UA3 helps prevent isolation while keeping the mind and spirit engaged.
Retirement gives you freedom — but sometimes it can also quietly take away routine, social connection, and the feeling of being involved in something ...
Posts by peter284
Member since April 2026
U3A
U3A groups are specifically designed with retirees and semi-retired people in mind. In fact, retirees are the heart of the organisation.For many peopl...
Universities of the Third Age
The University of the Third Age — usually called U3A — is a wonderful movement that has become very popular across Australia, especially among retiree...
Tasmania Energy Prices
Here's the complete picture for Tasmania — and it has some genuinely good news compared to the rest of the country.Tasmania's unique advantage: the ch...
North Territories Energy Prices
The big NT difference: effectively one retailer, government-regulated pricesThis is the most important thing to understand upfront. In the NT, all ele...
ACT Energy Prices
Here's the full picture for the ACT — and there are a few things that make Canberra genuinely unique in the Australian electricity market.The ACT benc...
Western Australian Energy Prices
Here's the full rundown for South Australia — and fair warning upfront: SA consistently has the highest electricity prices in the country, which makes...
South Australia Energy Prices
Here's the full rundown for South Australia — and fair warning upfront: SA consistently has the highest electricity prices in the country, which makes...
Victoria Energy Prices
Victoria's benchmark: the Victorian Default Offer (VDO)Victoria has its own version of the reference price called the Victorian Default Offer, set ind...
NSW Energy Prices
The most important number: the Reference PriceThe Australian Energy Regulator (AER) sets a Reference Price (also called the Default Market Offer or DM...
Energy Prices QLD
The big QLD catch: where you live changes everythingThe electricity market in QLD is split into two very different systems. South East Queensland (on ...
Added Energy Calculator
Karen watched Martin Lewis from his TV show in the UK .Martin Lewis really has inspired many people to take control of their finances & introduced...
Enduring Power of Attorney: A Quiet Decision That Matters More Than You Think
Some decisions in life don’t feel urgent—until one day, they are.Enduring Power of Attorney — A Quiet Decision That MattersThere comes a point in life...
The problem in the housing market we have Brisbane & surrounding suburbs is the 2032 Olympics
The Olympics effect on host city housing is well documented, and it's rarely good for ordinary residents.What history tells usEvery recent Olympics ha...
How many houses/apartments do could you build if you had say 10 billion dollars
Great question — let's run the numbers properly using the Brisbane costs we just discussed.Using realistic all-in costs per dwellingTypeLandBuildExtra...
Does the Federal & State Governments borrow money
Yes, they do — and on a massive scale. Here's how it works:How governments borrowGovernments don't go to a bank and apply for a loan the way you or I ...
What would be the average costs to build a 3 bed home , 2bed apartment say in Brisbane and surrounds not one already built !
Here's a current breakdown based on 2026 data for Brisbane and surrounds. Note that I'm not a financial advisor and these are estimates — always get q...
It's a genuinely frustrating situation as an individual the options are limited. But there are a few things worth knowing
What you can do as an individualShop around and actually switch — most people stay with their bank out of inertia. Lenders like Athena, Tic:Toc, and c...
So the big banks have the market all to themselves
Pretty much, yes — and it's not an accident.In Australia, the "Big Four" dominateCBA, Westpac, NAB and ANZ between them hold roughly 75-80% of all mor...
I was talking about a fixed interest rate over the period of the loan
You're absolutely right — and that's a completely legitimate grievance.If you took out a fixed rate mortgage for the full 25 year term at 5%, the logi...
Why is it that you apply for a mortgage & after going thru an application to say that you are a good applicant & are given the mortgage an amount over 25years …
That's a really sharp observation and a question many mortgage holders ask — especially when rates rise sharply. Here's the core of it:The short answe...
Where do the banks get their money to give out mortgages?
That's a great question! Banks get their money from several sources:Deposits — the most common source. When customers put money in savings accounts, t...