I originally come from a third world country where trades is basically done by people with no other career path. It doesn't require any 'formal' university education and is generally seen as a dead-end job and these people generally don't live enviable lives. If anything, they are looked down upon.

I've noticed that these folks have a similar sentiment even when they come here, despite things basically being the opposite. I feel like they only start to realise it when something goes wrong in the house and you have to pay a tradie your monthly wage to fix it.

I'm 27 and my tradie mates earn way more than me (I'm in BA). It might be the opposite here, white collar folks actually earn less than blue collar folks lol. Yes, it's manual labour, tougher on the body than sitting in an office chair all day but you definitely get compensated for it.

If you're in an union-based site, it's even better. I won't even go into FIFO money since that basically blows any white collar role out of the water, especially as someone in their early 20s starting their career. Only thing I can think of which compares to that $200k+ comp is being a hotshot quant or a trader or something which is not achievable for 99.9% of people.

AI never being able to replace a tradie is also an incredibly valuable perk. I say this as someone in an industry which AI will probably take over in 5-10 years. Again, I know it has its drawbacks, obviously not a perfect career but especially here in Australia, very strong career path. I hope more foreign people go into this field, increase the level of competition and help lower the insane prices.

Genuine question for people living in Australia, especially those who feel like they've managed to get ahead financially.

Between the cost of housing, groceries, bills, fuel, taxes and everything else, it sometimes feels like you can work full-time, earn a decent salary, do the right things and still struggle to build any real wealth.

It feels like simply budgeting, cutting expenses and putting money into savings isn't enough anymore, especially when the cost of living keeps increasing and housing feels so far out of reach for a lot of people.

I'm curious about what people are actually doing to get ahead in Australia beyond just saving money. What are the things that genuinely make a difference financially? Is it increasing your income, investing in shares or property, starting a business, taking advantage of legitimate tax strategies, or something else entirely?

I'm particularly interested in advice from people who started out relatively average, without wealthy parents, an inheritance or a massive head start.

If you were starting again today in Australia, what would your strategy be to become financially secure and build real wealth over the next 10–20 years? Would you focus on your career and earning potential first, invest as much as possible, buy property, start a side hustle, or take a completely different approach?

Also interested in what people think about Australia's tax system and cost of living, and whether there are opportunities that the average person overlooks.

Would love to hear people's actual experiences, numbers, strategies and lessons learned, including mistakes they'd avoid if they could start again. Not just generic advice about budgeting and spending less, but what genuinely helped you get ahead.

I’ve used IBKR in Aus for several years to invest in domestic and overseas ETFs, as well as some overseas shares, and used Sharesight to generate the AMMA equivalent inputs for my tax return. ATO contacted me yesterday about a data matching issue on my 2025 return as IBKR now submits data directly to ATO. IBKR has told the ATO my domestic ETF income is Australian dividend income (section 11) rather than Australian Trust income (section 13), and the numbers they gave ATO don’t match IBKRs own Income Transactions Taxable report. So far it seems IBKR hasn’t reported anything to ATO about my overseas ETFs 🤦‍♂️

ATO says they have to accept what IBKR has given them, even if it’s wrong, and I’ll need to remove the Sharesight numbers I input for AU trust income. ATO also said they’re seeing this problem with lots of IBKR users through the data matching process.

Anyone else having this problem? Much as I love IBKR as a platform I think this will be the final straw that makes the case for moving to a CHESS sponsored platform.

For context, prepping my tax return and through a mutually signed letter (including fees), CGT for shares is shown as a line item with a price and a unit of "per schedule". No definition of "schedule" in there, so I'm making the assumption that a "schedule" is per the ATO website and a single one is included in your return which can include multiple CGT events.

I did 3 simple share sales last year, full info on each supplied as part of getting the accountant to put it together.

Invoice arrives and there are 3 units of "schedule" on it.

Doing some digging and I've seen a similar "per schedule" pricing table elsewhere on the internet but again, no definition of a "schedule" I can use to compare.

