Forum Replies Created
Alf, I am coming to your place for a party. [aacool]
Cheers,
Ali G
I smiled at your story Wayne. Thanks for sharing!
Cheers,
Ali G
Thanks Geo! [biggrin]
You may joke, residentialwealth, but they already exist!!
Was it supposed to be a play on words when they called it a Brazilian Thong??? [biggrin]
You got me laughing Redwing… maybe because it’s really late, maybe because it’s my birthday and it’s “all over” I may as well laugh, or maybe just because I can relate all too much… [biggrin] Looks like I really am a mouse potato then…? [blink][blink]Thanks for the late night giggle!
Ali G
The stuff they don’t teach you at school…. this is important!! [biggrin]
A guy wanted to do a similar thing in Melbourne and start running tours to all the sites of the ‘gangland war’ murders. Needless to say this has been met with a lot of opposition also.
Wow, imagine exploiting the death of someone else for your own personal gain. Some things really are unimaginable.
Ali G
Really interesting to see that so many of us are on completely different wavelengths. In an odd but necessary way, I guess this is what ‘makes the world go around’, like it or not.
Stay with me on this one: I worked at the RSPCA and saw hundreds of animals put to sleep. I tried to personally re-home as many as I could – sometimes buying them myself – but couldn’t keep up. I travelled to India and was constantly chased by kids wanting food and money. I tried to give them what I had but realised it was futile – I could not help them all. I travelled to Vietnam and saw monkeys on short chains and insane bears pacing in cages barely bigger than the size of their bodies. A few dollars to set one free would not help them all. I worked in a community clinic and assisted in the provision of free health-care services but was unable to see everyone myself or extend the service to all those in need.
What does this tell me?
You can not help everyone, especially not on a one-by-one basis. I now donate money to organisations that actually help these people and animals in a way that is far more efficient and effective than I could do on my own. One day I plan to open my own clinic for underprivileged people in the state in which I live. The only way – IMHO – to make a big difference is to go ‘grand scale’. That is not to say that helping the little old lady down the road is a waste of time – it is not – but hopefully you see where I am coming from.
Russ, follow the suggestions from everyone above, learn from the experience and let it go. If you help out ‘behind the scenes’ in terms of donations for example, next time you are faced with a similar situation you will know you are helping the broader cause and will not let the situation overwhelm your original purpose.
It is up to you to determine what will help you sleep best at night – so do what you see as ‘right’.
Just my two cents…
Ali G
I am not necessarily condoning this, simply sharing it as an idea prompted by techa’s post:
Quite a number of uni students dance in bars to pay their fees and make huge $$$. I would be surprised to see an IP that could make this much in one night!!
Oh, but who is prepared to do it…? People would be scared by me if I were naked in da house. [biggrin]
Ali G (threads on)
I was thinking that the family could bottle their odour and use it as an alternative source to heat the house… don’t scoff now we are all just jealous that we weren’t doing it first. [winking]
Love reading threads like this that take off in minutes! Oh Monopoly – we all want to confess!!
Large Fries x 1 p/week = $104 (ewwwww!!)
Stationery orders from Officeworks = $1000 (I am a sucker for nice pens)
Cafe lunch x 3 p/week = $1090
Eating out x 2 p/week = $2600
Overpriced clothes = $4000Ouch!! What’s that??? Almost $9000! Thank goodness I don’t smoke and that I am a one pot screamer!!! [biggrin] No, not really, but that would make things cheap!
C’mon someone else… post your splurges and make me feel better… [biggrin]
Cheers,
Ali G
PS. Would love to add ‘rent’ – $15080 – to the list but I guess you gotta do what you gotta do… [sad]
Interesting thread.
I have never really considered ‘how much’ I want, but have always wanted to have enough to buy big tracts of old growth forest and land under threat that is habitat to endangered species. To me, this would be a truly satisfying way to use my wealth.
I am not totally selfless though. A comfortable house for my family, a reasonable buffer in the bank account, and the freedom to go on holidays and see the world regularly is what I aim for.
How many IPs or how much income will this require? Not sure. Sorry for not giving a quantified answer!! The sky is the limit…
Cheers,
Ali G
Good for you Tools. Finding good professionals (in whatever industry) is always a challenge. If all goes well for you please let us know so we may add another alternative to the list.
Cheers,
Ali G
Great stuff Matt! You make it sound so easy!! [biggrin]
I had considered the TAFE course because (to me) it sounds like fun, but perhaps a couple of weekend workshops are a better place to start.
