I know I am in a very fortunate position, and I am genuinely not trying to humblebrag.

I am 40M, single, with no children or other dependents. I’ve become increasingly burnt out and feel like I’ve lost direction and life purpose outside work. I have no close friends, not close with my family, no partner, and lately I’ve developed a strong feeling that if I don’t take time out to travel now, I may never do it.

I applied for a one-year sabbatical after 4.5 years with my employer, but it was rejected. This means my only realistic option for extended travel is to resign.

I own my home outright, worth around $1.6m, have $2.5m in shares (giving about $91k per annum after tax), $320k in super, and $150k in cash. My plan was to set aside $100k for a year of travel and use the other $50k for concessional super contributions over the 1 to 1.5 years I'll be away.

I am a Chartered Accountant with 14 years in analyst and senior analyst roles, but my current role is basically a senior business analyst with no unique expertise, and it feels very replaceable and vulnerable to AI. I also don’t have much of a professional network to fall back on.

I am worried that if I quit, I may struggle to get a similar job again and this could effectively become early retirement rather than a 1 year break. My current roles pays about $150k per annum. I could probably find lower-paid work if needed, but I don’t want to assume I can walk back into my current career. What is the reasonable thing to do?

So, I'd like a general consensus atm. Past all the doomerism, past all the negativity, I'd like a pool of opinions on how to put myself ahead both now and the future.

Without oversharing, I've been working for Allianz Aus in conjunction with the DSP for about 5 years, primarily data entry work (Part time cos of the stupid cap, ASD diagnoses). Graduated Y12 (Albeit barely), got a cert 2 in business, and with everything going on atm, I'm kinda stuck. Have about $600 in savings; which can and does fluctuate pretty frequently, I live on my own paying about $600 a week in rent, 1 bed apartment, and I have no familial support. That's a long story with a lot of potential to overshare, which I'd rather not.

Who can I talk to to get ahead? What can I do with what I have, how can I move forwards? Been ultra-depressed, and I need to take my head out of my proverbial rear.

I’m about to speak to a mortgage broker but I’ve heard very different opinions on what I should do thus far.

I’m 23, single and earning 76k a year gross in marketing. I have 100k + (10k extra aside for emergencies) saved for a deposit. Ideally I’d like to save another 40k or so but if something perfect came up I’d seriously consider it. I’m looking at 450-500k properties about 1-1.5 hours out of the city because I like the more relaxed lifestyle. I only have to go into the cbd one day a week for my job.

I live at home so I spend about 1500-1800 a month on transport, food, some groceries, petrol, a few nights out, etc. I have fully paid off my car and have no outstanding debts including HECS.

My parents have kindly offered to gift me 100k to pay off the house in a lump sum, but only after I have put down the deposit. So is this something I should factor into the budget? Or should I ignore it completely?

24m. 90k salary. 50k HISA. 30k super(no fhss). 20k ETFs. 30k HECS. canberra

• stay at home (~ +70k to savings)
• rent (~ +40k)
• buy apartment for around 400k

would like to avoid strata as much as possible, also want to move out as well. just looking for opinions

Hi all,

Long story short, my seven year old had to pay a chunk of tax last year on his child savings account as he earned more than the $416 tax-free ceiling in interest.

I filed the paper form (you can’t do it digitally for minors), got the notice and paid the money - all pretty simple.

In this FY, we invested it for him elsewhere so he doesn’t get slugged again (bit of a bitter pill to swallow as that was his inheritance money from a relative).

He is therefore nowhere near the taxable threshold.

My question is - do I need to do a tax return on his behalf this year again (and every year until he’s old enough to lodge it himself) regardless of the fact that he didn’t - and won’t for some years - accrue enough interest be taxed?

I have been told that the first tax return acts as an automatic trigger for consecutive tax return requirements regardless of age - but want to fact check that as he doesn’t have any reportable earnings. And won’t for a good few years now.

Thanks in advance

Not only Sydney. Perth,Adelaide and Brisbane looks like they might have bigger property downturns.

With prices of housing, groceries, eating out, fuel etc all going up significantly over the last few years, and a fair chunk of people not being able to afford anything, are we due for a deflation period?

As a family of four we seem to be able to save $500 per week. It seems like we are going backwards as this is small for us. We are very frugal but have a big mortgage. We have no other credit. We are simple people but have a nice apartment to pay for (Forever).

Mid to late 40s with 2 young kids.

How does this weekly savings amount compare to you?

