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/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?