2020 has been tough. From plagues and pestilence to floods and fires, citizens across the world have endured unprecedented health and economic crises, and travellers have – largely – been sitting on their thumbs. The upshot? Reports suggest the tourism industry has lost some $195 billion in revenue this year, thanks to the pandemic.

Despite some hopeful noise on the stock market front, the real economy is set to take years to recover – and the re-opening of countries and new hygiene requirements of travel are slated to make jet setting more expensive.

There is a beacon of light though: you no longer have to be earning six figures to have an AMEX. In fact, American Express’ Velocity Escape Card, which has recently been reinstated by the company, could be the perfect ‘minimalist’ credit card moving forward, available to those who earn $40,000 a year or more.

Sign up for an American Express Velocity Escape Card and you’ll be able to escape to make your dreams a reality (border restrictions pending) with no annual fee and a host of benefits.
Key perks of the American Express Velocity Escape Card include:

• $0 p.a annual fee.
• An interest free period of up to 55 days.
• Earn up to 0.75 Velocity Points per $1 spent on everyday purchases, and 1.75 Velocity Points per $1 spent on purchases with Virgin Australia.
• Shop with confidence thanks to Refund and Purchase Protection when you make an eligible purchase with your American Express Velocity Escape Card.
• Increase your ability to earn Velocity Points with up to four Additional Cards to give to family members or friends, at no extra fee.

You’ll also earn 1.75 Velocity Points per $1 spent on eligible Virgin products and services, as well as earn 0.75 Velocity Points per $1 spent on all other purchases excluding government bodies in Australia.

Additionally, you’ll earn 0.5 Velocity Points per $1 spent on government bodies in Australia, and enjoy uncapped points earning potential with no limit on how many Velocity Points you can earn.

That upgrade might be closer than you think.

Further benefits include purchase protection, refund protection, fraud protection, emergency card replacement and compatibility with Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Good Pay, helping you check out faster.

Keen? Apply now and start enjoying the benefits.

Apply Now (offer no longer available)

The post The 'Minimalist' AMEX Card Every Young Australian Traveller Should Consider appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Individuals, investors, companies – we’re always looking for the next big thing. When it comes to business class this is more the case than ever: year after year a new gadget, partition or suite with some kind of ergonomic edge hits the market.That was before 2020 pulled the ripcord on international travel.Now, as we look to a future of more expensive flights, less intense demand, and tighter budgets, it appears airlines are doing their best to accommodate (or predict) the future.This has involved swathes of A380s being retired, single-aisle jets being invested in (and setting new flight records), and futuristic business class seat being blasted out by media.New seat designs – especially complex ones – require lengthy, costly approval processes to hit the market, however.In the meantime airlines like Qatar Airways look to be adapting to this (understandably) Scared New World with unbundled pointy end offerings like the following.

No longer is Qatar Airways’ business class an inflexible ‘benefits and all’ concept. The airline has just introduced a new type of business class fare, which gives you access to a business class seat, without lounge access and advance seat selection, for a cheaper price.The new system is three-tiered.The cheapest fare is called Business Class Classic, which sits below the Business Class Comfort and Business Class Elite ticket options.Booking a Business Class Classic fare means if you cancel you will be stung with a higher cancellation fee. Business Class Comfort, meanwhile, offers a little more flexibility (for about a $1,000 more than Business Class Classic, judging by early indications) and Business Class Elite (which looks to cost about $2,000 more than Business Class Classic) offers unlimited, complementary changes as well as the possibility of a full fee-free refund.These changes come as part of a broader system of simplified fare families, replicated in economy as well.“Across all classes, valued members of Qatar Airways Privilege Club can earn more Qmiles according to the fare family they select,” the airline announced.Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said of the new fare system: “Our new fare families are designed to offer greater simplicity, choice, and flexibility to our passengers and further our ambition to offer a best-in-class retail experience.”Qatar Airways are not the first airlines to introduce a tiered fare system for business class. In June 2019, Emirates introduced the Business Class Special fare, which operates under a similar premise.RELATED: Hidden Benefits Of Flying First Class That Business Class Passengers Have No Idea AboutSome frequent business class flyers are not sold on the changes.Founder of Flight Hacks Immanuel Debeer told DMARGE exclusively, “I think the ‘unbundling’ is just a cost cutting exercise – but only time will tell. The price between the base fare and the one that includes lounge + seat selection doesn’t make sense.”“I’ve tested some routes and the difference in price is around $1,000. We can assume those with status will still get lounge access so I don’t see why anyone would want to pay that amount of money just to chose a seat and have a few glasses of champers before the flight.”

