With our State and Federal governments unveiling a bit of a spending spree last week it is unlikely we will see the cost of living moving down for the average family. In SA transport, motor vehicle registration, driver license renewals and speeding fines are up and water services another utility that will increase to create a tighter grip on our belts and make our blood pressure rise.
If you’re already struggling to make ends meet even before your received your last power bill then it is time to reconsider your finances more widely. Being in debt creates stress and is not helpful to your health and well-being. Staying healthy is one strategy in dealing with the things that life throws at us but quickly forgotten when it is a struggle just to put food on the table. It's not just the physical issues of suffering hardship but the mental strain and emotional anguish of our well being that's at stake. It is a lot harder to make decisions when your financial environment keeps you awake at night and is a constant in your thinking. Feeling more in control of your finances and debt can be better than any prescription or sleeping pill.
Winter is here and flu season is starting to take hold. Keeping warm is a big issue when it comes to home heating costs and staying healthy. The recent increases to energy costs is equivalent to us needing to turn off the power one in five days just to be where we were last year, and this is after previous increases that have families paying almost double what they used to pay. It can never be overstated that many don’t even have access to a house or accommodation to stay warm and organisations and charities such as The Salvos are pleading for more help with blankets and items to help the homeless survive this winter.
There are ways to save on energy costs and many South Australian families are well versed in saving power wherever they can. If you have not considered how you can save regarding your utilities then these last increases signal that it’s well and truly time to start looking at strategies that may help. Getting the most of home insulation and preventing energy leaks or using more energy efficient appliances based on your needs can save a lot of money. Some of our financial counsellors are always singing the praise of using individual heating blankets over normal heaters. An outlay of around $34 can save much more in just a few weeks. See the attached pdf for more hints on saving energy and see the costs of various heating units.
There are also many concessions and services available to South Australians that can provide assistance but finding them is not always easy. That’s why the Affordable SA App was created and our team can refer you to those services as follow up to a consultation. “You don’t know what you don’t know” is our mantra and knowing what services are available, if you are eligible and how they can help is a good start in renewing your finances or regaining some control. For example around 30% of eligible people do not access the dental concessions or the opportunities available to them. Dental assistance will be a bit of a focus for us in the coming weeks so please stay in touch.
You can get an initial appointment with a financial counsellor within two weeks, so you can start the new financial year with a better financial outlook and a lot less worry. They can help you take control of your debt as well as consider the options, concessions and assistance that could be available to you. Financial Counselling is free, confidential and independent. The National Debt Helpline is a not-for-profit, community based service that is available to people in Australia experiencing financial difficulty. South Australians ringing the National Debt Helpline can access a financial counsellor who knows and lives in South Australia. The number to ring is 1800 007 007.