Sorry if this is a stupid question,

I have 500k left on morgage, 60k in offset. Bank values house at 700k - Bank: ING

However, I want to have a second offset account that I can visabily see myself siphioning off money which is intended for my daughters future. ( shes 2, and want to pay for her schooling/private/uni/ or a house deposit for her when the time comes. )

Yes, technically its all the same bucket. But there is a mental/visual aspect to this that I really want to have a logical seperation between. Its mental bookkeeping for me.

I seem to be landing on that the money is better off working against my current PPOR than a seperate savings account > which has led me to the offset point.

I also have a small worry about all the eggs in one basket approach, and do worry that im not diversifying the risk of my money.

Seems some banks like UP allow many offset accounts - but can't seem to get an answer about ING

Hey guys I’m currently in education and on family support. I have always been personally reluctant to work minimum wage. Because I don’t really think it’s worth the time or effort. I do believe it’s possible for me to land a professional job after graduation. But as we know it takes much more devotion to get there now. So this is a genuine question.

I have recently discovered someone online who saved enough of a down payment for a house, by working minimum wage jobs. So I’m starting to question and rethink if this makes sense. Honestly the minimum wage in Australia is not low. I’m just curious if it makes sense to “buy less coffee“ and work in non-ideal conditions. Will it save me enough money to be financially independent?

https://external.pearler.com/terms/Pearler_Super_SignificantEventNoticeAugust2026.pdf
Just got this in my emails from pearler it seems like they are reducing their admin fees on their super product.

Edit: they do have other fee increases but based on their table new pricing seems much better

Looks like its well priced now compared to other options spreadsheet? https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sR0CyX8GswPiktOrfqRloNMY-fBlzFUL/edit?gid=761519652#gid=761519652&fvid=461314664

Anyone else noticed how electricity providers keep raising your rates steadily?

AGL raised my rates just 2 months after I joined, and when I called them to switch to their advertised rates, they refused! Then I checked on my dad who hadn't switched for 5 years (with Engie), and just found out he was paying 4 times what he should have been!

For years I had been looking at my meter data in Excel and calculating costs manually (because Victorian Energy Compare only tells you annual figures, and my winter vs summer usage is very different). I was fed up and finally built this tool to calculate what each plan would actually cost me, to beat those greedy energy companies.

https://nemity.com.au/

I originally built it just to make my own life easier, but some friends found it useful, so I thought I'd share it here in case it can help anyone else save a bit of money. Let me know if you have any feedback.

Family of 3, PPOR paid off, 2 modest cars, Wife is a a SAHM, 11k After tax monthly.

Wants is anything like coffee, takeaway toys for kid etc. Remaining money is split between long term savings/shares and larger purchases that we want holidays, hobbies etc. Living in Perth WA.

Any thoughts or opinions of things to improve?

I'm in the middle of an adoption process and have been advised to set up an Informal Trust account for the children. The caseworker doesn't really have any more information but said that an informal trust is a bank account opened in my name with the label 'in trust for CHILD 1 and CHILD 2' suggesting the intention to hold the money for the children, and I would have complete control of to add to or withdraw from until CHILD 1 and CHILD 2 are 18 years old.  

I'm confused and google is not helping me much here. Everything keeps leading me to Minor Trust Accounts with CommBank and investing shares, which I don't think is what I want here.

I've called Bank Australia and they only do formal trusts accounts or children's accounts and I don't think either of those are right.

Took out a loan two years ago, used FHGS. I’m wanting to remove the guarantee from my loan. Loan funded at $341K, loan balance today = $277k including $51K of redraw. Council rates show property value is $540K. Do i have to refinance to remove the guarantee? Would rather not. Do I have to pay any funds to remove the guarantee?

Hello!

I’m planning on buying an iphone 18 pm when they’re released in a few weeks. I currently use a 14.

I have been using my personal phone at work for phone calls and occasionally text messages, I was told I might be getting a work phone but no updates since then.

When I buy the new phone, can I turn my old
phone into a work phone and claim anything back from the cost of the new phone on my taxes?

The average Australian says they are saving $928 every month.

But in stark contrast, 42 per cent of Australians - equivalent to 9.2 million people - admit they have less than $1000 in savings.

There is a growing divide between people who have managed to build a monetary buffer and those living pay cheque to pay cheque.