“That said, QR still offers some very attractive fares, especially out of Europe to Asia so we’ll have to see if the price goes down further.”

Aviation blogger Ben Schlappig has made similar remarks on One Mile At A Time: “I’m sure Qatar Airways will no doubt try to make it sound like this is a great new option for cost conscious travelers, suggesting that fares have been lowered with the introduction of this new option.”

“Don’t fall for it. Qatar Airways is highly unlikely to actually lower fares here, but rather this is intended to get people to buy-up to a higher fare class to get what was previously included.”

“This seems like an especially strange time to make a change like this, when travel demand is way down, and airlines should be wooing travelers, rather than devaluing the experience,” he wrote further down in his piece.RELATED: Business Class Passenger Kicked Off Flight After ‘Sneaky’ ActOne user in the Executive Traveller comments section expressed similar sentiments: “By all appearances, this is just a cut in inclusions. $7500 roundtrip to London was comparable to existing, previous business class pricing on Qatar. Now, if you want lounge access with them, the base fare is $10400.”“So really, what this is is a cut to existing services but selling at the same price as before… This is going to catch out those that book the cheapest and then find they have to pay hundreds more to get lounge access as well at each stop.”

“That base price will still get you lounge access with competing carriers. Unless competitors also cut inclusions, I’ll be booking with them to avoid the extra cost with Qatar.”

A Qatar Airways spokesperson told DMARGE when we asked about this matter, “Qatar Airways flies a broad range of customers who have many different priorities and this initiative offers them the opportunity to select the fare that suits their specific requirements.”

“When devising the new fare families, we completed customer studies to better understand their requirements when considering their travel plans.”

The spokesperson also said: “The new fare families accommodate and cater to different needs and give customers more options and choice when planning their travel.”

“We value our loyal customers. Elite members of Qatar Airways’ Privilege Club as well as from our OneWorld partners will continue to receive their benefits across all fare family groups.”

The way the travel industry is going (as Forbes reports, in the first months of 2020 alone, more export revenue from international tourism was lost than three times the loss experienced during the entire 2009 economic crisis), we’d wager Qatar Airways is unlikely to be the last to start de-coupling aspects of its premium offerings.

Read Next

• Virgin Australia ‘Noodlegate’ Scandal Leaves Business Class Passengers With Sour Taste
• Qantas Makes The Big Change Australian Flyers Have Been Dreading

The post Qatar Airways Business Class Comfort vs Elite Is Not A Winner appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The words stylish and comedian aren’t necessarily two words you’d expect to find pieced together in a sentence. For the majority, stand-up comedians practically give themselves a persona based on the clothes they wear, with each stand-up gig proving to be a regurgitation of skinny jeans and a slim-fit t-shirt, perhaps with a plaid shirt thrown in for good measure (buttons undone, of course).But one man who strays from the path of conformity is Dave Chappelle. The American comedian, who is widely regarded as being one of the best stand-ups ever for his satirical take on world events, as well as combining comedy with speeches protesting against racial inequality, regularly proves he knows how to dress well. Whether it be on stage during a recorded gig or papped strolling the streets, Chappelle consistently breaks away from the notion that comedians don’t know how to dress.The most recent evidence comes from a picture taken on November 7th, when he was seen in Midtown Manhattan, New York City before making his way to the Saturday Night Live studios, where he was due to be the host for the most recent airing.

