Costs Don't miss out on the headlines from Costs. Followed categories will be added to My News. It is the most festive time of the year, but it can also be the most “stressful”, especially for a family of three living off $80,000. Rachel Green, 32, has been planning for the cost of Christmas for months, but now that December has arrived, she’s still anxious. Ms Green, who lives in Queensland, described Christmas as a “stressful time” and a period where she has to plan everything in advance. She has a young child and is pregnant with her second, and they’re all relying on her partner’s $80,000 salary. “My husband earns $1220 a week. After covering our bills and mortgage, we’re left with around $60 each week,” she told news.com.au. The 32-year-old said it feels almost “impossible” to plan ahead for Christmas and budget because everything is so expensive. “We’ve tried to stick to a strict budget, buying one or two items each week to prepare for Christmas, but we’re still not where we want to be financially,” she said. Ms Green explained why Christmas is stressful. Picture: Instagram/AussieFrugalFamily She said their mortgage right now is really high. Picture: Instagram/AussieFrugalFamily MORE: Home loan trap taking years to escape It has also been a tough year for the family. Earlier this year, Ms Green was trolled for sharing their mortgage stress online. “Our mortgage repayments have gone from under $400 to almost $650. It’s a crazy amount extra to pay when everything else has gone up too,” she previously told news.com.au Online, she explained how tough it is to fork out $650 a week on their mortgage, and instead of people offering her sympathy, she was met with judgment. “Sounds like you’ve overextended yourself. Sell your house and sell your car,” one wrote. “Maybe don’t have children! If you can’t even afford it,” one said, with another slamming the family for using charity services they claimed other people “need more”. Ms Green is not alone in her stress. It’s been an expensive year for Australians. The median rental price nationwide has soared past $600, the official cash rate has held for over a year, and conversations about inflation and shrinkflation have been ongoing. The young family survive off one income. Picture: Instagram/AussieFrugalFamily Ms Green shares her frugal tips online. Picture: Instagram/AussieFrugalFamily MORE: Sign RBA is creating ticking time bomb The financial stress is impacting everyone. Non-bank lender, MONEYME , conducted a survey that found 43 per cent of households earning between $100,000 to $149,000 and 37 per cent of households earning between $50,000 to $99,000 plan to spend more this Christmas than the last. Since Aussies are expecting to spend more, they are trying to make cuts where they can. Thirty seven per cent plan to reduce their grocery spending and forgo traditional Christmas staples like oysters, prawns, red meat, and turkey. Ms Green isn’t surprised by these trends. She thinks about money all the time. In fact, she runs a popular social media account called AussieFrugalFamily , where she documents how she budgets. “Even people who are usually financially comfortable are feeling the squeeze this year. Many Christmas items that were once staples are now considered luxuries,” she said. Ms Green said one relief has been that she’s not hosting Christmas. She’ll be going to her mum’s and everyone is expected to bring a plate, so not one person gets lumped with the Christmas lunch cost. “We’re not cutting back completely. We’re trying to be smarter about our purchases,” she said. “For instance, instead of fresh prawns, we’re buying frozen ones to thaw the night before.” “We’ve also divided the food responsibilities among family members. If everyone contributes, we can still enjoy the traditional Christmas feast without overspending.” Aussies are cutting back this Christmas but still spending more. Picture: Instagram/AussieFrugalFamily Ms Green said that people should also consider going to food banks to get through Christmas. “Many of these places actively encourage people to shop with them. You can save money on your Christmas food bill while supporting a charity. It’s a win-win,” she said. She’s also got a game plan for once Christmas is over and wants to take advantage of the yearly sales. “If you have some funds left, hit the shops after Christmas. There are great sales on items like meat and seafood, which can be frozen for New Year’s, Australia Day, or even meals throughout the next few months,” she recommended. “The freezer is your best friend when it comes to saving money.” Clayton Howes, CEO at MONEYME , said that it is clear Aussies are doing it tough this Christmas. “The festive season is a time for family and giving but its clear many Aussies – particularly Millennials and Gen Z – are feeling the financial pinch this year,” he said. “This survey shows that some Aussies are forgoing luxuries to help ease the cost of living pressures, but are determined to have a joyful celebration with loved ones, despite it being a tough year financially.” More Coverage ‘Completely false’: Cops hit back in 28yo case Claudia Poposki ‘Chained to my desk’: 28yo quits $170k job Mary Madigan Originally published as ‘Stressful’: Proof Aussies are doing it tough this Christmas More related stories Designers Surprising Aussie fashion trend revealed Buy-now pay-later giant Afterpay has revealed some surprising Aussie fashion trends in its latest Afterpaid report, with one colour dominating 2024. Read more Costs HECS balances slashed from today If you can actually remember your MyGov login, you should probably take a squiz at how much HECS you owe after tonight. Read moreWest Ham's Antonio in hospital after road traffic incidentTimothée Chalamet didn’t think twice and was more than alright on Saturday’s edition of “College GameDay” on ESPN. Some were curious about why Chalamet, a New York-born actor with seemingly no connection to Power 5 football, was chosen to be the guest picker on the college football program that was being held in Atlanta ahead of the SEC title game. Well, the “A Complete Unknown” star showed he has some chops on the sports punditry circuit. And, not only that, he seemed to do plenty of research as he made his picks ahead of an important slate of conference championship games. He particularly stood out for his picks for the SWAC — Jackson State — and the MAC — Ohio. “Jackson State, eight wins in a row, 11 all-conference players — this should be a comfortable, easy win for them,” Chalamet said with plenty of confidence, getting plenty of love with shoulder taps from show regulars Pat McAfee and Kirk Herbstreit. Instead of picking a favorite in the MAC title game between Miami of Ohio and Ohio, Chalamet had his reasons to pick an upset. “The Red Hawks defense looks good, but I’m looking at fourth-year quarterback Parker Navarro. Sixty-five percent completion rate. If he can get going, he’ll tilt this in favor of the Bobcat. I’m going underdog Bobcats here, underdog Bobcats.” That bold pick earned a strong handshake from McAfee. And, when it came down to it, Chalamet thought hard about his pick for the SEC championship, and when it came down to it, he went with the Texas Longhorns over the Georgia Bulldogs, much to the chagrin of the large swath UGA fans in attendance. College football social media was largely impressed with the actor’s sports preparedness. “You are all fools for doubting Timothée Chalamet’s knowledge of ball. He drank the Water of Life,” wrote podcaster Ross Bolen on X . “Timothee Chalamet, I owe you an apology — I wasn’t familiar with your game,” wrote College Sports Only in reference to the widely-shared meme of Shaquille O’Neal . “Timothee Chalamet being a real deal college football fan, being a SMU fan, and knowing about all these teams was so crazy to me. I thought just invited cause famous, but he was a legit great guest picker on College Gameday,” wrote the Ringer’s Chris Vernon . Fox NFL writer and NFL Network personality Peter Schrager didn’t mince words. “Timothee Chalamet came prepared , researched, and referenced the Pony Express. Maybe the best College Gameday guest picker yet. NYC guy. Respect,” he wrote . In a season that’s included plenty of famous folks like actor Keegan-Michael Key, Pirates star Paul Skenes, gymnast Olivia “Livvy” Dunne and swimmer Michael Phelps, Chalamet might have stood out as the best and most prepared.s777bet login 。