Thanks for the ideas!
Cheers,
Ali G
I am by no means trying to be smart here Tools but do you think the fact they are so busy is a reflection of the demand for their services? Not returning phone calls may be unprofessional/lazy/accidental/unadvisable/etc. but a word-of-mouth recommendation is often one worth persuing.
I had a similar experience recently (albeit in a different arena) and the wait was worth it, hence my post.
Just food for thought…. It is your choice at the end of the day!
Ali G
WOW! I would LOVE to know where to start when it comes to renovations!! So just a quick question for all of you neo-DIY investors: how did you learn how to do everything? My Mum is the handiest person in my family and I don’t think she can teach me “the works” so who can? Are there any good step-by-step books, videos or other fountains of DIY knowledge out there? Jamie Durie doesn’t do it for me… [biggrin] I am sure much of it comes just by getting your hands dirty and learning from experience but how did all of you start off? I am both intrigued and inspired! [biggrin]
Cheers,
Ali G
Gatsby – unfortunately we did lose some sentimental stuff which is totally irreplaceable and of course that is what hurts the most. The rest is being replaced by the insurance company today.
DD, I wish you were my landlord!! First we had to push ours for the necessary locks, we installed them ourselves upon his refusal, and then after the robbery we pushed for more and he finally added them. After this he just kept saying “are you happy now? Are you happy now?” as if he had done as a huge favour. It really rubs you up the wrong way – and correct – it makes us want to get out of here as soon as our lease is up, despite the fact that we love the place. There is still 11 months to go on our lease so I guess if we move in 5 months we will have to pay the cost of readvertising and the rent until someone else moves in – I think that’s what it says in my lease. Never mind… hopefully by the time our lease is up we will have bought ourselves a little pad closer in towards the city.
Thanks again for all your replies.
Cheers,
Ali G
PS. Laughed DD when you spoke of karma. So true, so true!
Hi all,
thanks for your responses. There are many updates to add:
We saw the house advertised with another agent for $5 less so after much haggling with the landlord we got it at the cheaper price through the agent we originally applied through. I guess the other agency must have cheaper PM fees or something. It turns out the other applicants were legitimate – I saw their details recorded on the PM’s file.
The doors had no deadlocks and we requested that these be installed before we moved in. The landlord refused to put them on so we did so ourselves at our own expense shortly after we moved in.
Three to five days into our lease we were robbed (not sure which day because the place was still a mess and only small things were taken – the place looked untouched).
A fly screen had been removed and was nowhere to be found. The landlord told us it would not cost much and that we had to pay for it because he has to pay an excess on his insurance. Ha! Later, after more haggling, he changed his mind.
Because our insurance policy was so new and because there was no obvious point of entry, and also no finger prints, the insurance company did not believe us. A full investigation was conducted and finally they decided to approve our claim. As if the robbery was not traumatic enough, that was like being guilty before proven innocent and an awful thing to have to go through.
Oh well, what do you do? I guess this is where that old adage comes from: whatever does kill you only makes you stronger. Let’s hope so.
Thanks again for all your ideas initially. This update was just for interests sake.
Cheers,
Ali G
Hi Ricardo,
another update on this topic. A read an article about the company I detailed earlier on this board in the (Melbourne) Herald Sun this week. It was about a guy who was complaining that he paid his $300 odd dollars and did not house sit once. He was having a whinge about it and was saying it was all a big con. Perhaps this was a personal reflection on him? Or perhaps it is a good way to throw money down the drain? I still have no answers for you but this is just something else to consider!!
Cheers,
Ali G
Hi Ricardo,
they have documented all the positive press they have received (drummed up?) right here:
http://www.housesitters.com.au/press.php
Cheers,
Ali G
Hi Ricardo,
I have house-sat twice but both times for friends. It was not through an agency but both times it was mutually beneficial so in terms of the experience it was well worthwhile.
I looked into ‘professional house-sitting’ some time ago with the following company:
http://www.housesitters.com.au/index.php
I did not sign up because my other half was not prepared to move so frequently and take on the responsibility of looking after someone else’s home. In some ways he is right – it is a big responsibility to look after a stranger’s home. You would want to be sure you had the same expectations about the whole arrangement.
This particular company has been featured in the media a bit. Decide for yourself if this improves their legitimacy.
All the best with it! Please keep us up to date with how you go.
Cheers,
Ali G