Combining an AC/DC t-shirt commemorating the Australian band’s 1985 album ‘Fly On The Wall’, with slim jeans and chunky-sole, oversized Alexander McQueen sneakers, Dave proved not only can comedians dress well, but guys who are pushing 50 need not condemn themselves to a life of ill-fitting clothing. His age also means he’s actually old enough to know who AC/DC are, so he’s not just wearing it ironically and to be seen as ‘cool’.During his comedy special released in partnership with video streaming giant Netflix, Chappelle is usually seen rocking custom-made clothing with either his surname or a ‘C’ logo stitched onto them. He doesn’t tend to be one to promote brands during his shows either, so by rocking recognisable sneakers and a – sort of – branded t-shirt, he’s clearly separating his work and personal lives (although he was also seen wearing a Chappelle branded facemask on his strolls around New York).Dave went on to host Saturday Night Live that same evening – the same day Joe Biden was officially announced as the winner of the US Presidential election – and opened with a monologue that once again brought up the subject of race equality in the United States, alongside various other events of 2020 including the global pandemic.

Read Next

• Trevor Noah Spotted With The Last Watch You’d Expect A Comedian To Wear
• ‘You’re Too Smart For This’: Comedian’s Mental Health ‘Clutch Message’

The post Comedian Dave Chappelle Proves He’s Just As Stylish As He Is Funny appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Expats who decided to remain abroad (and professional surfers visiting Bali on ‘social visas’) have been giving Those Stuck At Home severe FOMO for months now.Perfect waves, crystal waters, Bintangs.The day clubs may trill a little quieter these days (and, as the Sydney Morning Herald has reported, it’s not all beer and skittles). But still: by other metrics (i.e. Instagram), Bali is as much a paradise as it was before – perhaps even more so.On that note: despite the uncertainty around travel insurance and Indonesia not having the medical infrastructure many travellers are used to at home, the desire to travel internationally again is thrumming all around the world.While other countries tentatively indulge in this, Australia, thanks to its relatively low number of Covid cases, has more to lose from opening its borders and allowing its constituents to travel again.The upshot? We’re seeing our friends around the globe start to stretch their legs again, while we get restless feet (and while our government’s international travel ban remains in place).RELATED: Google Search Trends Show Australians ‘Restless’ To TravelPerhaps more of interest to international tourists around the world, then, are the rumours currently circulating of a leaked memo which suggests Bali could re-open for international tourism on December the 1st, 2020.This goes against the official position which is that international tourists are banned from Bali until 2021.The Bali Sun claims “multiple local Bali news outlets” have run stories on the leaked document, and its rumours.The rumours have not been verified by the Indonesian government, however, and officials have not (at the time of writing) made a statement in response to them.According to The Bali Sun, “The stories are coming from a leaked memo that was widely circulated on social media and also shared with The Bali Sun regarding a meeting of high level officials.”The meeting allegedly took place at a hotel last Friday between the The Bali Airport Authority, The Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Director General of Indonesian Health.The Bali Sun cites an interview with local media, in which the Bali Governor, Wayan Koster said the meeting had taken place, but said the matter of re-opening was still being discussed.Once again reminding readers the following information has not been verified by Jakarta, The Bali Sun shared the details of the so-called memo.“Allegedly, beginning December 1st, The Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport plans to start accepting its first international tourists.”“According to the meeting minutes, passengers will be tested for COVID-19 with a PCR swab test upon arrival at the airport.”“They will then be transferred to designated ‘quarantine hotels’ while they await results from the test.”“The traveler will be responsible for the cost of the PCR test and the hotel room while they await results from their COVID-19 test. The results are expected to take 3-4 hours.”“If the result is negative, travelers will be able to leave the hotel and begin their holiday… If the test is positive, travelers will be quarantined to their hotel room for 14 days at the traveler’s cost.”As the Sydney Morning Herald reports, “Bali’s economy is heavily reliant on foreign tourists and has been smashed by the coronavirus pandemic with hotel occupancy rates dropping by up to 95 per cent.”

“The decision to keep the borders shut will be a significant further blow for the large number of people dependent on jobs in tourism.”

This – and the statistic that “a whopping 1.3 million Australians travelled to the island in 2019” – means it is likely Indonesia is planning to open up Bali to international tourists, particularly Australians, as soon as feasible.Whether that’s in December or next year remains to be seen.