Genuinely trying to find something concrete that clarifies this in either direction, so any help appreciated.

Has anyone taken the offer through fig energy and a free battery?
It sounds initially like it could save money but I don’t like that you are essentially locked to them for 5 yrs.
The rates sound fine right now and they will introduce more plans so you can switch between plans but you’d have to stay 5 yrs to not have to pay any of the battery back.
I’m also conflicted on use of ai for this. AI checks the battery every 5 mins and all I can think of is how much unnecessary resources that’s using.

Many redundancies in many sectors at the moment. Banks might be the worst?

Currently with CBA and they’re not budging from 6.47% (includes recent rate rise). The retention team reduced it by a measly 0.02% which has me frustrated and motivated to make a switch.

LVR approx 40%
Loan value ~600K

What banks should I consider, what rates are competitive at the moment?

Thanks!

No new sign-ups from 1 December. Existing accounts will continue to exist.

I am reading and hearing a lot recently (more than usual) people saying things like "I'm waiting for the market to fall before putting more in", "the economy is so bad and the market is definitely due a crash", things like that. Isn't all this just trying to time the market?

Hey everyone! I just finished uni and started a full-time job. After expenses and my emergency fund, I can invest around $300–$600 per week.

I’m looking to invest long-term (10+ years) for growth and am considering BGBL, NDQ, IVV and A200 through Betashares Direct.

Would you recommend holding all four, or keeping it simple with one or two ETFs? I’m new to investing, so I’d appreciate any advice on building a diversified, high-growth portfolio.

Thanks!

Hi all,

A bit of a background:

I'm currently on a Comm Bank Ultimate Awards card which I will be cancelling soon due to the changes in credit card points. I'm looking for a replacement with 1) no overseas transaction fees (important) and 2) travel insurance (not so important).

Decided to go with Bendigo Ready but have been knocked back (in person). Been advised by the banker that its because my mortgage is currently sitting at ~$1.4 mil. This is a mortgage I share with my partner. We have ~ $800K in offsets, I earn ~ $190K annually, and have around $200K in super. Car has been paid off and no other large expenses.

I'm not eligible for the lowest amount of credit in this scenario.

Is this normal in terms of eligibility (or am I too out of touch), and if so, any suggestions and guidance on whether I can consider applying to any other suitable credit cards will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks all in advance!

I am moving this weekend so I phoned my energy provider (1st Energy) to disconnect my current service. While reading out the terms there was casually mentioned a $242 disconnection fee. Sorry?? I told the woman we were charged a remote connection which cost $16.50 when we moved in so how could it possibly be so much to turn it back off? She told me their company apparently doesn’t have remote disconnection authority from Ausgrid and that’s the charge.

I was pretty shocked so I thought I’d push back and see what they said, she asked if I’d like to contest the charge, to which I said yes that’s outrageous, she told me to standby for a moment and then 2 minutes later told me the charge was waived and it would cost us nothing.

Seems to me a bit scummy to throw that onto you as I would expect most people would just cop it without arguing. Thought I would post this for awareness to others that you can just verbally contest the disconnection fee over the phone and they will waive it on the spot.

Two weeks on from the September hike, most banks have now moved. 37 of the 50 accounts we track have confirmed a new rate.

All of the big four have now moved:

• CommBank NetBank Saver (9 Oct): 5.20% → 5.50%. Intro rate, new accounts only, first 5 months.
• NAB iSaver (9 Oct): 5.25% → 5.50%. 4-month intro rate.
• ANZ Plus Growth Saver (9 Oct): 5.10% → 5.35%. Grow your balance by $100+ a month.
• Westpac Life (9 Oct): 5.75% → 5.95%. It’s still the only account on the list passing on less than the full 0.25%. St.George, Bank of Melbourne and BankSA, which Westpac owns, all passed on the full amount.

