8 February, 2017

Utility Bill Shock

Utilities are some of the consistently highest and all too frequent costs for families throughout the year.

Every 3 months you can expect to receive bills for water and energy use. But what if they don’t arrive? Sounds great until the sum of the unpaid bills arrive expecting you to pay an enormous amount within a relatively short time.

It does happen and our Financial Counsellors have recently been dealing with this particular scenario a little more than usual. Maybe it’s the weather. We certainly have been through a lot this summer in South Australia and with more extremes on the way many will be looking for solutions in keeping energy costs down without being too uncomfortable. The last thing we need is for an accumulated bill to arrive just when its all over.

If for some reason and no fault of your own making you receive a group of over due bills with little time to pay. What can you do?

It is not uncommon for a supplier to experience a delay in issuing your bill and if not noticed these can lead to a sudden shock when the bills finally arrive. If you do not receive bills when expected you may need to check the supplier has your correct e-mail and address on their accounts. If your retailer has failed to issue bills for a number of billing periods, and it has been confirmed that an issue on the retailers end such as a computer error causes the delay, there are regulations in place to protect consumers.

If you have not received a bill when you expect to, then you should contact your retailer and confirm that your correct mail or e-mail address is on file. If a retailer has failed to issue bills through a fault of their own, then when they do issue a bill they can only charge you back 9 months (or 12 months for water) from the date they advise you of the undercharged (up until now un-billed) amount. The retailer must also provide the customer with the same length of time to pay off the bill as they are billing for.

As an example: Mr P has not received a bill from his electricity retailer for 18 months. His retailer corrects the error and issues Mr P bill spanning the past 18 months. These bills should include credits to cover the oldest 9 months of charges (this would be 6 months for a water bill), and the retailer must also provide Mr P with 9 months to pay off these charges.

Tip: Some people choose to make monthly payments rather than receive quarterly bills with their retailer. This is a good way to smooth out payments over the period and if linked directly to your account can help reduce a fluctuating bank account or going into debt each quarter.

For more information contact your retailer or go to the Energy & Water Ombudsman SA website. If you are experiencing financial hardship then speak to a Financial Counsellor by phoning the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007.

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2 February, 2017

Kate Fischer and Homelessness

Former model Kate Fischer has helped to bring homelessness into the spotlight with her candid interviews about her life amongst celebrity and the billionaire jet set to living in a homeless shelter in Melbourne.

Kate now named T'ziporah Malkah after reclaiming her Jewish roots and faith, has revealed to the tabloids and TV, her journey from the limelight, to needing support. T'ziporah, daughter of the always outspoken Pru Goward, a TV and Radio presenter turned Politician, was born in Adelaide and moved to Canberra where she grew up amongst a backdrop of a family life steeped in Politics and media. No stranger to the Political elite dropping in for dinner or hearing Mum on the radio grilling the finer points of Political Policy with Ministers as well as laughing with the touring celebrities. So it was no surprise that Kate could hold her own in a high profile world with the likes of Jamie Packer, once her fiancé

Like her Mother, T'ziporah (pictured above in Womens Weekly interview) is a strong and outspoken woman declaring that she is happier than ever working as an aged care worker and now making her way back into the limelight with her entry into the reality TV world of "I'm a celebrity..get me out of here". The telling of her story reinforces the issues faced by many experiencing financial hardship. Hardships that can happen to anyone from every walk of life.

Homelessness is not a choice. The majority of people are homeless due to financial and emotional hardship. The biggest cause of homelessness is family and domestic violence, followed by financial difficulties. There are around 105 000 people experiencing homelessness every night in Australia, and many more living in insecure housing, one step away from being homeless. If you are homeless or at risk of being homeless, the Homeless Gateway Service can help you. Ring the Homeless Gateway on 1800 003 308.

Many people will experience financial hardship throughout their life and require some form of assistance from housing to financial help. We are all one life changing event away from needing help. Redundancy, separation and illness including mental illness can have a huge financial impact on our lives and getting the right assistance early can save years of financial and emotional hardship

There are many organisations there to assist you if you need help in South Australia. To find them download the Affordable SA App as a pocket reference to find the right service for your situation or join in the conversation on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/affordableSAapp/

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19 January, 2017

Post Christmas Dues

We are head long into the start of 2017 and for most the Christmas holidays are well and truly over.

As we come out of the Christmas haze some of us will cringe at the thought of the credit we have racked up over the season. Many bills using Christmas options have made Christmas shopping easier at the time but only delayed the inevitable. These "Christmas dues" are coming in just when those with Children are gearing up for the back to school purchases such as books, uniforms, fees and new computers. There is also the quarterly utilities payments such as power usage which over the summer heat are likely to be higher than average.

Dont let the Post Christmas Dues give you the Financial blues for the rest of the year.

