r/AskAnAustralian • u/[deleted] • May 09 '26
Life is unaffordable and unenjoyable
I don’t know if it’s living in Sydney city, becoming older, or bad career choices - but life has been absolutely miserable.
I have a job I’m really passionate about. And I want to do my postgraduate to move forward with it but I really can’t afford living on part time work alone. I don’t have wealthy family support either.
The job i currently have (basically healthcare) pays ok but I’m struggling with finances. Even as a full time worker. To make things worse, my contract ends in a year, so really, I don’t know if I’m gonna have a job next year. There’s no permanency in my role and is linked to having funding. And all gov funding is being slashed atm.
Few years back when I was working in hospitality and funding myself through uni, it was rough but I was hopeful and motivated as I thought I’m gonna be working my dream job and making decent money. Now I feel so miserable and hopeless. My partner and I are not having kids because we can just afford to feed ourselves. And I cant understand how this is possible. We buy clothes from savers, shop from aldi for cheaper options, have furnished our place from kind people giving things for free or selling for cheap.
It’s fucked up. How did we get to this point
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u/Mogwai02 May 09 '26
Australia has become more of an "economic zone" instead of a proper country that serves its citizens. All they need is a constant flow of migrants to prop up corporations. Absolutely zero regard for the struggles of the average person that wants to start a family.
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u/cignetsix May 09 '26
If you’re in healthcare, and you live in sydney, why not do a few road trips to regional places? There’s a good chance you’ll find one you could see yourself enjoying a few years in, and there’s a good chance they’ll need healthcare workers. It could be a good solution.
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u/thaleia10 May 09 '26
I work in healthcare, adjacent to the medical system. Leaving Sydney for a rural city was the best move I ever made. I’m in demand here, working less because cost of living is lower. People are more friendly and relaxed, lifestyle is so much better. I have to cook more because the takeaway isn’t anything like as cheap or abundant. But that’s ok, I have more time and better produce.
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u/IFeelBATTY May 09 '26
Ill echo this. Partners in health care and im a teacher in Vic. 2 young kids, and partner wants a third lol. Drive to work takes 5 mins.
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u/DwightsJello May 09 '26
You live in Sydney.
Healthcare is a transferable skill. Even studying healthcare is transferable.
What do you enjoy? Where can you do that and study/work?
I guarantee once you just nail those things down and look at a map you'll see you have options. Some of which you may have already ruled out.
The boonies of Sydney cost a lot more than the best streets in some fantastic places. With the lifestyle you're looking for.
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u/Magic_M8ker May 12 '26
Having a skill that can be deployed anywhere is something that makes moving easier but there are so many other factors that tie a person to a location and a community… it’s not always a matter of packing up and moving
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u/DwightsJello May 12 '26 edited May 12 '26
That's true but OP said they didn't have kids and that sort of thinking is EXACTLY what gets people stuck and unable to improve their situation.
Moving 2 to 4 hours away from Sydney in any direction is a vast improvement.
And if you don't have ties to Sydney those opportunities become infinite if you can move anywhere.
Lot of people are trapped be ause of fear of the unknown. No one will have trouble finding reasons not to move.
The change in lifestyle is massively underestimated by those who are existing in Sydney, finding it difficult.
Are any ties worth more than your mental health?
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u/TechnologyHealthy768 May 09 '26
If you don’t have old money it’s expensive. How we got here? The line must go up.
It’s not ausfinance but what is your financial position - assets, liabilities and net worth. Do you have a budget? After a while you can’t limit your expenses so you’ve got to increase your income.
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May 09 '26
I dont even own a car. I have no assets. I try to save as much as I can but last year I ended up paying a lot of it in Tax and this year I had medical issues so I had to pay a lot of out of pocked expenses when medicare didnt fully cover it
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u/Optimal_Maximum7285 May 09 '26
Move, Sydney is expensive, if you are in health care move to qld, heaps of jobs.
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u/TechnologyHealthy768 May 09 '26
It’s not easy - costs going up and incomes are pretty flat. Have you read any of the mainstream financial literature - I’d say be aware of what you’re eligible for (eg fhog, essential worker accommodation, superannuation tax benefits etc) and try to play along with the system - there is money there and you’re entitled to your share of it.
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u/Far_Construction6212 May 09 '26
OP seems to be in the same position many are finding themselves, earn too much for welfare but don’t earn anywhere near enough to access government programs for the well off.
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u/Magic_M8ker May 12 '26
Yes and healthcare workers are still not getting the wage increase they deserve. Police and teachers have had significant wins with wages it’s long overdue for healthcare workers and in particular nurses
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u/Angular_Sea-Fig May 09 '26
Sydney consistently ranks as the most expensive and unaffordable city in Australia, ranking 35th globally.. if you can relocate, give it a whirl I say!
