Around 8.5 million people in Austria are again entitled to the climate bonus this year. Anyone who has entered their account details on FinanzOnline should automatically receive the money in their account. This route was intended for 7.5 million people. At least in theory. Because this year, too, there are once again payment difficulties with the climate money. One example is that, according to the Austrian Ombudsman Board, vouchers were sent out even though the climate bonus had been transferred to the same people the previous year. According to the…
Read MoreMonth: November 2023
Fuel price: now comes the next price hike
Austrian households are groaning under massively increased prices. Nevertheless, the government is sticking to a further increase in the CO2 tax on fuel. At the end of November, Finance Minister Magnus Brunner received a letter from Austria’s Energy Agency. The topic is the “fossil fuel energy price index for private households.” Based on the price development for fossil fuels over the past twelve months, the index calculates how much drivers will have to pay for the CO2 emissions they cause in 2024 and whether a so-called “price stability mechanism” will…
Read MoreVienna continues to grow but at a slower pace
Vienna: Vienna continues to grow steadily but at a comparatively moderate rate in the coming years. According to current forecasts, at least the figures of the past decades will no longer be reached. Since the 1990s, the federal capital has gained 500,000 inhabitants. The curve will flatten out over the next 30 years, i.e., until 2053. During this period, Vienna is expected to grow by around 300,000 people. The Danube metropolis only recently passed the two million population mark. According to the latest calculations, it will be well over that…
Read MoreDigital vignette: what’s changing for drivers
The new Digital Vignette 2024 is now available. What is essential to consider, and what is now changing for drivers? Since November 13, the new digital vignette has been available in the Asfinag toll store and the free Asfinag app, as well as at the six toll stations, ÖAMTC, ARBÖ and ADAC, and at selected petrol stations and tobacconists. Registration of the license plate eliminates the need for sticking and scratching off, and a replacement vignette is no longer required in case of a broken window. Even owners of interchangeable…
Read More“I feel older than I am”: is this a sign of dementia?
A study reveals new findings on the link between perceived age and dementia.Many people associate dementia with old age. But “younger” people can also be affected by the cognitive disease. According to a recent study, people who feel older may be sicker because they are physically older. Age is diverseHow is this possible? This is what the Swedish study by Sara Hägg and Jonathan Mak attempts to explain. They demonstrated that the number of years of life, or chronological age, differs significantly from biological age. “People age at different rates,…
Read MoreExcessive apologizing—a sign of depression?
Now and then, we quickly apologize for things that are not our responsibility. According to Psychology Today, excessive feelings of guilt are an often overlooked symptom of depression. This is correlated with a constant need to apologize, especially to people in your immediate vicinity. When do we feel guilty?When we talk about guilt these days, we tend to dismiss it, often giving the impression that guilt is fundamentally wrong. Yet they are like little reminders that we have acted against our moral compass. Something we have said or done is…
Read MoreBlack Friday Sale: beware when buying bargains
Exclusive offers, deals and savings campaigns: Black Friday at the end of November sees many unbeatable prices online and in stores. But these promotions don’t consistently deliver what they promise. AK Consumer Protection clarifies the situation and provides tips for safe shopping. Black Friday is popular in AustriaEvery November, Black Friday is one of the most important shopping events for many online retailers. This year, it takes place on November 24. Even in the days leading up to Cyber Monday on November 27th, companies are tempting shoppers with bargains. But…
Read MoreNumber 666! Meaning and messages
Are you afraid that the devils are after you and that something bad will happen in your life? Don’t panic, because not everything is so scary and negative! The opinion and conspiracy theories that the number 666 is associated with devils, secret organizations, the Illuminati, occultism and the like have been widely accepted in society. That’s why we feel anxious when we see three sixes in a row as clock times on license plates, billboards, invoices, etc., because the number of the devil can’t bring anything good, right? However, the…
Read MoreBeware: Fake software employees want data
Attention! Telephone scammers want to trick their victims into installing certain programs on their computers.They speak broken German or English with a heavy accent, call many times in a row and pretend to be Microsoft employees. Calls from telephone fraudsters are currently on the increase again. Unusual telephone numbers appear on the displays, including those with an Austrian area code. An alleged support employee tells anyone who picks up the phone that the computer is infected with a virus. However, these criminals want to persuade their victims to install a…
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