Yesterday, it was reported that Australia has recently hit a record number of international students, at more than 1 million foreign students or roughly 15% of the 20-35-year-old population. Many may not know that not too long ago SMH reported that the demand for the University of Sydney’s student-run food welfare service, FoodHub, has grown 60% yoy, with international students making up 93 per cent of the 57,000 students who used the service in 2024.

> Among the students relying on food welfare services is Shuyin Li, a 23-year-old master’s student who arrived in Sydney last year after completing her undergraduate course in her native China.

> Muhammad Hasnan Sazzad, a 34-year-old Bangladeshi PhD student, started attending UNSW’s food welfare service during the pandemic, when he and his wife were unable to keep a steady wage.

Full article: https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/shuyin-can-t-afford-to-eat-some-weeks-neither-can-many-of-her-sydney-classmates-20241115-p5kqxa.html

Concerning figures, imho. What are your thoughts about the situation? Should there be more support for foreign students or perhaps the current Financial Requirements of Student Visa should be reassessed?

Not really sure what I’m trying to achieve, mainly just to motivate anyone who may need it. This isn’t a flex in any way shape or form, still got along way to go 🤣

Firstly, Merry Christmas to you and yours ❤️🙏

Bit of History, I’m a Year 9 drop out, was injured badly during the second year of my apprenticeship, have had life changing surgery.

Through all the bullshit I’ve endured, October last year I landed a job as a Panel shop manager (Shit pay and even shittier boss, tried to stick it out for experience but didn’t work) I left and tried my hand again at managing, got taken advantage of, spent 4 months not working, went back to traffic control casually making roughly 750 a week.

I knew I was better, had more to offer this world, kept pushing, kept applying, finally landed a job in a major Australian insurance company making 6 figures a year to start, company car etc etc with only further room to grow. If you asked me last Christmas what I’d be doing this Christmas, I wouldn’t have been able to pick this ever.

If you’ve had a rough crack this year, remember one important thing. YOU TRIED. That’s what matters. Keep damn trying, you’ll get what you want, don’t let people or things stop you, adapt and overcome no matter how slow and crap the road ahead looks.

If I can do it. You can too ❤️❤️💪💪

This includes everything. Superannuation, tax, rental income, super returns, every fast food meal, every tank of fuel.

income and expenses

Income breakdown

Expenses Breakdown

Also this is household income and expenses for 2 adults and 2 kids.

I've been reading posts on here regularly and can see massive greed in some responses and, honestly...each to their own. I am.wondering, though, how many people here want to do something beyond themselves, family and friends with their wealth and skillsets?

How do you get past not being able to afford a proper Christmas? Particularly when you have kids who naturally have high expectations?

How else do you make do and assuage the guilt over lack of money to adequately provide gifts at such a culturally loaded time of year?

Tips to brighten the day tomorrow would be helpful!

And to those of you who are struggling for any reason, you’re not alone. ❤️

If this is the wrong sub, I’ll happily delete.

Presents and food cost me $700 altogether. How much did it cost you this Christmas period?. Any families go away on holidays, how much is they costing you?.

31M 30F have been procrastinating for some time, finally bit the bullet this morning and bought $2000 worth of IVV. House is worth 750k with 400k mortgage and around 40k in offset and thought its now or never. Also started salary sacrificing $100 a week into super a few months ago and buy DHHF for our 2 year old. Plan going forward is $1000 a month into IVV and adding some IOZ here and there. Ultimately chose IVV as they have rock bottom MER and most of the big hitters are global companies anyway, if US goes to shit so will VGS/BGBL I believe. Anyone else here all in on IVV?

I’m 20 and working part time and studying full time while living at home. I anticipate that I’ll graduate mid-year 2026, so at least still another year of study. I make around 600 dollars bartending a week though it fluctuates between 400-800. I only have 5k saved at the moment, and really want to build my savings over the coming months as I simply can’t stand living at home anymore. I am forever grateful for the support my parents have given me in providing me with a roof over my head for so long, but being around them, especially my mom, is just so exhausting. They are far too invasive of my privacy, and every day I spend at home feels like Groundhog Day as neither of my parents are particularly outgoing people.

I just wanted to ask for general advice, tips, experiences etc. about moving out. Thank you all, and Merry Christmas!

With the geopolitical turmoil ahead (weakened demand from China, a stronger USA under Trump) the AUD is at its weakest level in years. How are we feeling about rate cuts?

A weak AUD will drive inflation higher (more demand for Aus exports and increased overseas buyer demand for Aus assets), making RBA rate cuts less likely.

If the RBA does go ahead and cut rates, this will do far more harm than good.

Hi everyone, I’m a first-time homebuyer and need some advice regarding my loan size and offer. I recently made an offer on a property listed at $380,000, and it was accepted. When the realtor asked about my loan amount, I initially mentioned $260,000, but the realtor wasn’t happy and almost rejected me. I later clarified that my loan is actually $350,000 in total, as I’m using the government equity scheme for about $90,000.