Seattle Seahawks receiver is DK Metcalf is just fine when he doesn't have the the ball because it means he gets to showcase his blocking skills. “I just look at it as a sign of respect that I’ve gained from other defensive coordinators and just continue to do my job with it as blocking or being a decoy,” the two-time Pro Bowler said. While opposing defenses have keyed in on Metcalf, other aspects of Seattle's offense have surfaced during its four-game winning streak. The run has the Seahawks (8-5) sitting atop the NFC West heading into Sunday night's game against the visiting Green Bay Packers (9-4). Geno Smith's new top target is second-year receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who needs 89 receiving yards for his first career 1,000-yard season. Smith-Njigba has 75 catches for 911 yards and five touchdowns, while Metcalf, often dealing with double coverage, has 54 catches for 812 yards and two scores. Metcalf says he feels the pride of a “proud parent or a big brother” when it comes to Smith-Njigba's success. Seattle's offense also got a boost from the ground game in a 30-18 victory over the Arizona Cardinals last weekend . Zach Charbonnet, filling in for the injured Kenneth Walker III, ran for a career-best 134 yards and two touchdowns. The Seahawks face another hot team in the Packers (9-4), who have won seven of nine. Green Bay's two losses over that stretch have come against NFC-best Detroit (12-1), including a 34-31 victory by the Lions on Dec. 5, which means the NFC North title is likely out of reach for the Packers. The Packers are well-positioned for a playoff berth, but that almost certainly won't come this weekend. They would need a win, a loss or tie by the Atlanta Falcons and a tie between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers. Metcalf, who learned to block from his father, former Chicago Bears offensive lineman Terrence Metcalf, says he tries to take blocking seriously to set himself apart from other receivers. His priorities are simple when he's getting double-teamed and the ball goes elsewhere. “Trying to block my (butt) off and trying to get pancakes on defensive backs,” he said. When the Packers surged their way into the playoffs last season, quarterback Jordan Love was a major reason why. He had 18 touchdown passes and one interception during Green Bay's final eight games. During the last four games of this season, Love ranks third in the NFL with a 118.9 passer rating with six touchdowns, one interception and a league-best 10.3 yards per attempt. “I always feel like I can put the ball where I want to — and that’s part of it, too, having that confidence to be able to throw those passes,” Love said. “There’s always like I said a handful of plays that might not come off or be in the exact spot that you wanted it to or the throw might be a little bit off. So, that’s where you’ve just got to try to be at your best every play, be consistent and accurate as possible.” Green Bay’s pass defense has been picked apart the last two weeks. First, it was torched by Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins in a Packers win. Next, it allowed Jared Goff to complete his final 13 passes as the Lions rallied to victory. It won’t get any easier this week. Smith is second in the NFL in attempts, completions and passing yards and is fifth in completion percentage. “It’s been a remarkable turnaround for him in terms of just where he started,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “It’s not always where you start, but where you finish. And it tells me a lot about the person in terms of his resiliency and ability to fight through some adversity. He’s a dangerous quarterback.” The potential return of former All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee) could help the Packers. Will the Packers break out their head-to-toe white uniforms? The last time Green Bay wore the winter white look was in a 24-22 win over Houston in October. The Packers asked fans to weigh in on social media . As for the Seahawks, they'll be sporting their “Action Green” uniforms. Metcalf is a fan. “I would say this about the Action Green, I love them personally in my opinion, but the big guys hate them. I don’t know why, don’t ask me," he said. “Hopefully, the Packers wear all white, so it’ll be a fun-looking game.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflHigh school scores for Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024