Read Next

• I Tried Bali’s Instagram Famous Floating Breakfast & It Was A Total Disaster
• The Refreshing Truth About Bali’s Most Instagram Famous Oasis

The post Leaked Memo Sparks Rumours Bali Could Re-Open Sooner Than Anticipated appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Joe Rogan just dropped some fiery fitness advice on Instagram. Controversial, if you will.The funny thing is though: it shouldn’t ruffle any feathers. It should be well-known mental toughness is forged in a furnace.You think Laird Hamilton, Wim Hof, David Goggans, got that way by sitting on the couch?But in our persistence to avoid pain, and in our overreaction to any hint of danger, we have swung far away from the Viking school of thought that bred toughness.Now we have a strong society but weak people.That’s one (vastly oversimplified) way of looking at it.Does it have something to it though? Whether or not you agree with those that criticise Rogan and co. for their fetish of heroes past (or whether you are more apt to join them in admiration), we invite you to read Rogan’s latest piece of fitness inspiration and decide for yourself.The 53-year-old podcast pioneer and fitness fanatic, in a recent Instagram post, spoke about his ritual related to deep breathing when struggling in the sauna.“Discomfort is your friend. Deep breathing in the sauna leaving me with a strange euphoria, and a general sense of calm when it’s over,” he begins.“But I have to earn that in the last 10 minutes. The first 10 minutes or so aren’t that bad, so generally, that’s when I just lay down and relax. I just think.”However, when it’s time to start to actually focus on his breathing, Joe takes a different tactic.

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A post shared by Joe Rogan (@joerogan) on Nov 8, 2020 at 8:32pm PST

“Then when it starts to suck I take the AirPods out and I start the breathing. 6 seconds in deep and 6 seconds out. I get my rhythm and I try to think of nothing but my breath.”Relating back to his “inner b**ch” (his inner voice that is always telling him to give up) Joe says that his “job is to ignore [it] and stay focused on the breathing.”“When I get to the point where I am really having a hard time I promise myself 10 more deep breaths in and 10 more out.”

“When I get there, I can say ‘if you can do that, you can do 10 more…'”

Joe’s words aren’t just the result of delirium; both saunas and deep breathing have both been proven to have numerous benefits for the body and mind.Primarily, deep breathing can help lower your stress levels. Urban Balance says that when we feel stressed, our brain releases cortisol, but taking in deep breaths our heart can control the flow of oxygen into the bloodstream (to the point where the is much more flooding in) which signals for the brain to relax.More oxygen in the blood also equals higher levels of nutrients and vitamins, according to Urban Balance. This means the blood – and the body – is better prepared to fight off any illnesses, thus improving your immunity.Joe’s six seconds in and six seconds out technique is one of the best to follow for beginners. According to Medium, there isn’t a set number of breaths we should be taking to result in optimum benefits, but you want to be aiming to perform six to 10 deep breaths per minute (compared to the 12 – 16 you’d take normally).As for how to take deep breaths properly? Medium adds you should sit, or even lie, down, “breathe in through your nose and fill your lungs from the bottom up, first expanding your belt, then your chest, and finally raising the collar bones.”“Pause. Then gently exhale from top to bottom, using your stomach muscles to push out the last of the air. Pause. Repeat.”As for Joe’s use of the sauna? That too has myriad benefits, such as improving circulation due to your heart beating faster because of the increased heat, according to Heal With Heat. It’s combating the heart’s desire to increase its beating speed by taking slow, deep breaths, that is challenging (and which causes Joe to be tempted to give up), but ultimately is what helps to provide greater mindful benefits.The greater the suffering the greater the peace? Perhaps.As with any fitness-related advice, and just as you wouldn’t push yourself too hard in the gym if you’re a beginner, you shouldn’t push yourself in a sauna if you’re not in good physical condition (even then: baby steps).Though normal sauna use (at a normal temperature) does not pose risks for most people, the other side of the coin to feeling awesome from a tough workout is dehydration, nausea, or worse.Get it right though and saunas have also been proven to help reduce stress levels and to flush toxins from your body (something deep breathing can also promote), so combining the two could make sense.If you don’t have access to a sauna, you can still benefit from taking the time to stop and breathe, so make an effort to set aside 10 minutes and you’ll soon be reaping the rewards.Finally, if you’ve not used saunas before then you’ll want to become accustomed to them first before attempting Joe’s deep breathing technique (and temperatures).Particularly if you are going to attempt the sorts of thermometer heights the likes of Rogan and Laird Hamilton spruik (even if you have been building up to it), we’d recommend you discuss it with a medical professional first, and – much like when breath training in a pool, or anywhere at all risky – avoid doing it solo.Maybe that’s the good thing about the 21st century? We still have the mildly insane icons to inspire us to train with old school grit, but also the technology and know-how to do so in a savvy way.Why not make the most of it?

