THE MEANING OF OZ - All you need to know!

@hingehead,

hingehead wrote:

Heh, so the Indian guy I get when I call the phone/IT/insurance/banking company might actually not be outsourced!

More likely if you were a pharmacist!

I work in a predominantly Asian area - mostly Chinese, Vietnamese, Koreans. These Indians have to track in from elsewhere to work here (big Indian / Sri Lankan population about 2 suburbs away!)

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Been feeling the pinch considerably more lately?
I know I certainly have.
What do you think are the causes of the incredibly high prices we're paying for essentials?
The strong AU dollar?
Or what?

Quote:

Sydney, Melbourne among world's priciest cities
July 7, 2011 - 4:26PM/the AGE

The strong Aussie dollar is giving Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane the unenviable reputation of being among the world's most expensive cities, a global survey shows.

It's now cheaper to live in London, Vienna, Rome, Berlin, Hong Kong and Beijing than most Australian capitals, the Economist Intelligence Unit's Worldwide Cost of Living survey found.

Sydney is now the sixth priciest city in the world, up from 32nd place two years ago, while Melbourne has jumped from 38th to seventh.

Perth and Brisbane, meanwhile, are ranked 13th and 14th - almost 25 per cent dearer than New York City.

Survey author Jon Copestake said the strength of Australia's dollar was partly to blame for skyrocketing living costs Down Under.

The local currency reached parity with the US dollar in November 2010 and hit a peak of 110.11 US cents on May 3, its highest since being floated on the foreign exchange market in 1983. It is currently trading around 107 US cents.

"Rising domestic prices, partly due to rising oil and commodity prices, have been compounded by the strength of the Australian dollar, which achieved parity with the US dollar earlier this year, compared to being worth around half that much 10 years ago," Mr Copestake said in a statement today. ....<cont>

http://www.theage.com.au/money/sydney-melbourne-among-worlds-priciest-cities-20110707-1h496.html

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@msolga,

Gee thanks for that information - it really made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

I was just doing my wooliesonline order and noted bananas are now $3 each and limes are $2 each. I don't even bother to look at the lamb section - that's sitting around the $24 pk mark.

Of course, as far as the limes are concerned, everything green has doubled in price this week, hasn't it? Laughing

1 Reply

@msolga,

That's kind of weird - so it's more expensive to live in Sydney if you are being paid in American dollars? But not much different if you get paid in Oz dollars. No doubt the commute to your job in America would be a bummer too...

I wanna see the Big Mac index.

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Hello, Australia!

Greetings from Scotland, and the UK.

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@ragnel,

Apart from the obvious shortages created by extreme climate events in queensland we are also being affected by the rise in fuel costs because we are so used to eating foods that are out of season being shipped great distances. And the food industry has killed small local market gardens in favour of massive mechanised food production.

We're now avoiding non-local fruit, meat and veg as much as possible, not that it's cheaper (yet), but it makes a statement. I will not by US lemons or peruvian asparagus.

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@hingehead,

I can smuggle ya lemons . WE disguise em as grenades.

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Bananas here are about 20 pence which, I think, is around 30 US cents.

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@farmerman,

Ha! We call them 'yellow winter limes'.

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To think I'm stuck Melbourne, in darkest winter Sad

, struggling to afford a bag of bananas or Australian lamb chops ... when I could be kicking up my heels, living the high life more cheaply in NYC, Rome, Berlin ....! Very Happy

Something's just not right about about this situation , ya gotta admit!

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@McTag,

And hello back to you, McTag! Smile

(I do wish you'd emerge from your British thread a wee bit more!)

I have just read, on another thread, that yesterday was your birthday.

I hope it was a good day for you & I hope this next year of your life brings you much pleasure & enough challenges to make it really interesting!

Here's a belated bunch of birthday flowers for you:

http://www.flowersales.com.au/florist/flowers/mixed-flowers-50.jpg

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@msolga,

Thank you, msolga.

And perhaps I shall.

I had fish & chips for my tea tonight in solitary splendour because my wife has gone to see Victoria Wood's new musical play at the Palace.

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@McTag,

Quote:

And perhaps I shall.

Maybe if I try a bit of bribery?

Quote:

I had fish & chips for my tea tonight in solitary splendour because my wife has gone to see Victoria Wood's new musical play at the Palace.

Sounds like both of you had a perfect night, McTag, doing what you enjoy! (I would never knock back a good fish & chips dinner!) Smile

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@msolga,

Quote:

Maybe if I try a bit of bribery?

I can be bought, definitely. My people will be in touch.

Tomorrow my band is doing a little summer concert- it's at a music centre not far from here. I'm looking forward to that, even though today's practice was a little bit ropey.

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@McTag,

Quote:

I can be bought, definitely.

I knew it! Smile

Quote:

My people will be in touch.

Some very serious negotiations are about to occur! Wink

Good luck with your concert, McTag.
I didn't know you were a band member! Surprised

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@msolga,

msolga wrote:

I didn't know you were a band member!

Perhaps "banned"

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@msolga,

Quote:

I didn't know you were a band member!

Oh yes. We represent the best of amateur music making, played in a purely amateurish way.

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@McTag,

Well good on you, McTag!
That sounds like a most satisfactory past-time to me! Smile

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Hmmm, so why not do a virtual tour of the Sydney Opera House escorted by several oz music icons doing a tribute to an oz music living treasure?

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@hingehead,

Hi hinge

That's a lot of musicians all going at the same song!
Perhaps it would have been better to let each of them to sing it right through? Wink

Of course, nothing could ever beat the original.
Love it.

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THE MEANING OF OZ - All you need to know!

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