In the most modern-day version of keeping up with Jones' homeowners are spending a fortune decorating their houses with billions of dollars worth of Christmas lights - and that doesn't include the electricity costs to power them.

I have childhood memories of being taken into the city for an evening to view the Christmas store windows. Or, we would drive around the block excitedly pointing out who had a christmas tree illuminating the living room.

But all that's been done away with as people began to emulate this at home and have now surpassed it in a big way. The festivities are no longer confined to a few lights dangling 'round an outdoor conifer.

Today, decorating your home includes mechanical sculptures, inflatable illuminated Santas and tons of fairy lights adorning every edge of the house and roof. Some overzealous residents even install fog machines, images cast onto walls, fences and roofs via an LCD projector, and all set to surround sound music systems.

Not content with just fancying the pad up a little some homeowners have begun employing companies to come and install, uninstall and store the complete package. Starting from $1000 these businesses can create something that your neighbours and the entire neighbourhood will be completely jealous.

And the point is?

Consumerism gone insanely mad. Ask these people who wittingly spend in excess of $10k redesigning their luminous landscapes each year to give the money to the poor instead and I'm not sure it would taken with much appreciation.

As a society, I think this is one of those moments where we sit and shake our collective heads, trying to seek meaning from a festivity that's now devoid of any.

Link

Posted by Stuart at 6:01 AM | Permalink

How long will society accept ringtone providers exploiting our children?

Ringtone providers are the 21st century equivalent of con artists and shysters. They peddle their wares to impressionable teenagers eager to keep up with the latest trends and unwise to know when to stop.

It seems every prime time TV show is now a carrier for ringtone adverts. Their message is simple, "Buy now so that you aren't left behind." Teenagers race for their phones and dial the number and instantly they're rewarded with a ringtone of the latest song.

However, they managed to miss the fine print at the bottom of the advert stating that it is a service that will continue to send messages (for which they will be charged for). And the only way to stop it is to sms the company back, if you happened to remember their phone number, with the words "Stop now O Mighty Ringtone Provider" (all case-sensitive of course!) Failure to get the syntax right and the charges keep coming.

Sure, this is the blatant extreme. But what about those seemingly once-off purchases? Even in this example (pictured above), the only time you come in contact with a price is when you have chosen that must-have song and are about to download it. Then, and only then, is the price revealed albeit in faint grey font!

Ringtone providers are flawting what little legislation there is that regulates this industry. They prey on teenagers irrational thoughts and trick them into purchases that are exploitive at best. Not to mention the price of these ringtones being exhorbitant - ($6.60 for a piece of digital bits when a CD single costs less than $5 and includes an actual physical product!)

When will governments see that this is hurting our young people and legislate accordingly?

Posted by Stuart at 5:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Martin Bamford, a leading UK Finance expert, is currently releasing a new book titled the "Money Tree". To help promote it he's provided a few podcasts of individual chapters such as "Taking Control of Tax", "Dealing with Debt" and "Serious About Savings" which you can download here or subscribe via your iTunes app.[Note: the subscription wasn't available from the Australian iTunes store].

From what I've heard it sounds like the book should be a great read if the podcasts are anything to go by.

Source: ClickPress

Posted by Stuart at 8:19 AM | Permalink

It seems that every new piece of technology that arrives on the scene has the enhanced ability to save us money. We can buy an iPod and download tunes at cheaper prices than buying the CD replacement equivalent (which BTW replaced our now defunct audio tape collection, which also superseded our LP and EP collections).

Continuing the example, the iPod can store anywhere between 1000 and 5000 songs depending on the size of the hard-drive, which of course depends on how much you're willing to spend. But, will an iPod be all that I need 5-10 years from now.

As a teenager, the SONY Walkman was the biggest thing since sliced bread and every teen hankered after it. Today you can pick them up for less than $5 at a garage sale and the audio tapes they played will probably be included in the deal.

Technology is moving at such a fast rate with every consumer chasing the next big item that will change the comfort levels of their own lives. It wasn't that long ago that the 5¼in. storage disk was replaced by the 3½in. disks. My new computer doesn't even have a slot for the 3½'s.

