Lived Experience Forum

[Owlunar]

Hi @Former-Member

You are always close to my thoughts Lapses

I took the weekend off Lapses - I hope you are okay right now and have had a couple of days to yourself after all the work you have been doing

No doubt I will catch up with you soon - I will get myself together - someone interferred with the time over the weekend - I never feel in focus after this happens until daylight saving is established - I don't think I am alone in this

I am hoping my hayfever is taking a hike with all the new stuff I have bought for it - I have a nasal spray which seems to have made a difference

I hope you are the best you can be under the circumstances sis - great to have a message from you

Dec

[Former-Member]

Hi @Owlunar, you’re so quiet, how’s the sinuses? Companion cat? And mobility (pain). Thinking of you tonight while trying to stretch of pain & cramps. Busy day visiting bro3 for his birthday & dad & chch. Seems my bones just don’t wanna hold me up anymore maybe lol on the was
Got my own car - a van, which is probably a bit over the top but need to start building some independence somehow. Just popping by to say hi, thinking of you
💜🌷💜🌷💜

[Owlunar]

Hi @Former-Member

I have been okay - Fridays are busy and over the weekend the weather was so great I as outside a lot - fantastic sunshine and warm breezes - I love that

I heard a crash at 4.45 am and then my Mepcas alarm sent messages to me that I had a power outage - until afrer 11.00 am - the icecream was melting so I ate that - everything else is okay - 

But I have had a bad headache and when I opened the door to look and see if other people were blacked out and they were - apparently there was a cable down - and I found my cat was outside and she had been all night and she wouldn't come in - and I got the headache and I hope it has gone away now - bad morning - I needed a coffee and I only have electricity - darn - I read with a torch and tried to sleep- it didn't happen - so I am really tired today

I am sorry you have so much pain and fatigue - yes - I get it - your bones are complaining - I have that feeling myself right now and I haven't been in the mood to move all day - yes - alas - I happens

Somewhere through this - I have lost track of time and events already - I put the dinner dishes into the sink and turned the tap on - then I heard a man outside at the fuse box so I went out to talk to him - forgot about the hot tap running - never do that btw - my kitchen was flooded - 

That's terrific news about your van - you are building independence and not a lot of space to collect stuff - I am really proud of you and it's not over the top imo

So thanks and "Hi" to you - I am feeling totally washed out now but okay - I will be okay

Thinking of you

Dec

[Former-Member]

Sorry @Owlunar. 

Hang in theee 💜💜💜 

[Former-Member]

Hi @Owlunar, you’re a numbers person, I’m looking at a 55+ village 2BR unit CAN afford but just made enquirers about costs:
Please find below the ongoing costs for 14 Glenfield Court:
Body Corp fees $1,373 per quarter
Sinking fund $433 per quarter
Land Rates $1,793 per year
max 30% exit fees 😞

While this is highway robbery, taking advantage of our seniors, like you, I’m thinking I have no choice as I need the help.
It’s about $200wk - 50 less than the local private rentals (half the pension)

What do you think? Do you wish you were living in a retirement 55+ village?

[Owlunar]

Hi @Former-Member

Yes- I am okay with numbers but that's not this issue here - it's a lot of money and yet it's something you need and I get it

So - these figures - are these fees in addition to the rent or are they what you pay each week - a quarter of your income is about what is financially viable - and it seems really hard to me if you have to pay these fees as well as rent and the rent is around $200.00 a week - yeah - that's half the pension

So the main question is are these figures are on top of rent

Then you have to take paying utilities on top of these figures - and then calulate how much you need to spend at the supermarkets and running your van etc - and work out your interest from your investment and any differences in your pension Centrelink might insist on

I hear you - you feel you need this kind of living arrangement but I am not sure that it's financially a good idea but only you can answer that and I don't have all your information

And you want to know if this is something I would wish for. 

My situation is different - I live in Government Housing with controlled rent - I have support for domestic help from an agency and I am financially secure so no - I don't wish for it - I have been in the system for a long time now

However the good news is that seeing as you are on the pension your are entitled to rent relief and that would make rent easier - you need to talk to centrelink about that

Also - in case you haven't mentioned it you need to let them know about the sale of your house because this could change your income

Yes - they get you coming and going but as an accountant though these are the things I would be looking at though I have never looked into living in a retirement village and this is what I would tell anyone who asked my advice

Yes - I know this is tough - everything costs money and it can be scary

I wish it was easier - you must feel very insecure atm. What happened about the unit you were looking into earlier - I remember you were going to negotiate the price on that on.

Life can be financially tough for women living alone - we have less of a chance at accumulating superannuation. Also - living in a city costs more than regional real estate but I haven't looked into rental accommodation in rural areas 

I'm sorry I have taken a while to answer - I had a really bad day on Monday and I was totally exhausted yesterday - I am okay - the things that happened on Monday were fixable - sigh - though I got a bad headache on Tuesday as well - it's very humid in Melbourne

I hope I have been useful - I know it seems really tough for you right now

Dec

[outlander]

@Owlunar ❤🐺🐈

[Owlunar]

Thanks @outlander

Dec

[Shaz51]

I had a really bad day on Monday and I was totally exhausted yesterday - I am okay - the things that happened on Monday were fixable - sigh - though I got a bad headache on Tuesday as well - it's very humid in Melbourne

@Owlunar, How do you feel today my friend , hope you are feeling a bit better xoxo

sending you tender hugs

[Owlunar]

Hi @Shaz51

Ah yes - I am feeling much better today - after the adventures I had on Monday - I forgot to mention that my wifi moden broke down - I really hate it when I can't get on-line - so yes - I had to deal with Telstra on the phone yesterday - and the good news is that if hte ECO light turns blue press it and it will turn green again

And I am getting a free NBN wifi modem - that is so nice - worth it after having a headache that came back and yes - good news - the pharmacist recommended a mineral suppliment that worked really well

So it is good to feel cared about - this time it wasn't a psychological issue - just stuff as everyone does from time to time and I feel rather tired from all of it but I am okay

Thanks Shaz

Dec