Read Next

• Joe Rogan Unveils Ancient Technique That Could Seriously Boost Your Lung Capacity
• Expert Unravels The Meditation Myths Australians Still Believe

The post Joe Rogan Divulges Harsh Secret To True Mental Strength appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

‘Executive toys’ sound seedy, but actually it’s the proper term for the sort of novelty items office workers like to decorate their workspace with – think drinky birds, marble runs or Newton’s cradles. They’re rarely functional and normally only enough to keep a child entertained for a few fleeting minutes while Daddy finishes some emails. These Rolexes don’t buy themselves.However, this contraption from the minds of IFL Watches in Sweden is not only functional but truly impressive: the perfect combination of aesthetically stunning and actually useful – as well as being an even bigger flex than a mint-condition Submariner ‘Hulk’.Enter: the ‘Orbit Winder‘.

 

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A post shared by IFL Watches (@iflwatches) on Nov 6, 2020 at 7:04am PST

“Created to perfectly imitate the motion of a tourbillon,” the Orbit Winder is designed to gently and glamorously keep your automatic watch wound. For those of you who are unaware, automatic watches – such as virtually all current Rolex models – have a self-winding mechanical movement powered by, well, the movement of your wrist. Automatic watches contain an oscillating weight that turns on a pivot. As you move about in your day-to-day, the rotor will be spun around and charge the watch’s mainspring.It’s better than having to regularly manually wind your watch, but the downside is that if you neglect to wear your automatic watch regularly, it can run out. It’s not bad for the watch to run out, but it’s inconvenient if you then want to wear it after a period of inactivity. That’s why many watch aficionados invest in watch winders, which gently turn automatic watches in order to keep them running.I would love one of these Orbit Winders. I normally take my automatic watch off at work because I find it interferes with my typing, but it does mean that I find it running out of charge from lack of wear (and I’ve left my watch at work on more than one occasion). Not only would an Orbit Winder keep my watch in running order, but it would guarantee I’d never forget it. Plus, it looks schmick.The only issue is that they cost a hefty €1,490 (around 2,430 AUD / 1,772 USD)… You could pick up a second-hand Rolex on Chrono24 for that sort of money. What would you rather: another watch, or a desk ornament?We’re just surprised that IFL Watches didn’t use OMEGA Speedmasters in their marketing for such a space-age gadget. It’s the ‘Moonwatch’ after all. Still, I guess the Cosmograph Daytona is also on-brand…

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• ‘Same Three Questions’: Perils Of Owning The Rolex Everyone Wants
• ‘Counterintuitive’ Rolex Aftermarket Trend Renews Age-Old American Rivalry

The post ‘Space-Age’ Watch Accessory Sending Rolex Owners Into A Spin appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Some might argue Australia lived up to its ‘lucky country’ stereotype this year. While much of the rest of the world endured massive caseloads of Covid, strained hospitals and civil unrest, we worked from home, kept calm and got coffee, started a lazy lunching trend, and surfed some of the best waves of our lives.That’s generalising massively, of course, with Victorians enduring a difficult lockdown and citizens all over experiencing lack-of-employment and sense-of-doom-related stressors.By and large, though, we’ve had it good – relative to the rest of the world.Another positive Australians can take from this year is that companies are starting to take more significant steps to prioritise our health.RELATED: ‘Gyms Are The New Nightclubs’: Pandemic Sparks Australian Fitness RevolutionNo doubt, in many instances, there is a financial kickback associated. But the work from home revolution has indeed been fast-forwarded, and the expectation that companies will provide us with services in a more wholesome way has measurably increased.RELATED: Is Fashion F*cked? Experts Reveal Who Will Come Out On Top Post PandemicEnter: Fitness First. The international fitness centre has 360 clubs worldwide and 60 of those are in Australia. Fitness First has also just launched a new policy to support Australians who are struggling financially due to the pandemic.“Under the policy, which is effective from Thursday, anyone who joins Fitness First after October 26 and later loses their job can claim up to three months of free gym access,” 7News reports.

