Where Australians spend their money & why

week accuses me of hypocrisy. Heaven forbid. Actually they might be right. They got a point that's ahead, and the more earnest stuff as well. But we wake up to the end of the world every day, so let's give that a rest for a while. Let's talk about money and what makes you feel good. Nobody except dear Gina Reinhardt, perhaps has enough money. But how we spend it is interesting. Air course bills, medical bills, mortgages, rent taxes, the school

bills plus treats. A bunch of boffins had a close look at how Australians spend their discretionary money, not that there's much of it. They found that two thirds of us treat ourselves at least once a week with a treat of some sort. The average Australian spends two hundred and sixty one dollars a week. That's thirteen and a half grand a Year's a lot of money. Two hundred

and sixty one dollars a week on treats. And by treats they mean non essentials, little luxuries like alcohol or vapes or tobacco, or fast food or food delivery or restaurants. They see it as a short term dopamine hit and we like one of those. Apparently, each week at least once a week fast food was out in front and this indulgence followed by alcohol of course. And what intrigues me is this, despite as surely of money, twenty one

percent don't bother to go and pick up food. They use the delivery service like Uber eats in tough times. In fact, the average spend on this home delivery stuff was seventy four dollars a week. Now the boffins are surprised. They surveyed over a thousand Australians, so it's not definitive, but it is an indication. But we shouldn't be surprised. The world is a mess. International tensions have erupted. We've got war in several places, tensions of building in our

region alone. Climate change is threatening money short the economy is struggling. Every time you put your head up for air, some government taxes you for the oxygen. It's a pretty heavy old burden in the heavy old world. So who can blame people for looking for a bit of a sugar hit, for looking for a chance to treat themselves. I'm not surprised, although I'll be regionably sure. Big ticket

items like holidays are down. So if you can't afford a holiday or a few nights in town on a staycation, of course you look for a little indulged in it, like takeaway food. There's no surprise, and before long businesses will twig and they'll start advertising to exactly this motivation for spending the sugar hit. Speaking of spending and surveys,

this one is unrelated but also indicative. It comes from an advertising firm WPP, along with figures from the Bureau of Statistics and the Commonwealth Bank, so it's quite detailed analysis and it destroys. It destroys a stereotype, It shows it shows the big spenders in the community are baby boomers over fifties spend sixty four percent of the money spend on new cars, fifty five percent of money spent on travel. Over fifties, they outspend the millennials in all areas,

perhaps except smashed avocado breakfast. In fact, boomers spend forty billion dollars a year more than millennials and Gen x's the age group sixty five to sixty nine of the big spenders, seventy to seventy four year olds are up there. This really says two things. The advertising industry has been on the wrong tram. Many of those controlling advertising dollars are very young, and they're plugged into young buyers. They target young buyers, and they ignore or downplay the older buyer.

They reckon they're only good for incontinence pads and funeral homes. This is proof they're wrong. I've thought for a long time they are. It's proof that the oldies have got money. They're keen, they're mobile, they'll spend it. They're not going to leave it for the kids. The second point is never never trust a stereotype. Boomers have money, they can spend it, and will, and as has been seen in so many areas, boomers have created a whole new attitude

in life. Now they might be seventy, but the party goes on. And if you're over fifty, drop me a line. Neil Mitchell at nine dot com dot are you even in tough times? Where do you spend your money? What are the treats? What are the luxury buyers? Are you spending more as you get old? Or where does it all go once the kids leave home? Once the kids go out and start grizzling about how boomers have ruined the world. Once they leave home, you've got more disposable income,

So how do you dispose of it? Neil dot Mitchell at nine dot com dot AU. Where does the money go? Now? The world has probably changed in the short time it took me to record and post this, so I won't go into the detail more broadbrush stuff. Starting point, it is difficult to wake up in the morning the way the world is unfolding. For decades, my habit has been to wake up and check the news feeds. Now, in the old days it was straight to radio and TV.