Top rates:

• ING Savings Booster: 6.25%. 4-month intro, new customers only, balances up to $500k.
• Ubank Save: 6.25%. 4-month intro, new customers only, needs a Spend account and balance growth each month.
• Revolut Instant Access Savings: 6.25%. 3-month intro, balances up to $50k, no conditions.
• Rabobank High Interest Savings Account (13 Oct): 5.90% → 6.15%. 4-month intro, new customers only, balances up to $250k.
• RACQ Bank Bonus Saver: 6.00% ongoing. $100 deposit a month, no withdrawals, balances under $100k.
• Newcastle Permanent Smart Saver: 6.00% ongoing. Under 25s only, grow your balance, no more than 2 withdrawals.

Live table with conditions and dates (updated 13th Oct) https://www.finder.com.au/rba-cash-rate/sept-2026-savings-account-cash-rate-increase 

I’ve had a bad experience being a landlord and I have decided I want out. The stress is destroying my quality of life. However, I bought the investment property using equity from my PPOR and if I sell it, I won’t make enough to pay back the mortgage and this equity (as I’ll lose money).

Do I have options?

I'm filling in my CGT information in myTax, but it would appear that the CGT tool is calculating incorrectly. I have the following:

1. $33,853.06 discount gain. (AMIT shows $16,926.53, so this is the grossed up amount).
2. $8,363.18 index or other gain
3. $17,328 loss on share sales

The first two are prepopulated from an AMIT statement. Now, my understanding is that a 50% discount should be applied to 1 & 3 above. Giving $33,853/2 + $8363 - $17328/2 = $16625 capital gain. The problem is the tool keeps giving me $12,444 capital gain. Which is (1. + 2. - 3.) / 2.

The AMIT statement says the $33K was "Discounted capital gains are gains on the disposal of investments that have been held by the fund for at least 12 months. The gains have been reduced by 50 per cent as a result of the CGT discount.

And The $8300 was "Capital gains – other method shows other capital gains where the discount method has not been applied (such as for CGT assets held by the fund for less than 12 months)."

Am I misunderstanding something here?

Probably the wrong group for this question, so please let me know if it is.

But today I was going through my outgoings for my wife and I’s joint account, and our food spending for this month alone ( the last 13 days ) was a little over $700 so roughly $350 a week for 2 people. Personally, that seems fucked.
But it is our average.

I work away, on a 2 and 1 swing, obviously food paid for for 2 weeks at a time. I really want to get our food budget on track, we typically go out to breakfast once a week, when I’m home, that typically runs us around $70 but aside from that we don’t go out to restaurants or anything, we are very lax on getting takeout if neither of us can be fucked cooking, which is probably where a fair chunk of the money goes.

I suppose my question is, exactly what are people buying and spending for just themselves and their partners? My wife doesn’t even eat much, typically won’t eat breakfast, will have a small lunch from work and a microwave meal while I’m away as well, so it blows my mind how much we’re spending. When we do cook it’s pretty often bought from Spudshed. We have a Spudshed, aldi, Cole’s and Woolies all close by, so any help and tips would be greatly appreciated!

Hi. I'm coming into some inheritance in a few months and some savings. All up I will have around $350k for a deposit. I am a single Mum and low income earner (around 70k) Would it be worth going through this scheme or just to pay off a regular mortgage? I am looking at buying a house worth maximum $650k. First home buyer. Thanks so much 🙏

As you might be aware, HSBC will be closing the USD and other 9 currency accounts. I work for China company and get paid in USD, and maintain such account with HSBC. I don't convert to AUD. What are the options going forward as I utilise the income for overseas travel and the account comes with a debit card. Looking for secure options and not adverse to opening a foreign bank account online if that's an option. Ideas?

Revolut has been recommended, I have reviewed them, and the customer service seems to be a problem.

https://nomadcapitalist.com/finance/revolut-card-review-fee-free-future-international-exchanges/

Variable multi-offset account 6.42% LVR 40%

Anyone getting a better deal? Saw Macquarie is 6.29% (up this coming Friday)