“Any Australian who has lost, or loses their job from 1 August 2020 until 31 March 2021 can also collect free Fitness First Platinum access for up to two months – no lock-in contract required.”

The policy is intended to offer more than a financial helping hand, with Fitness First General Manager David Aitchison saying: “Fitness Keeper will support Australians so they can continue to reap the wider benefits of exercise.”

 

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A post shared by Camilla Bazley (@coach_camilla) on Nov 4, 2020 at 2:33pm PST

“Physical movement is a great way to shift your mindset and improve your outlook, which is crucial right now as Australians, along with the rest of the world, are facing uncertainty like never before.”As DMARGE reported in September, as restrictions have eased around the country, Australia’s attitude to gym going has undergone somewhat of a renaissance – to the point gyms have become, in states where they have been able to operate, “the new nightclubs of 2020.”How? By providing Australians with a similar sense of community (and release) to what they used to seek on a Friday night, not on a Monday morning.The upshot? After years of being mocked for being ‘cultlike’, boutique gyms like Crossfit and F45 may now get the last laugh, as more everyday Australians turn to them for a sense of purpose and community.Michael Jordan, CEO of 12RND Fitness, a fitness studio with clubs all over Australia, told DMARGE in September, “there has been a significant uptick in new members and a very strong reactivation of existing members.”Mr. Jordan also told us – unlike nightclubs – gyms allow you to kill two birds with one stone, boosting your health and socialising all in the same (ragged) breath.“With Covid-19 causing a reduction in social gatherings at sports clubs, churches and pubs, gyms are becoming the ‘third space’ in people’s lives, other than home and work, where they can get a regular in-person social connection.”“This is a big appeal in a society that has a greater focus on health – so you get two really important things in your life (social connection and improved health) from the same place.”“I believe the lockdowns in particular reminded us of how important social connection and physical activity is for our mental health. We live in an age where technology draws us away from these two critical elements we need in our life, and then by also taking them away by closing gyms during lockdown, Australians realised how important these facilities are for fulfilling this factor in our lives.”RELATED: ‘You’re Too Smart For This’: Does Mental Health Messaging Need More Nuance?The Fitness First initiative also comes in a climate where study after study has come out showing how damn important exercise is for your mental health.

 

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A post shared by Camilla Bazley (@coach_camilla) on Nov 6, 2020 at 1:15pm PST

Mark Mathews, a big wave surfer who had to put his career on ice after snapping every ligament in (and severing the artery of) his knee during a catastrophic injury in the 2015/2016 season, also spoke to DMARGE about the mental health benefits of exercise (and being social) recently.“I’m hyper introverted, so I often avoid social situations and being alone is usually better for me. But in those times [when I’m in a dark place], having people around and having enough social interaction is kind of a must, just in that it breaks up your thinking pattern because you’re constantly dwelling – but if you have to talk to people [that stops you].”Other key factors “that are radically overlooked when it comes to mental health, are diet and exercise,” Mathews told us.“Stop eating junk food and drinking alcohol. Go out into nature and do some exercise… What consists of a healthy diet is very misunderstood in this country and probably causing a lot of psychological distress because people are metabolically sick.”For anyone seeking further resources on mental health for themselves or a loved one, check out The Black Dog Institute or The Mindshift Foundation.

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The post Fitness Industry Enjoys Long Awaited Renaissance appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Often when it comes to car purchases, the heart triumphs over the head. Otherwise, why would there even be a market for sports cars like this pocket rocket Renault or ‘Dutch’ Ferrari 612 Scaglietti?

It’s hard to beat the thrill of driving a nice car, but when the honeymoon period wears off and reality starts to set in – especially when maintenance bills start to add up – you can start to have second thoughts. Which is exactly what happened to this yuppie, who took to Reddit’s /r/AusFinance looking for some advice.

“So I did what was (in hindsight) a pretty silly thing,” he starts.

So far so boding badly.