Which brings me to the dilemma facing some students in the web report, "High Schoolers Pick Web Yearbook". Teenagers are turning to the web to store their yearbook photos and therefore hopefully save $70. Makes a great amount of sense but what if the technology has changed so much when they hold their 25-year school reunion the pictures are no longer accessible.

It's possible. Why do you think so many companies are now popping up offering to convert your VHS movies onto DVD. It wasn't that long ago those VHS movies were being created from Super 8 reels.

And what do you think the cost of all this transferring to the next form of technology is costing?

Continue reading "Will technology actually save us money?" »

Posted by Stuart at 7:20 AM | Permalink

The ultimate in spontaneous spending is finally hitting the globe - the World Cup. If you need a reason to spend money then a sporting festival of this magnitude may be the excuse you've been looking for.

For those who've headed over to the World Cup reports have run amok that if you hadn't bought your tickets prior to the games, scalpers were willing to pass up basic seats for a minimum EUR250. Some were getting as high as EUR500 for seats that didn't even have the greatest views. Add your limited accomodation requirements on to the bill, plus the increased food charges, have-to-have sporting paraphernalia and you can kiss your budget goodbye.

But the frenzy doesn't stop in Germany. Direct Line Home Insurance conducted a survey of 2500 adults and found that one in 5 were planning to purchase a new TV prior to the world cup. Add to that new satellite connections, DVD Recorders, surround sound systems and Direct Line is predicting more than £1 billion will be generated from those who didn't make the pilgrimage.

If these purchases were made due to people saving then it we would all give them 3 cheers and congratulate their perseverance. Alas, most of these new gadgets will come at a price that will continue well after the World Cup has finished.

And some marketers will be rubbing their hands with glee, congratulating themselves on the success of an advertising campaign that helped people spend money they didn't have for things they eventually won't need.

Posted by Stuart at 8:11 AM | Permalink

Is there anyone...anyone at all who is also more than mildly disturbed by rising fuel costs? Why is it that every time I drive past the service station the price for fuel has escalated quicker than my Adsense earnings. It is getting tougher and tougher to keep my car on the road and yet it seems that alternatives to the oil crisis are not being sourced. Why? Do I need to stop driving my car?

This article in the Patriot News highlighted the depth of the dilemma society is now facing.

Americans [Australians too] have begun to make lifestyle changes in order to maintain some sanity. Saving energy is one thing but to be forced to carpool/vanpool, walk to work or practice frugal driving habits because we can't afford gas is ridiculous.

I've thought about ways to beat rising fuel costs like cycling to work, car pooling with friends and I've even contemplated buying a scooter. But I can't help thinking that there's more that could be done by the power's that be.

One example is that in Australia our fuel is heavily taxed. I have no qualms with the excise going to fund better roads but I'm concerned that with the rising oil price these taxes will fund better surpluses instead.

I also wonder about mining companies who tap oil and leave it to sit. They do this to control supply therefore controlling prices as well. Rising fuel costs are not a problem to them, in fact it's what they are after.

So, while us humble day-to-day people struggle to fill our cars with fuel those who could do something about it won't. Why? Because they're greedy.

Posted by Stuart at 5:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I bought my HP iPaq h1910 back when Hewlett Packard was first coming out with their new models. I like to think that I'm an early adopter (one of those people that have the latest and greatest of everything new on the market) but if the truth be told I'm just a sheep - like 95% of the population.

Why did I buy it? I was tired of running a paper diary, a computer diary through MS Outlook on my work computer and the same with my home computer. Purchasing a PDA seemed like the most logical decision as I could carry this instant diary, which didn't contain whiteout marks all over it, and then synchronise it between home and work. Has it fulfilled all my expectations? Sometimes.

The reason I really bought my PDA, apart from the obvious diary and contact list features, was that it played mp3's and movies. Chuck the headphones in on the way to work and the hours pass as though they were mere minutes - or maybe its just because I only live 3 1/2 minutes away from work.

It also makes me seemingly more popular. Everybody wants to stop me and gaze at my gagdet - well, when it was new they did. Now everybody's got the latest PDA with Voip, GPS, Bluetooth, WAIX and everything else that I have no knowledge of what they are or how it could possibly benefit my life.

Still, I might need to update soon.

Posted by Stuart at 6:26 AM | Permalink