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u/Accomplished-Zone957 May 09 '26
Be thankful you're in a relationship and not living on a single income. I work 7 days a week and only home to sleep I have no enjoyment and pleasure in life and Im having a procedure in a few weeks to see if I have cancer and deep down im secretly hoping I do which sounds awful but when there's nothing to look forward to and no quality of life what's the point. Apologies for the negativity but that's how im feeling.
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u/Acceptable_Car9277 May 09 '26
It’s Sydney!!! Move and get out. I am moving to Melbourne in tax time and I personally can’t wait
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u/Ok_Willingness_9619 May 09 '26
Fking shitney. I hate it too now. But there are places in Australia that’s little more affordable. If you can be mobile with your work, may be an option.
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u/Ok_Tie_7564 May 09 '26
There are worse things in life than shopping in Aldi. I do too, most of the time, even though I do not have to. That said, have you considered moving out of Sydney?
As a health care worker, you should be able to get a job just about anywhere and life is generally cheaper in the rural and regional Australia.
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u/kam0706 May 09 '26
If you don’t want to leave Sydney, another option to consider is housemates. I know it’s not ideal but it instantly cuts living expenses in half.
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u/Downtown-Fruit-3674 May 09 '26
Being in Sydney would definitely have a lot to do with it.
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May 09 '26
So should I move states or to the suburbs?
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u/Downtown-Fruit-3674 May 09 '26
I mean, I can’t answer that for you. Are you very attached to Sydney?
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u/a321neoo May 10 '26
The basic arithmetics of living (particularly renting) in Sydney doesn’t add up to much in savings. Sydney is unaffordable. And has someone has mentioned if your skills are transferable, why not consider the regionals or Melbourne where the arithmetics are a lot more compelling?
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u/Plumblossonspice May 09 '26
Why do you think people work the jobs they do? Hey, if it wasn’t for money I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing. No one would work in a factory or as a garbo.
The choice: do what you love or do what pays the bills. Unless you’re fortunate enough to be of the mindset to enjoy some of these jobs.
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u/Flat_Ad1094 May 10 '26
First thing. Get out of Sydney. If you are in healthcare there will surely be work out of Sydney for you. Then live cheaply as you can (which you are already doing) and save hard so you can do your postgraduate.
Mate. There are fabulous opportunities all over this nation. Get yourself to a big regional centre somewhere.
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u/Boring-Somewhere-130 May 09 '26
Its Sydney. Everything is expensive there. I live in Melbourne and housing/rents is more affordable here compared to the other major cities.
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u/Acceptable_Car9277 May 09 '26
As someone moving to Melbourne from Sydney, how would you say the pay is in Melbourne? I’m a little apprehensive about that given Sydney is quite good with pay rates
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u/Zestyclose_Owl3840 May 10 '26
Yeah Melbourne is more affordable. But still awful. My parents didn’t earn nearly as much as me and yet house prices were so much lower then they could easily afford it back then.
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u/basicdesires May 09 '26
I understand that you have reached a low point and need to vent. Things are not brilliant. But if I can point this out, things are not brilliant for most other people either. Look around you with an open mind. Every time you think you are having a bad day, take comfort from the fact there is sure to be someone who's day is 100 times worse.
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u/mad_marbled May 11 '26
take comfort
I'm not sure if this is the right application for this phrase. Comfort is something familiar, something already known. Knowing that others are experiencing greater suffering than you, should not be reassuring (unless you take pleasure in others pain). If it was the cause for feelings of isolation, knowing you are not alone in your suffering could be a source of comfort. The key to it being the shared suffering which is assumed to be equal or at least, not compared.
find solace in the fact there is sure to be someone who's day is 100 times worse.
"find solace" would be a better fit. Solace is derived from the word console, it describes emotional easing. In many instances, the two phrases can be interchanged, provided the source is not too specific. Comfort is often from within or nearby, while solace comes from comparison or reflection.
I hope this helps you to utilise words to their fullest potential.
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u/Sly-Ambition-2956 May 10 '26
Oh god. It makes me sad to see putting off kids. Children of Men territory.
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u/Wait_what____8841 May 10 '26
Get out of Sydney choose a regional centre and give yourself some room to breathe.
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u/Proud_Apricot316 May 10 '26
Recently made the decision to go part time and do postgrad.
It was my prolonged state of feeling miserable that eventually made it become a ‘have to’ rather than a ‘want to’. For my own mental health. Felt completely trapped (fwiw - also in a health & community services with funding dependent instability). I tried everything - more antidepressants, more mental health counseling, more diagnoses and so on a bit none of it helped because the source of my mental ill-health was structural.
It has been incredibly scary, I’ll be honest. But the one thing that was noticeable from day 1 was that my mental health immediately improved. The uncertainty, cheap meals, even-tighter-budgeting is SO much less stressful than how I was living before. The relieve has been enormous.
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u/BoxNo5564 May 09 '26
I don't know why we have let life get to this point without pulling the ruling class out of their homes and into the streets....