“During COVID I purchased an expensive car ($45K) – half with my own money and half [with a] loan. I earn a six-figure salary, and at the time I was still living with parents – so the outlook on true life expenses was skewed severely.”

“I’ve since moved out (renting) and I am finding that on top of $300 rent per week, another $200 per week on the car is pretty painful. My ability to save, along with all other life expenses is hindered.”

“I have a lot of savings so I am not worried [but] I am about to start my investment journey in property… Moving out and renting has injected a lot of perspective into my life, so I am eternally grateful for that. The thing is, I love the car dearly. One part of me does not want to let go, and another part of me knows it doesn’t really make logical sense to have it considering my upcoming life goals.”

It’s a dilemma any car lover (if not sub 100k earner) would sympathise with, even without knowing what he drives. (He hasn’t revealed what car he bought – maybe a second-hand Maserati?)

But there were also a lot of would-be financial advisers ready to admonish him for his questionable money moves.

“If you’re struggling with paying 500 a week in rent and a car loan on a six-figure salary; you need to work on budgeting better,” one commenter matter-of-factly responded.

“Maybe cut out a lot of expenses and put together a budget guide for each pay cycle and stick to it if you want to keep the car and look at future property investments.”

Another commenter was even blunter. “You’re about to start your investment journey in property but take out the worst kind of loan, a car loan? No offence, but this is why they called property investors the least informed and least sophisticated kind of investor. Stay out of it until you know what you’re doing, or you’ll become a ‘mum and dad’ investor blindly following glorified media stories.”

RELATED: Jogger Justifies Sydney ‘Property Bubble’ In One Simple Tweet

One commenter had a more holistic approach: “I would not be selling it, but rather paying out the loan if I can afford it as I’ll make a loss when selling and will have to purchase a car which may/may not be well maintained, which can potentially be equal or more expensive than the current car.”

“If you’re emotionally attached to the car, all the more you should not sell it as I’m assuming it’s well maintained and cared for. Saving and investing is important, but living a life with a little enjoyment is also important. There is no point have a billion dollars in the bank when you are scrapping and saving all your life.”

“I could’ve purchased this car a few times over with my savings,” our car-owning protagonist revealed, “but I went for a loan in order to retain my capital for property. Paying it off in full would mean $20K less capital I have to inject into a property deposit. Money is scarce when I have plans to accumulate multiple properties over the next 3 years. I need to think about it some more. Right now I am flipping back and forth between getting rid of it and finding a way to keep it (maybe I pay off half for now and reduce my payments, perhaps).”

This is where our sympathy has run out for our hero. Our rabid obsession in the Land Down Under with investing and speculating on property is well-established, but it seems the height of insanity to take out a loan on a car – when you can easily afford to pay in full – just so you can have more cash in your pocket on the off-chance you have an opportunity to invest in property. That’s some serious addictive behaviour… Or at least poor financial planning.

It’s a similar form of insanity as the 30-year-old Sydney man who made headlines for allegedly living on nothing but tuna and rice for five years in order to put a deposit down on an apartment, as news.com.au reported earlier this year.

We wonder what kind of landlord this dude will make…

Read Next

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The post Man’s ‘Tragic’ Car Dilemma Leaves Internet Dumbfounded appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Bourbon might just be Australia’s most unfairly maligned spirit (although it’s a race to the bottom with rum in hot pursuit). It’s a spirit that often evokes negative memories: from all the times you felt ripped off ordering an Old Fashioned expecting something Scottish but getting Jack Daniel’s instead, or your teenage glory days knocking back countless tinnies of Jim Beam and cola before a legendary, tooth-rotting hangover – bourbon has a somewhat chequered reputation.

Many people don’t understand bourbon, either. What’s the difference between bourbon and whisky? What’s it made out of? What’s Tennessee whiskey, and what’s ‘bottled in bond’ mean? And do I spell whisky with the ‘e’ or without it?

Thankfully, we had the chance to speak with Wild Turkey’s Master Distiller Eddie Russell, who broke down some of the biggest misunderstandings and myths that Australians have about bourbon.

Firstly, we confront the idea that bourbon is somehow low-rent, and something that’s just enjoyed by old blokes who have more cars than teeth.