Now that's straight to my iPhone. But with the mood of the world so ugly, I almost do it reluctantly now, I can't imagine a majority of people outside my industry of journalism are trying to disengage from news, but we can't. Russia continues its war against a legitimate government in Ukraine. China continues to eye Taiwan like some giant lustful panda. Way, did you know They've increased their military by forty four

percent in the past few decades. They've increased their nuclear spending in China spending on nuclear capability four hundred percent. That doesn't ring alarm bell. Nothing does. Also, of course, we've got Iran and Israel bombing the life out of each other, and the signs are the United States will be involved very very soon. God only knows what that mates. Does that mean direct reaction from Russia, Well, they're already

bit stretched. China is looking for a fight now. Of course, it's difficult to know what the US will do because Donald Trump runs his foreign policy like a Punch and Judy show. It may be sophisticated behind the scenes, but his tweets are bizarre, and that's the public face of their policy. He has told the people of Tehran evacuate get out as ten minion people. He threatens devastation the like of which has never been seen, which makes everybody

worry about nuclear reaction. And maybe that's his aim. Maybe it's it's deliberate bluster rather than reality. Let's hope so, but it seems inevitable the United States will be further involved, which risks escalation. But then what is the option really with this country around what does Australia do too? Iranians are good people. The Iranian regime is a bad regime. It tramples human rights, it bashes, bullies, even kills its population.

It develops nuclear weapon and lies about it. It funds terrorist organizations like Hamas and his Bollah to the tune of hundreds of minions of dollars a year, so it finances obscene actions like the raid on October seven on Israel by har Maas, and it supports the philosophy that says Jews must be wiped off the face of the planet. The Uranian ambassador to Australia last August, in a tweet, advocated the violent removal of Israelas from what he called

the Holy Lands of Palestine. Her Maas says openly called for the death of every Jew on the planet. These are bad. It's an evil and dangerous regime. Israel's arguably doing the world of favor if it can destroy Iran's nuclear capability without provoking something horrible, It's already paying the price with death of its own civilians. Now, be realistic. Australia means very little of the Middle East, but we clearly must stand for decency, and that means we must

stand against Iran. There are those in this country, and we've seen them over recent months, who believe Israel is the devil, but even they've been quiet so far. It's a challenge for the left. Iran tramples the sorts of rights that they usually live by, so it's difficult to stand with them against Israel, even though they hate Israel, and the left with an anti Semitic passion that defies logic. That brings me back to Australia. At the moment, we

continue diplomatic relations with Iran. The US and Canada do not, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia do not. The question is whether it is now time for us to end that recognition. Should we continue diplomatic ties with a state that is at war with some of our strongest allies. Now it would be a gesture if we ended relationships to be a pretty powerful one. Is there any real benefit, We've got to ask, is any real benefit to keeping those relations open? Does anybody actually trust what is said by Iran?

Is there any chance they will listen to Penny Wan when she tells them to behave themselves? Of course, so ah, yes, Penny will do what you say. I think the most compelling reason to cut ties with Iran is the message it sends here in Australia. Jewish people are hurting. They're disenfranchised, they feel under threat, in danger in their own country. They feel abandoned by a country that has sat on the fence over the war in Gaza and the people

who've taken to the streets calling them murderers. If Australia did end diplomatic ties with Iran, it would send a powerful message of reassurance to every Jewish person in Australia. It will be saying we are with you. Look, there are questions about the way the war in Gaza has been managed, the strategy of the Israeli government, no argument this is different. This regime is a threat to the

world so will it happen. Will we break tires? Probably not, But I'm a bit surprised it's not being publicly discussed or canvassed or argued. Yes, it is symbolic, of course, It's just symbolism. But at a time like this, symbolism is crucial. Now I have a letter here, I want to go too. It's about government in action. It was reported in Melbourne a few days ago an elderly man had died bled to death after calling for an ambulance twice and nobody turned up to help for five hours.

