AndrewT, you know I was not referring to those with medical issues. Hope everything is well with your old man. Just seems there are many low income earners who just whinge and complain about affordability etc...but do nothing about it (or very little).
As I have mentioned many times, my parents were Vietnamese boatpeople and came here with nothing. They worked 3 factory jobs, hardly spent, don't go on holidays etc...and have since done ok now (including investing in inner city property). We know Vietnamese refugees of both spectrums, those that are similar like my parents and thus, own their own home and have numerous IP's, investments and/or doing business today. Likewise, we know those that indulged, enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, didn't work hard and now on Centrelink payments still paying off the house in suburbs like Sunshine and Maidstone.
Look, I am not trying to put down people but firstly, and honestly, you must ask yourself the question why you are on a low income and if applicable, why your parents have not succeeded or become financially more well off. The sooner you realise this, the more you will thank me. Maybe if you think about it truthfully, perhaps you did slack off at school. Perhaps you preferred to work the basic 5 days and not on weekends (so as to earn that little bit extra). Perhaps you took a sick day, but in fact, deep down you knew you could have attended work. Perhaps you shouldn't have spent that much on a car, or gone on that holiday which you seem to slot in every year. Perhaps you blow hundreds of dollars per year on cigarettes and beer. Perhaps you always got the latest gadgets. Maybe you got/have a girlfriend and boyfriend and eat out every second night.
Before anyone comments on my 'privilege', let me tell you guys that I work 7 days a week including public holidays (my normal full-time job and shift work at a cafe). I had 3 jobs during university (even overloaded and did 5 subjects per semester). I worked part-time at a property consulting firm, tutored over 20 hours per week and did shift work at the cafe. I have not gone overseas for nearly 10 years (and that was a student exchange program in high school). I bring lunch to work, walk to and fro work, eat breakfast and dinner at home, spend Friday night's at home (hence why it seems I am on SS often) and play board and card games on Saturday night with mates (so no money spent) and on most weeks, my discretionary expenses is $0.
Of course, I can spend if I wanted to. Heck, if my parents can give me a big cash handout, and own a close to $1mil house at the age of 24, then surely I can spend right? No...because I am very much brought up like my parents - save as much as you can when you are young and you will hopefully reap the rewards later on. I like to earn and invest, more than spend. It is a personal choice, so next time you guys question my supposedly 'fortunate upbringing', think about who is the one that sacrificed the most. Do you guys spend your weekends and public holidays working? Can you top $0 in discretionary expenses per week. Are you able to consistently not spend a cent on a Friday or Saturday night.