“Bourbon is a timeless, classic spirit, and there is often a misconception that bourbon is mostly enjoyed by older males,” Russell relates.

He admits that “five to ten years ago our guests at the distillery were predominantly older, enthusiastic men… [but] now, we are seeing more and more diversity in both gender and age taking a keen interest.”

“The exciting part is the new generations being introduced to bourbon through a resurgence of interest in classic cocktails, turning them into bourbon lovers. Through this, new drinkers are more likely to further their experience with bourbon by tasting different variants, enjoying different food pairings and experimenting with cocktails.”

And we’re not talking your bogan-tier bourbon and coke: bourbon is being embraced more erudite concoctions like the Paper Plane, Sazerac or Mint Julep.

That’s not to say bourbon’s only good for mixing into cocktails or other drinks. The other common misconception Australians have about bourbon is that it’s not something to be drunk neat, like cognac or Scotch… Or rather, that it’s not good enough to be treated in the same way. Which is a total fallacy, as just as there’s rubbish Scotches that don’t hold up to close tasting, there’s spectacular and refined bourbon whiskeys that can hold their own against any high-falutin’ spirit.

Demystifying Bourbon

One of the big factors that confuse Aussies is all the nomenclature around bourbon, and whiskey more generally. As we alluded to earlier, it even comes down to the spelling: according to Eric Zandoza’s A World Guide to Whisk(e)y Distilleries, ‘whiskey’ (with the ‘e’) is common in Ireland and the United States, while whisky (without it) is used in all other whisky-producing countries, including Japan and Australia, just for the record.

Beyond the spelling, we can then delve into the difference between American whiskeys. You can discern the differences between them by their names, too: rye whiskey is made predominately from rye, wheat whiskey is made predominately from wheat, corn whiskey is made mostly from corn, and so on.

What makes bourbon… Well, bourbon, is that it must be made in the United States, must be made from 51% corn and aged in new, charred oak containers. Then, there are different requirements for how long it has to be aged. In order to be called ‘straight’ bourbon, it needs to be aged for at least two years, and any bourbon aged less than four years must include an age statement on its label, for example. 

Similar to how you have ‘underproof’ and ‘overproof’ rum, there’s also the ‘bottled-in-bond’ certification – which Wild Turkey’s Master’s Keep boasts, but few bourbons sold in Australia do. In order to attain that certification, the bourbon must have been aged in a federally bonded warehouse under US government supervision for at least four years and bottled at 100 proof (50% alcohol by volume). Keeping up so far?

Tennessee whiskey is simply bourbon whiskey that’s made in the US state of Tennessee, in the same way that Scotch is just whisky made in Scotland. All Tennessee whiskey (like Jack Daniel’s or George Dickel) is bourbon but not all bourbon is Tennessee whiskey. And just as the Scots don’t have a monopoly on good whisky, just because a bourbon brand isn’t made in Tennessee doesn’t mean it’s bad. Quite the opposite, in many cases.

There’s much more to discover, but these are the essentials.

How To Get Into Bourbon

If you’re looking to get into some high-level bourbon drinking, reach for something a bit more top-shelf. Spend at least $60 for a bottle, and treat it with reverence: on the rocks or neat, thank you very much.

But if you want to ease into a bourbon journey, cocktails might be the way to go.

Russell suggests “if you want a great way to be introduced to bourbon, give the Boulevardier or the Manhattan a try.”

“My all-time favourite cocktail is the Boulevardier. I like to do two parts bourbon, one part Campari and one part sweet vermouth. Having more bourbon in it than usual gives that bigger, bolder taste that I like.”

RELATED: How To Make A Marvellously Mouthwatering Manhattan

Eddie Russell’s Boulevardier Flip

30mL Wild Turkey 101
20mL Campari
20mL 1757 Rosso (vermouth di torino)
20mL sugar syrup
1 whole egg

Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice
Give it a hard shake to combine and chill
Double strain into a small wine glass over fresh ice
Garnish with grated dark chocolate and orange peel (express and discard)

Read Next

• Why Australia’s Gin Makers Are Leaving The Rest Of The World In Their Wake
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The post Master Distiller Dispels 'Bogan' Bourbon Myths Australians Still Believe appeared first on DMARGE Australia.