Colorado’s unionized legislative aides called for the resignation or removal of state Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis on Saturday in response to that she mistreated employees in her office. “Jaquez Lewis has consistently shown that she does not have the ability to manage an office, sit in a leadership role as chair, and show basic respect and decency to staff and her colleagues,” the Political Workers Guild of Colorado wrote in to Colorado State Senate leaders. Senate leadership stripped Jaquez Lewis of her state-paid aides earlier this week after two staffers formally complained that they were instructed to do chores around her home and bartend at a party she hosted, She was previously accused of which led to her removal as a committee chair and a sponsor of a wage theft bill earlier this year. Jaquez Lewis said Saturday that she took the union’s letter “very seriously” and would support members’ concerns being investigated in a setting that would allow her to present evidence in her defense. “I’m deeply sorry for my part of any miscommunication or any action on my part that has hurt anyone,” she said. “I am taking steps to proactively set up a nonpartisan HR management person that my staff can work with and go to for any issues. The path forward from here is to investigate what happened. I feel confident that this process will present my side of the story and all sides of the story.” Since at least 2023, other Democratic lawmakers, including Senate President Steve Fenberg, have admonished Jaquez Lewis for her alleged mistreatment of employees. Fenberg wrote in a September 2023 email to Jaquez Lewis that several staff members and legislators had “witnessed behavior they found concerning” and that this behavior was “something I hope you will prioritize improving upon.” He also said Senate staffers would not help her vet aides or place aides in her office in 2024. The Political Workers Guild of Colorado in its letter said these previous incidents and the latest allegations were proof of a “drastic” lack of accountability by Jaquez Lewis. The union also called for the creation of a formal system that would allow aides to express their grievances with legislators. “For too many years we have been reporting incidents that have been met with few repercussions for the legislator because of the lack of accountability mechanisms in the current system,” the letter reads. “If we believe in the fundamental right of the worker, we need this framework.” Jaquez Lewis was first elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 2018. She secured a Senate seat in 2020 and was re-elected for another four-year term this year.