He died. That's despite the fact there were five ambulances waiting at a hospital a matter of kilometers away, but the hospital was jammed and they couldn't leave. This sixty nine year old man probably could have lived. He fell and cut his head, but he didn't. He's not the first. Back in twenty twenty one, a woman young woman with a katheine overdase overdose waited seven hours died. September last year, man waited four hours for an ambulance died. It still

happens now. The letter I got came from man called David Edwards. His father died in January twenty twenty two. He collapsed on the front lawn and despite many attempts to get the ambulance, it didn't turn up until he was dead. Now, I talked to David at the time on radio, who was destrawed. Of course, he was angry. He was promised government action. They promised they'd fix it, and this latest death a few days ago prompted this

from him. It's been one two hundred and sixty days since my dad died because there was no ambulance, and it is still happening. Another elderly man has died waiting for help and for me and my family. Still no contact from the government. Still nobody says sorry. Still no explanation, Still no care, no responsibility. What has changed, nothing, just words. I'm more angry today. The poor man died on the floor, scared and helpless, and he goes on. I says to the roy if I usually let it, yes, go for

he says, the government needs to own up. I want three things one and this is after what he say twelve hundred days. I want three things One why were our calls not answered? Two? Who was responsible of cause not being answered? And three personal apologies verbal and written from the relevant Premier and ministers involved. I will never give up or stop criticism until I'm sure the government has fixed the problems. I'm not holding my breast. Thanks again,

And that's that's from David Edwards. You can hear the passion there. David doesn't forgive. The government promised to talk to him and explained it all apolo as they didn't look. Errors happen, people die, But there have been too many avoidable deaths in Victoria, and too many promises not fulfilled, and it just goes on and on and on. Now, when it happens, when you get people like David's dad who die in these circumstances, the old man the other day,

the politicians get all sorry and serious about it. No, we're going to investigate. Oh, this is unacceptable. Then they move on. I hope everybody forgets David hasn't even had a telephone call from these people, the people who run the system, the government that runs the system that failed his father. That's quite outrageous. The system fail his father, Diet The government is responsible for that system. David Edwoods

deserves decency, He deserves an apology from government. He deserves answers more than three years he's been waiting, no sign of any of that. It is disgusting. Okay, some letters for the podcast specific I remember Neil dot Mitchell at nine dot com dot you and I'd love your thoughts on ghosts. Ever seen one believe in them? Drop me an email whether you believe in them or not. Skeptics want of you from skeptics too. Neil Mitchell at nine dot com dot Au. My podcast this week. Neil Mitchell

asks why it's available now. It's about chasing ghosts. I talk to a man who was arguably Australia's leading ghost chaser. And he's not a nutter. He's a very well qualified academic doctor. Vladimir Dubai is a neuroscientist. He's a parapsychologist. He's been ghost hunting for years. He started off skeptical. He's changed. This is what he told me. You've said

several times, there a lot of reports about this. Are there enough reports for you to feel convinced there's something going on we don't understand.

the media at the time. Carlton Footy Club about nine years ago. He walked into the club gym at night. The lights were off and a censor turned them on so as he came in, so assume nobody in the rooms, he says. Quote as I walked in, I saw a figure in the room. He was wearing a trench coat and a hat. He just suddenly disappeared into a wall, walked through it. Always thought i'd be frightened if I ever saw anything like that, but I do remember I was calm. That's what Lucas said, and we analyze that

with doctor Dubai. Your stories pleased. It's estimated twenty percent of people think they've seen a ghost, fifty percent believe in them. Also, Neil dot Mitchell at nine dot com dot are you critical? Email from Michael, I think it's critical. Last week I was talking about the football shop Jock Cane Corns great football and I've quite liked his commentary, but he's pushed it a bit too hard. He's looking for outrage that doesn't exist. And this is from Michael.

I'd like to understand your message about Canecorns. You label him a shock jock. You imply he does it for ratings. I appreciate your commentary and acknowledge. I don't necessarily agree. However, the title of your podcast is why Canecorns is trying to You spoke about Caine for about a minute at best. I think you may be trying to get in the Corn's slip stream. Come on, kneel and it's headed hypocrisy.

Maybe he's right. That's it. Read my podcast. Neil Mitchell asks why and if you don't believe in ghosts, you need to hear why you should. If you do believe in ghosts, would be intrigued. Coming up on, Neil Mitchell asks why in the weeks ahead the housing market is there really any hope left for the average Australian, the up and coming generation to ever buy a house. We'll have a look at that and what you can do to get there. And the retail industry is struggling. Big

names are going under, local shops are going under. Retail is on the verge of massive change and it will touch everybody whoever shops for anything. And that is all of us took to you next week