Filed under: Life | Tags: Baby Boomer, Consumer, Gen C, Gen V, Gen X, Gen Y, Gen Z, Sept 11
I was just thinking about this when I was writing this little spiel. So as the King said, “Begin at the beginning,” Gen X’ers are referred to at those that were born between the late 1960s to early 1980s. The offspring of the baby boomers and Gen X’ers must resent their upbringing as they are often referred to as the baby busters, as there was a steady decline in the number of births as they grew older. Gen X is also associated with the increase in divorce, political apathy and the birth of computers. While this generation ages though, I’m sure even though they have lived differently then the baby boomers, they will all grow old the same way. Yelling at kids on the lawn, reminiscing back in their day and enjoying boiled sweets.
Filed under: Life, Money | Tags: Financial, Gen X, Gen Y, McMansion, Recession, SUV, Troubles
Is a recession necessary for each generation to financial difficulty experience? Does being put through a recession create more mature and wiser investors?
These are some of the thoughts I have been having lately. When I was a wee little baby, the stock market collapsed over in the U.S. and the Australian dollar plummeted with it. My parents survived through this and I believe they are the wiser because of it as both are doing quite well today. I’m reasonably happy with my financial status as I can afford to take an overseas trip every year, whilst my brother is debt ridden. I’m not sure why that is as we both had the same up bring. I think financial stability is a sign and reflects the maturity of an individual.
Currently there is a big flap about the interest rates on mortgages at the moment, but at the time when I was young, my parents were paying of a house with interest rates of around 12-15%. They seem to be coping fine with the current rate problem; however the Gen X new home owner (more…)
Filed under: Games | Tags: Evolve, Flutterscotch, Gaming, Piñata, Romance, Viva Piñata, Xbox, xbox 360
Well, since receiving my Xbox back from its nearly scheduled RROD and having a lot of down time recently, rather then writing on this blog being semi productive. I’ve become an achievement whore. The tell tale sign of an achievement whore is when a Xbox game goes out and rents TMNT or Avatar to get a quick 1000 gamer points.
Though is there anything wrong in being a gamer whore? I think that having achievement points actually encourages you to get more out of the game. I finished GTA IV a long time ago, but recently I picked it up again and have slowly been trudging through the other achievements like being friends with characters, races and vigilante missions.
I’m also trying new games; I rented out Viva Piñata out of curiosity and have become surprisingly addicted. One of my friends owned the game and told me it was surprisingly good so I decided to take him on his word and rent it. If you haven’t had the joy of playing this game yet, I do recommend you try it out. Especially now that the sequel, Viva Piñata – Trouble in paradise, has been announced. (more…)
Filed under: Travel | Tags: Backpack, Backpacker, Embassy, Haggle, hostel, hotel, Pack, Tour, Travel
Just thought I would list some of the little tips I have picked up along my travels around this great earth.
Travel off-peak and weather wise.
If you’re not constrained by school holidays, kids or any work issues, traveling during off-peak periods can save you a lot of money. Flights, accommodation and attractions all drop in price during off peak times. Do your research though – some destinations have low seasons and religious holidays can mean everything’s closed once you get there.
Won’t Haggle!?!
The price you are quoted for your flights isn’t what you have to pay; it’s what they think they can get you to pay. Play hardball. Also whilst on the street trying to buy some souvenirs or catch a cyclo down a few blocks, don’t pay the first offer. However in retrospect don’t expect to pay the same as locals. Be generous, but not a sucker. (more…)
Filed under: Life, Money | Tags: Earth, Ecolabel, Enviroment, Enviromental, Green, Procurement, Purchasing, Sustainability, Sustainable
Not so long ago we used to be customers, today we see ourselves as ‘consumers’ and we perceive consumption as the basis of modern economics. Few of us grow or make useful items any more and we expect items on demand and dispose of them where we can not see them.
All Natural Resources on our planet are limited an finite, to prolong our yields of the Earth we must seek in giving back to it for the next harvest. Market economics rests on the assumption that ‘the customer is always right’. You are the customer, or at least you used to be before we were lulled into being consumers.
Filed under: Games | Tags: Console, DS, fanboi, Fanboy, Games, Gaming, Mario, Nintendo, Playstation, Playstation 3, PSP, Sega, Sonic, Wii, Xbox, xbox 360
It seems these days you cannot even have an orderly debate about video games without the word “Fanboy” being used. Not even the humble Screenplay blog is impervious to having it thrown back and forth. In most cases it is used as an insult, but what exactly is a fanboy? Believe it or not, the term originated back 1982 at comic conventions.
I would never consider myself a fanboy personally, though occasionally myself and a few friends rib each other about the choice of a particular title or console, it is mainly just light mocking. Recently I have been on the receiving end of a few jeers from my Playstation companions as I encountered the RRoD with my Xbox 360. However the term is thrown around a lot more in online forums, and as sarcasm is a little harder to capture in online mediums, it intensifies the debate.
Filed under: Life, Music, Travel | Tags: Angkor Wat, Cambodia, Concert, Music, Sandbag, Sigur Ros, Travel, Vietnam
Well my tour in Vietnam was cancelled, Apparently Gecko’s were two people short of the minimal traveller requirement…but in a way I am kind of glad. Sure it means I will see less of the country but it gives me more freedom. Hell, I’m even thinking about taking a quick flight over to Cambodia to check out Angkor Wat and eat some deep fried spiders.
I don’t think money is going to be an issue seeing as I am very happy with my savings. On top of that, I have my tour refund and tax refund money. Things are looking up and I think I may be travelling very comfortable indeed.
Still waiting for my Sigur Ros tickets though, it will be a great concert to watch in Melbourne before I leave. I booked the tickets through “Sandbag” a UK based company, but it looks like they have been having lots of problems, so I would avoid them if I were you. Intially I was told I would be mailed the tickets a month before the concert (its in less then 3 weeks now), so I sent an email enquiring were they were. They have given me a tracking number but said “Your tickerts have been dispatched and the tracking number is XXXXXX…We’re just waiting to find out how/where you can track them“
So in other words, SAndbag are pretty useless and I’m hoping I can get my over priced tickets at all, let alone on time.