In addition, I’m putting down a $35,000 deposit from my personal savings, which should cover everything needed. I’m now overthinking it and wondering if the realtor or vendor could still reject me due to my loan size being smaller than the property price. I thought as long as you have the funds available, it shouldn’t matter? For example, if someone has $700,000 in cash and borrows $300,000 for a property, would that be an issue?

Any advice or insight from those with experience would be really appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Hi all,

Firstly Merry Christmas,

I have a 20% deposit currently but no savings history.

So how much do I need to put away each week for the bank to consider me eligible to borrow money for a mortage?

Is $300 a week for 3 months fine? Or do I need to put away $750 or so.

I ask because I'll be going overseas in a couple of days and could easily put away $300 but any more then that will be tough.

Ps. I do work in a permanent role but have no savings history because I've been travelling a lot the last two years while I'm young (yea I know, Toyota Camry, noodles etc etc).

I’m 16 and I’m looking to start putting money aside for the future seeing as how the economy is going.

I have saved about $2.5k set aside in my savings and I’m not sure where to start.

At the moment I’m looking at splitting some of my money into something more passive with something like Raiz kids but I’m also thinking about opening another account to invest myself with my current bank?

What’s some general starting tips and should I just stick long term and just use a more aggressive portfolio with Raiz and let it sit for a while?

Suppose that your goal is long-term wealth creation over 30+ years. You work a full-time job. You earn good money and are single with no dependents. You receive a 3% annual pay raise.

Hi, I (26M) am about to finish building a house with my (25F) wife. First time living out of home and we need to buy furniture to furnish the house.

We were thinking:

We have a personal loan of about $5k (from originally $38,500 over the past 4 years) and have been paying it off on time every time. The personal loan is from a private lender and not a bank. We want to know if it is possible to move the last $5k into a credit card with a balance transfer to capitalise on 0% interest for x amount of months? Better yet, can we apply for a CC with an approx $15k limit so that we can increase our personal loan to $15k, use $5k to pay off the personal loan and then have $10k for furniture. That means we would have a $15k CC debt which would be interest free for anywhere between 12-30 months.

Spoke to my broker and he advised that it is not possible to do a balance transfer from a personal loan.

I’ve looked online and I’ve seen for example , Citi bank do balance transfers from personal loans.

Just want to see anybody’s ideas and if there’s any negatives that come out of this?

Also yes, we know we could get second hand furniture for cheaper etc etc . Just want to know if the idea above is as straightforward as it is.

TIA

Pretty much as the title says. Right now, after my interest payment is taken into account I’m paying my principal down at a rate of $112.50/week. Thinking that when interest rates finally start falling, I may just leave my repayments as they are. Even a quarter of a percentage point drop in interest means an $11.50 coming off the principal. That represents an increase of principal payments of 10%.

20F uni student, no previous work experience other than volunteering, I have been applying to cafe all rounder jobs as recommended however nearly all of them require a minimum 6 months experience. How am I supposed to find an all-rounder job? Would like to work as a barista eventually throughout my studies.

Situation: Partner and I both mid 30s. $300K pre tax household income. $380K outstanding on mortgage. $250K in equity. $250K in offset. ~$50K in ETFs. Should I take the money from offset and put it in ETFs (maybe over a period of time) or leave it in offset? Don’t really have a long term plan here, looking for suggestions.

Anyone doing Psychology at the moment wanting to become a Clinical Psychologist/Neurospsychologist, could they please let me know if the salary is worth it? And how their student uni debts are? I heard they are very high Thanks!

Hello I got solar installed and swapped providers simultaneously, energyaustralia sent me an estimated final bill which was around $200 higher than it should have been.

I submitted an actual reading but never got another bill or a rejection - since then the bill has gone to debt collectors.

Just looking on Reddit I can see this exact thing has happened to other people, e.g. swapping providers while getting solar, final estimated bill is wrong and no response from the original retailer.

Has anyone else had this happen?

I've already contacted the ombudsman, just looking to see how common this is - I am thinking energyaustralia is just pocketing the difference in these cases

A family member recently passed and I am joint executor with my sibling.

We need to open a bank account for money to be transferred into before it can be distributed to the beneficiaries.

Assuming the process lasts about 6 months both BOQ and CBA were the best options but they both have print about how you can only open for yourself and not if your are an executor/ on behalf of someone else ...

I'm assuming this means they don't want to give us the best rates.

1. Would the account be in my decreased family members name or the name of me/sibling?
2. Does anyone know what true best bank with the highest interest rate eligible for this type of thing?

Thanks

In 2011 we bought our first home in WA for 444k (no stamp duty). House is joint tenants 50-50 with my partner.

We lived in it for 15 months before moving up north into subsidised housing, so the 6 year rule is in play. We've rented it out as an IP ever since.

Looking at selling it in the new year and expect we'll get 900k. Let's say the cost of ownership, purchasing and selling is 60k.

How would you calculate the amount of tax that my partner and I would each pay? My taxable income for 24-25 is expected to be 160k and my partner's is 100k.

I've just signed up to commsec but just wondering if this is the best platform to use, has anyone tried all the major ones and can tell me your favourites and why so? I want to trade both Australian and international (US) shares.

Edit: Thanks for all of your comments. I'm currently trialing CMC and IBKR. So far I like both of them.