Go Native 70 Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Yep the average cost of raising a child to age 20 in Australia is $260,000. It gets a little less for a 2nd child as many things can be passed down, but we're still talking lots of money you won't be able to spend on yourself Are they really worth it? Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 (Very predictable answers on either side of the discussion to follow....) Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Well I have one and am not convinced either way just yet! Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 yes they are worth it. Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Yep extra money is always good even if it is for the sprogs! Looks like the motorways will be free too probably from next year, if they really go ahead with it. Link to post Share on other sites
klingon 10 Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Not sure if I like that idea or not. What's going to happen to all that money put into ETC and everyone buying the machines for their car? Just a much cheaper, clearer system would be good I think. Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Yeah kind of a waste of time buying the ETC machine which I have bought once they introduced the cheaper fares. Wish they had of done this a few years ago when I was going up and down the motorways every week, I would have saved a fortune. Now I am living in the sticks I don't use the motorways no where near as much. Anyway will be interesting to see if they do really abolish payments for the motorways. Can't ever see Shutoku motorway in Tokyo being free, could you imagine what it would be like then, would turn into a carpark. bad enough as it is. I passed through there the other day what a nightmare! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted September 2, 2009 Author Share Posted September 2, 2009 I have actually already made up for the cost of the machine, though I wouldn't have been using the expressways as much without it. Still seems awkward to get rid of all that suddenly when everyone has been buying them and all that money invested in the exits etc. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Don't see how it's awkward. You guys just don't like the idea of the masses now using your expressways! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted September 2, 2009 Author Share Posted September 2, 2009 Well, no, I would guess hundreds of thousands of people don't like the idea of paying up to 20,000 yen on a machine in their car for it to become useless a few months later. And who's paying for all the investment in the ETC exits? Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Yeah a bit of a pain but hardly something to get overly worked up about when you now get to travel for free! That's almost as bad as people who complain about getting a pay rise because they have to pay more tax. You're still better off!! And you've all been paying for the ETC exits for years whilst paying the fees. No need to worry about them anymore... Link to post Share on other sites
2pints-mate 0 Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 No-one likes spending money unncessarily or losing money. Which is what all those people will have done with those little gizmos. Understandable that they might be wanting some CASH BACK!! So whats the plan then with the expressways? They just going to suddenly become totally free? Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 I spent about 12,000 just on tolls for a 6 day holiday. I'd rather spoend that on a nice meal. Link to post Share on other sites
bobby12 0 Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 i would at least like to hear the logic behind making them free. what are they trying to achieve by that? i think the balance is nice as it is, or if anything slightly too cheap and crowded. Link to post Share on other sites
JA2340 16 Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Originally Posted By: thursday yes they are worth it. If only to provide cash (taxes) to the government, which they can spend creating more Aged Care facilities to look after me when I get old! Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Originally Posted By: Go Native Don't see how it's awkward. You guys just don't like the idea of the masses now using your expressways! That sounds like it to me! The drop in revenue from tolls is written on the DPJ manifesto. Its peanuts compared to the child benefit. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 I'd really like to see tangible changes. It'll be good if they can meet just a 10th of people's expectations. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted September 3, 2009 Author Share Posted September 3, 2009 Hey don't get me wrong, I'd like to see the expressways free when I use them. As long as they don't get mad mad busy, I'll be happy. Link to post Share on other sites
Nisoko 6 Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 No-one's mentioned the reacting of the train / ferry / bus companies. They don't seem too chuffed at the idea of free expressways. Are the new boys planning on doing anything to please them or just tell them to live with it? Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Well considering that the train companies tend to operate at 100% or over the majority of the time ie rush hours, major metropolitan lineseg Tokaido, Yamanote etc. and also during the holiday periods - Can't really see it affecting too much. Ask yourself would you swap the comfort of a shinkansen or green car for a 4 hour or more drive with a high chance of massive, sometimes up, to 60kms traffic jams? Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted September 8, 2009 Author Share Posted September 8, 2009 I can see it affecting them A LOT. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 On what basis? During the recent obon holiday the major days for going to and coming back from the families, train travel was running at 140% or so. Admittedly short journeys of an hour or two would be bearable but even then,that is if there isn't any traffic jams. Also back on topic and I dread saying this, metropolis magazine did have a funny cut out and check list of policies the DPJ said they would do. And also on TV there was a family of 12 8 girls and two boys, and their parents only wanted the DPJ to win so that they could get the 26000 yen per kid. When asked about other DPJ policies they couldn't care less about them. Clearly someone should have given them some family planning advice. Sounded like some of the families in the UK depending on the state. Link to post Share on other sites
scouser 4 Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Quote: During the recent obon holiday the major days for going to and coming back from the families, train travel was running at 140% or so. What's your point Rob? If numbers using train travel goes down to 120%, are the companies still not losing a ton of cash? Personally, if expressways become free I will use them more and trains less. Train companies will lose that cash. I'm sure more than a few people would do the same. Link to post Share on other sites
joshnii 2 Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 It's not as if trains are always full anyway. They sure aren't here in Niigata most of the time. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Originally Posted By: scouser Quote: During the recent obon holiday the major days for going to and coming back from the families, train travel was running at 140% or so. What's your point Rob? My point is during that period, the roads were also at the cheaper rate and the trains were still busy as usual. As I said later, for shorter journeys it might make some difference but can't see it making a lot of difference as Muikabochi said. Lets be honest would you drive down to say Nagoya,which is 4 or 5 hours on a good day or get the train down? Link to post Share on other sites
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