculate as to what happened to them all, but at last one is still looking for a new job some five months later.
I'd encourage everyone to watch the Aussie film Three Dollars and reflect on how close most of us are to becoming a "vulnerable circumstances" statistic.
I look at all these people constantly taking Centrelink handouts, concessions on transport / utilities / medicine, Rent assistance, and they still need free food.
Yep I always wonder about this. It’s like if you get one subsidy/benefit you get the lot. Even things like GP bulk billing, legal aid and more. Before NDIS (not means tested) people who worked and needed a wheelchair or other equipment had to pay for it themselves (unless under workcover or similar) even when their income was quite low, where as those on a benefit got it for free. Realistically low income earners not getting Centrelink and renting privately are probably those who will struggle more with bills and groceries. I think that is why this particular hand out was on a weekend when more workers could come and not means tested.
Whilst there are always some freeloaders the vast majority are in genuine need. Can't shut down the food bank or add barriers to access because some people might freeload. Also, shouldn't judge by appearances. Some people spend beyond their means and get a flashy car on credit and then find themselves in hard times. A food bank shouldn't punish people for bad choices. Take solar panel installations for example, they are often in middle to lower income suburbs. Rich suburbs have a relatively lower up take of solar panels because people there are wealthy enough that they don't even think about the cost of electricity. The vast majority of wealthy people aren't going to spend the time and effort to freeload from a food bank.
The majority of this thread is really sad.
Apparently, having a car that was made in the last 10 years - regardless of whether it's owned/borrowed/leased by the driver* - means that you don't need/deserve help to put food on the table. Riiiiiight.
The lack of lived experience - or connection to those with lived experience - is understandable. But the level of ignorance and judgement is breath-taking.
( * ) …or being used by someone to get food for someone who cannot drive or leave the house.
Apparently, having a car that was made in the last 10 years - regardless of whether it's owned/borrowed/leased by the driver* - means that you don't need/deserve help to put food on the table. Riiiiiight.
We're not talking about a less than 10 year old Kia Piccanto.
If you can own or lease an Landcruiser then something else is going on isn't it. Either way. Making $100k with $0 left at end of pay cycle is same is $50k having nothing at the end of the pay cycle. Cash poor but I assume $100k is more asset rich.
I think people are alluding to asset rich and cash poor rather than asset poor and cash poor. Difference there.
That is from someone who has been both. It is actually worse being asset rich and cash poor than asset poor and cash poor.
Probably off topic. This reminds me of a relative whom kept complaining being poor and yet have been keeping all the major streaming services, gaming platform subscription, buy latest games on launch etc. The best part is not willing to learn the basic of home internet/networking requirment and keep paying double the price for out dated tech from telecom as rental year after year.
He wasn't paying any attention at all when I showed him the amount he could saved every year… These kind of people are hopeless IMO, they used to live a good life until inflation come hit hard…
Standard. I heard that some parents from my kids' school are "struggling" to pay for their children's Catholic Primary school fees in Eastern Melbourne, at a cost of few thousand dollars but then rock up to pick up and go in their new Porsche, Merc or BMW SUV at pick up and go. Grifters will grift given the opportunity.
I think most of these people are over committed, either through mistakes or unplanned situations. You can't just sell your car, you expect things to pick up. I don't think too many people here would line up if they honestly didn't need it. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think all these people have a genuine need.
There will be a line of expensive cars if the food bank was handing out lettuce. I thought food banks handed out the cheapest food that they can get so that they can help more people. Like home brand and staple food. Nothing fancy, just nutritious and filling. Surely rich people don't want to eat home brand pasta. For the freeloaders who are not in need there is a special level of hell reserved for them.
Are these people that bad at budgeting they have financed a new car and now can't afford food?
Raising interest rates maybe the culprit.
Plus a few builders collapsing leaving workers and half build houses panicking.
Add a spoon or two of very high fuel prices to make it spicy.
Also free anything is better than no car or an old bomb one.
Many people in Australia have over extended themselves with home and car loans, credit cards, BNPL and just generally keeping up with the Jones'.
Ultimately they only have themselves to blame but our culture of constant advertising to consume more and more doesn't make it easy. Especially since most people are easily manipulated by modern advertising techniques.
I call BS on these selfish takers. This is why we can’t have nice things.
LOL, they are, those "financed a new car".
Not for those takers.