Make a plan to reduce the impact of your debt so that you can manage your finances better over the entire year. It is worth investing some time and effort in planning and assessing your situation. Basic budgeting - understanding what income or money you have coming in against expenditures, what money you need to spend. It will also let you know what you can manage when paying off your debt in installments.

Long term credit card debt impacts on the money you have now and in the future. Over time you may end up paying much more than you need. Planning to pay off debt as early as possible or finding ways to consistently make payments reduces your overall expenditure.

Debt consolidation can be a good way to bring all your debts into one more managable basket rather than paying off a variety of smaller high interest loans or credit. Be careful as there are a lot of money lending promises and in most cases it is best to use a recognised financial institution such as a bank or if you are in hardship a benevolent instutution such as Good Shepherd Micro-Finance. NILS - No Interest Loans schemes cannot be used for paying off debt.

Consider payment options using monthly or even weekly instalments for such things as insurance, utilities or other regular bills. This can help manage your income and expenditure by smoothing out the financial highs and lows over the year.

Always examine the fine print and make sure you are getting the best rate of interest and be aware of any penalties for over due amounts. These can lead to high interest rates being applied.

Stay in touch with the Affordable SA App and explore the Programs and regular articles. This can help save you money by indicating the programs that can best help you and provide information about the latest assistance programs and advice.

Remember, if you need help ask for it. Many people experience some form of financial hardship at some point in their life.

The Financial Counselling Helpline on 1800 007 007 is a free and confidential service that can help start your new year on the right financial foot. They analyse and assess your financial situation and give you ways of dealing with a range of issues including credit and debt. They work with you to develop a plan to improve your financial situation.

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16 January, 2017

Affordable Banking

Start your 2017 by getting smart with your banking needs with help from, believe it or not, the Banks?

Banks have accounts incurring a wide range of fees and associated charges for just maintaining and using everyday banking accounts as well as penalties for maintaining accounts that dip below thresholds. This is a problem for disadvantaged and low income earners dealing with greater variance of their account balances each month and making many small transations for everyday needs. These fees quickly add up and can be surprisingly expensive over time.

Currently, some Australian banks offer ‘basic bank accounts’ that are suitable for disadvantaged and low-income customers. A basic bank account is a transaction account that does not charge many of the standard bank fees other accounts typically do. These fee-free features provide eligible customers with an account they can receive their government benefit payment into and access free banking transactions.

The ‘Affordable Banking’ website lists the basic bank accounts offered by retail Australian Banking Association member banks. It names the transaction accounts, lists their features, and indicates if there are any eligibility criteria, so that customers can review and choose an account suitable to their needs.

Generally, to qualify for a basic bank account, a customer will need to hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. If a bank requires a customer to hold a Concession Card or Health Care Card, they will typically require that income support or family assistance payments social security benefits be paid into this account.

Some banks do not have any eligibility criteria and offer a free transaction account to all customers.

Check out the related website listed on the Affordable SA App and website or go to http://www.affordablebanking.info/Which-Australian-banks-offer-a-basic-bank-accounts-

If you are having financial difficulties a financial Counsellor can help. Financial Counselling is free, independent and confidential.

Ring 1800 007 007 and arrange an appointment. It will be your best step forward in managing your finances.

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19 December, 2016

A Partridge in a pear Tree

Well its almost here. Less than one week to go untill Christmas. Time to start feeling the warmth and love of family.

After what seemed like a troubling winter in South Australia with sheeting rain, hail and a shortage of power, we jumped from a rainy spring to the longer summer nights, warming us up and letting us forget some of our winter blues. Christmas is almost here with a new year just around the corner.

Whilst some of us still desire more time at the shops and others fight off the urge to splurge on last minute buying some face a very hard Christmas. Despite many organisations doing their best to help bring some joy to those in need there are many with financial and personal problems overshadowing the joy of the season. Christmas is a time to connect with our loved ones and celebrate the gift of giving but for many people it can feel the opposite. Being separated from family and loved ones – either due to work, loss, or conflict – can make Christmas a time of unhappiness and loneliness. We might feel disconnected from others, as though nobody really understands us, listens to us, or values our company.

The holidays can be a difficult time if we are feeling like this and don’t have supportive people in our lives. There are several good guides that can offer some help if you are feeling this way and organisations or professional help if needed. See our article on "tips to managing loneliness this Christmas" in the Affordable SA App and accompanying website https://affordablesa.com.au/news/three-tips-for-managing-loneliness-this-christmas

Christmas is also a time for us all to reach out. To share the true spirit of Christmas and although connecting with people can sometimes seem daunting and possibly awkward it can also be the most rewarding. A simple "Merry Christmas" or chat in the neighbourhood can be a gift in itself. Everyone has a story to share and deserve to feel valued.

Hopefully most of us will be with friends and family this Christmas and we need to treasure this time most dearly.

Have a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

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15 December, 2016

National Debt Helpline

Overwhelmed? Not sure what to do with your debts?