I'm lucky enough that I am sharing a house with my parents, I pay half the rent, and they cover the other half same as electricity and water. When it comes to food, mum does try to cover a fair amount, i cover all expenses for my son and myself. I get 1500 a fortnight with rent assistance, sing parent peansion and family tax benefits, 750 to rent, 400 to bills, fuel about 140-160, then got groceries which is mainly aftepay now. Used after pay for a while when I was helping my sister get her car on the road and now been using it to afford to get groceries. Just keep going backwards every single pay. I'm studying cert 3 on business do I can try to get an office job. I am applying for all jobs I see, but not getting anywhere due to my crappy knees and ankles. Also, the whole main availability is school hours. Little dude has supervised contact each Thursday for 3.5 hours and each second Saturday and Sunday day for 7 hours. I'd like to start my own company. Unfortunately, I have no idea how long I'd be able to sustain starting with no capital and having my leg difficulties. I dont know how to improve my situation. i also don't understand how I know so many other single parents who dont work and live by themselves.

1st Edit: I am the father, the mother does not provide any financial support for the child other than the hours that he is with her and that is court ordered, currently going through mediation as the child has been reporting that he is being bullied and abused during contact time, so I am also organising social support for him along with Orthopaedic support for his feet as he too has servere flat foot, wosre than mine and he is 5 years old.

2nd Edit: My old man is on disability both me and my mother assot him when needed, my mother does have looking for work payments as she struggles to keep up with her current work requirements.

3rd Edit: Also I can not get any job that requires a blue card due to my child's mother repeatedly falsely reporting me for drugs alcohol and child abuse. First 15 months he was in foster care due to her reports, child safety put him with me when they had realised the lies that had been stated, 3 more years for the courts to rule that she needed supervison for contact because he would abuse and neglect him.

Question in title, thank you in advance for the honest advice.

Edit: trying to accrue maximum funds for his future use

Yes, I’ll talk to a broker, but I’m curious if anyone has been through a similar situation that could provide insights.

I’m 32, living remotely and saving a decent amount. I earn $120k a year (pre-tax), about $75k saved, over 100k in my super, some investment funds, but have about 20k of car debt and HECS debt.

I want to buy land and build in remote NSW. Where I’m looking land costs $200-$300k and the build would be around $100k.

With all the new home buyer incentives and such - would I realistically be able to do this? Im a single female so purely relying on my self to fund this.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Hi all,

Seeking some advice please 😊

I currently have an AMEX I’ve had for a year with a $4,800.00 limit.

I also recently (2mths ago) applied for a Bendigo Ready credit card with the same limit and was approved.

The purpose of this was due to the surcharge ban coming into play in AUS, I wanted a VISA/MC.

However, the Bendigo app is extremely clunky and it really causes me to dislike the card.

Ideally, I’d like to apply for a Qantas everyday card with the same limit, and then close the Bendigo card.

Keep in mind the Bendigo card was opened 2 months ago

Can anyone please advise if this is a good/bad idea, and if it matters if I close the Bendigo before or after I apply for the Qantas card.

Also, is jt unlikely I will not be approved too?

I always pay all my balances in full and never leave an outstanding balance etc

Thank you!

Just FYI

-Interactive Broker just include PayId for deposit.

- 2 (BSB A/C) withdraw are free per month .

**use Macquarie for deposit/ withdraw

** You must include IBKR A/C as reference on your bank's payment .

** No always is an instantaneous transfer sometimes will take 5minutes - 2hrs to arrive . but you can deposit 24/7.

Last night I caught up with a close friend who, for some time now, has seemed to be distancing himself from me. I felt something is wrong so planned a shisha night.

Long story short, he used to do contracting for a tech niche and his contract was cut short from 3 years to 8 months, company went bankrupt. He had a family wedding planned, short trip so did that all and took him 7 months to secure a job. While those unemployed months, he had to tap in his untouched personal loan and 50K is almost drained. On top he, had a 0% rate balance transfer offer for 15k, which was 36 months, but the banker only setup to 12 months and it's on him now.

On total he's paying around 20-23% interest on both items all of sudden, He have 20k saved from past few months from new job, which is good paying but not putting into loans, as he's bit traumatised and want to keep some emergency funds.

What would you do differently? I advised him to pay off the credit card, talk to a different bank about debt consolidation and try to get a lower rate on the personal loan and have one that have redraw facility available. I have seen people get 20 to 12-13%.

Any ideas or suggestions?

Our per kL price seems to be going up all the time, or so it seems. What is your per kL price for water from Sydney Water?

$3.17 / $3.41