PV panels
Origin Energy are offering a 1.5kW PV solar system for $3990 along with an interest free, 24 month payment plan ($728 upfront and $133 per month). Very very very tempting. It's the best price I've seen so far but the prices seem to keep going down. It is quite a competitive market now, the solar panel installation industry is growing. The feed-in tarrif is due to be introduced to WA in June, so with that and retail power hikes, hopefully the system payback is going to be significantly shorter. I see it almost as an insurance policy against continued power supply cost hikes, which will keep happening because supply is going to struggle with demand until our population starts to level out... and 1.5kW should generate more than we actually use in our household (the last few bills indicate we only use 5 - 6 'units' per day, which is actually about how much a 1 kW system produces).
The interest free deal is great too because it will allow me to hold on to all of what the 'Barefoot Investor' refers to as 'mojo money'. I refer to it as 'emergency maintenance money', and since we have been pouring a lot into the mortgage, my 'mojo money' hasn't been increasing in size. Actually since we moved in it has dwindled a little. I need it to start growing again because, well we need a bathroom renno and a kitchen renno and I think these are gonna cost at least 10k each (and hence may have to wait for another 2 years until we can refinance...). After the bathroom, I will do the laundry myself (I have some great ideas... like some floor to ceiling storage cupboards - the house can always do with MOARE storage space!) We also need to sort out new floor coverings in the lounge room since the carpet is disintegrating under our feet, but is also getting quite dirty and stained... (thanks to dogs & bicycles). I think we will keep the carpet until the end of winter at least though. Then there's also holidays to budget for....
The interest free deal is great too because it will allow me to hold on to all of what the 'Barefoot Investor' refers to as 'mojo money'. I refer to it as 'emergency maintenance money', and since we have been pouring a lot into the mortgage, my 'mojo money' hasn't been increasing in size. Actually since we moved in it has dwindled a little. I need it to start growing again because, well we need a bathroom renno and a kitchen renno and I think these are gonna cost at least 10k each (and hence may have to wait for another 2 years until we can refinance...). After the bathroom, I will do the laundry myself (I have some great ideas... like some floor to ceiling storage cupboards - the house can always do with MOARE storage space!) We also need to sort out new floor coverings in the lounge room since the carpet is disintegrating under our feet, but is also getting quite dirty and stained... (thanks to dogs & bicycles). I think we will keep the carpet until the end of winter at least though. Then there's also holidays to budget for....