The newly rebranded National Debt Helpline is a not-for-profit service that helps people tackle their debt problems.

"We're not a lender and we don't 'sell' anything or make money from you. Our professional financial counsellors offer a free, independent and confidential service".

We're simply here to help you get back on track

The National Debt Helpline is a not-for-profit, community-based phone financial counselling service (1800 007 007) and supporting website (ndh.org.au).

The website has simple step-by-step guides explaining how to fix common debt problems, such as what to do if you can’t pay your energy bills, internet or phone bills, mortgage, credit cards, car repairer, or payday loans. How do you know how much you can afford to pay? And then how do you negotiate with your creditor? The website also has information on many of the debt solutions out there in the marketplace and how to assess whether they’ll help or get people into further debt.

If a person needs more help, they are encouraged to ring the National Debt Helpline and speak to one of our professional and independent financial counsellors.

The launch of the National Debt Helpline will more effectively promote the phone service and accompanying website. A strongly branded identity to create a gateway into financial counselling.

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13 December, 2016

Two Turtle Doves

Two weeks to go till Christmas.

If you have been following our Christmas countdown and our guide to making it an affordable Christmas this year then you are on the down hill leg and well on your way to being ready and relaxed for Christmas. If not then its still ok. Check out our 12 ways to making it an affordable Christmas for some last minute ideas and hints to getting ahead early in the new year. See link below for the original article or look in the news section of the App.

Over the holiday season many services are closed so if you rely on payments you may find them altered from their usual routine before and after this period. Make sure you plan out your income and payments for the break with this in mind.

https://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/public-holiday-reporting-dates-and-payment-arrangements

Our Financial Counsellors have also warned us that there are still many families thinking that they will receive the Schoolkids Bonus and relying on this payment for buying the kids their technology needs for when they return to school. The Schoolkids Bonus was phased out in July 2016 so there will be no payments next year. If you were eligible but did not receive them before this closure of the program you need to apply by 30 June 2017. If you received payments for the appropriate period you will not be receiving any further payments.

We would like to thank all the organisations available within the Affordable SA App and leave you will this video by Canadian group Walk Off the Earth below which we believe not only celebrates Christmas but demonstrates the Teamwork needed to make fantastic things happen with each doing their part. We wish you a merry Christmas too.

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9 December, 2016

New Online Tools from MoneySmart

Money Smart (ASIC) has released several new online tools. These are part of a swag of calculators and tools on their website that can assist your in managing your money and assets. Mapping out and properly understanding your financial situation is an important part of getting through financial difficulties and planning for your economic future.

SIMPLE MONEY MANAGER - Is a budgeting resource to help households with everyday budgeting and managing their finances.

The resource is available in English, simplified and traditional Chinese, Italian, Arabic, Vietnamese, Somali, Dari and Sudanese Arabic. The design includes an in-language audio function to help users, especially those with lower levels of literacy.

DIVORCE and SEPARATION FINANCIAL CHECKLIST

In such times of stress and an ongoing complex relationship environment the last thing you need is to make poor choices when it comes to separating your money. This online tool prompts you with the important things you need to focus on in separating your finances. Our Financial Counsellors can also be a great help in getting your finances back on track through and after such problematic scenarios. Ring the National Debt Helpline 1800 007 007 and make an appointment to speak to a Financial Counsellor near you.

ASSET STOCKTAKE CALCULATOR

Making the time to take stock of your assets is an important step in making better financial decisions.

For more information please go to ASIC’s MoneySmart website.

If you need more direct financial help please contact the National Debt Helpline 1800 007 007 to speak to your nearest Free Financial Counsellor. Financial Counsellors are there to help you to make your decisions about the financial matters that surround your situation and may be just the start you need to get yourself on a better financial path. Download the Affordable SA App or go to the website version of the App https://affordablesa.com.au for more valuable information.

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5 December, 2016

Three French Hens

...and only three weeks till Christmas.

A special thank you on International Volunteers Day (Monday 5 December) to the three hens that provide and distribute food to a wide range of charities and volunteer groups to feed the homeless and anyone who needs help putting food on the table. Without these groups many families and individuals would be in dire straits.

Food Bank, Oz Harvest and Second Bite act as a volunteer supply chain that utilises the generous support of the Major Supermarkets such as Coles, Woolworths and Foodland as well as smaller franchises and businesses that kindly donate as much as they can and more than a little extra in greater times of need. Food that would have been wasted is utilised and given free as well as regular staple foods that companies just donate as part of their production. A heart felt thank you from all of us for your support and generosity.

This Christmas the charities, Churches and volunteer groups are redistributing this food and gathering gifts for children to help make Christmas that little bit special but there is a lot more to do all year round. Please help these organisations and their volunteers make not just Christmas but every day a little easier throughout the year for the families and people in need.

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