Paccar Inc. stock rises Thursday, outperforms market

Trump isn't back in office but he's already pushing his agenda and negotiating with world leaders

NEW YORK, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Gross Law Firm issues the following notice to shareholders of PACS Group, Inc. (NYSE: PACS). Shareholders who purchased shares of PACS during the class period listed are encouraged to contact the firm regarding possible lead plaintiff appointment. Appointment as lead plaintiff is not required to partake in any recovery. CONTACT US HERE: https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/pacs-group-inc-loss-submission-form/?id=113437&from=3 CLASS PERIOD: This lawsuit is on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired PACS Group: (a) common stock pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and prospectus issued in connection with the Company’s April 11, 2024 initial public offering; and/or (b) securities between April 11, 2024 and November 5, 2024 inclusive. ALLEGATIONS: The complaint alleges that during the class period, Defendants issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the Company engaged in a “scheme” to submit false Medicare claims which “drove more than 100% of PACS’ operating and net income from 2020 – 2023”; (2) the Company engaged in a “scheme” to “bill thousands of unnecessary respiratory and sensory integration therapies to Medicare”; (3) the Company engaged in a scheme to falsify documentation related to licensure and staffing; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. DEADLINE: January 13, 2025 Shareholders should not delay in registering for this class action. Register your information here: https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/pacs-group-inc-loss-submission-form/?id=113437&from=3 NEXT STEPS FOR SHAREHOLDERS: Once you register as a shareholder who purchased shares of PACS during the timeframe listed above, you will be enrolled in a portfolio monitoring software to provide you with status updates throughout the lifecycle of the case. The deadline to seek to be a lead plaintiff is January 13, 2025. There is no cost or obligation to you to participate in this case. WHY GROSS LAW FIRM? The Gross Law Firm is a nationally recognized class action law firm, and our mission is to protect the rights of all investors who have suffered as a result of deceit, fraud, and illegal business practices. The Gross Law Firm is committed to ensuring that companies adhere to responsible business practices and engage in good corporate citizenship. The firm seeks recovery on behalf of investors who incurred losses when false and/or misleading statements or the omission of material information by a company lead to artificial inflation of the company's stock. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: The Gross Law Firm 15 West 38th Street, 12th floor New York, NY, 10018 Email: dg@securitiesclasslaw.com Phone: (646) 453-8903If You’ll Be Bed And Couch Rotting For The Holidays (Lucky You), These 34 Things WIll Make It Even Better

Blueprint Medicines director Coats sells $1.87 million in stock

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James has been ruled out of the Los Angeles Lakers' game at Minnesota on Friday night due to soreness in his left foot. James will miss his second straight game when the Lakers return from a four-day break to face the Timberwolves, the Lakers announced Thursday. The top scorer in NBA history was away from the team this week with an excused absence attributed to “personal reasons,” coach JJ Redick said Wednesday. It's unclear whether James will even make the quick round trip to Minnesota before the Lakers' next game at home against Memphis on Sunday. James missed his first game of his record-tying 22nd NBA season when the Lakers beat Portland at home last Sunday. That absence also was attributed to his foot injury. James is averaging 23.0 points, 9.1 assists and 8.0 rebounds for the Lakers (13-11), who have lost seven of 10 after a 10-4 start. The Lakers upgraded starter Austin Reaves to questionable for the game at Minnesota after he missed LA's previous five games with a pelvic bruise. Anthony Davis is listed as probable with left plantar fasciitis. AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA