Are you doing it tough? How are the recent increases in cost of living affecting your retirement? We want to hear real stories.
YourLifeChoices’ Retirement Affordability Index™ tells us that two tribes – cash-strapped singles and cash-strapped couples (those who rent and receive an Age Pension) – are struggling. With your help, we want to make a difference and lobby key sectors of the retirement industry on your behalf.
Victoria’s biggest energy retailer, AGL, confirmed plans this week to push up power prices from 1 January by an average of 9.5 per cent.
The announcement comes on the back of fuel and power already being branded the main culprits for driving up the cost of living for all retirement tribes, apart from the affluent couples.
Electricity prices rose by an average of 8.9 per cent across all households during the quarter, while gas prices rose on average by 5.2 per cent.
The Essential Services Commission reported that in the past year in Victoria – one of the cheaper Australian states, according to research by the International Energy Agency – the average standard contract price of electricity and gas increased by five per cent and 16 per cent, respectively.
The Paris-based International Energy Agency says in its annual summary that Australian households have the 11th most expensive electricity prices in the OECD, with South Australia being the most expensive state.
Are you noticing the difference in the cost of your household expenses? What other bills are making it increasingly difficult for you to make ends meet?
We want to hear your stories. What is wrong? What’s the solution?
With your permission, we’d like to publish a selection of your experiences.
Contact [email protected] by 11 December, 2017. Be sure to include your name, residential address, best contact number and a photograph, and keep your report to no more than 450 words. Personal details will not be published.
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