Not everybody who is after a house is a dole bludging drug Induced wipeout. Take living in anywhere that's not a major city. A well paying job is less than $1000 a week, usually closer to $800. Low tax rate would be $220, take 4 to $500 out for rent there's not much left for food let alone car rego, electricity and living costs. Cheap housing is a thing of another age as is a single income family. There is no way a low income couple with kids could save for a house deposit in Australia now.
In 1980, when I left home at 15, I was an apprentice on $65 a week, rent was $65 for a 2 bedroom unit, what did I do, I worked as much overtime as I could, shared the rent, and saved what I could, public transport and push bikes were my initial mode of transport.
In a year I had saved enough for a cheap car, I didn't do thinks like others were doing, I didn't drink store bought coffee, I made my lunch to take to work, I didn't gamble I didn't smoke, I rarely drunk booze, I didn't buy fancy clothes, electronic stuff or go on expensive holidays, but I still had fun in my time off, surfing, hiking, visiting friends
A few years later I was on more cash, and working OT wherever I could, and moved into a joint by myself, because from saving hard and budgeting well I had the money to pay the bond and weekly rent, and still save some dollars
I followed this same mantra for years, working hard, and saving along the way, I lived to my means, sometimes all I could save was a couple of dollars, sometimes owning a vehicle, sometimes relying on public transport, getting up at 0430 in the morning to catch public transport to start work at 0700 was hard, but it paid the bills, and it eventually added up
My parents always said "look after your pennies and your pounds will look after themselves", and never a truer words was spoken
It is up to the individual to look after themselves and slowly build wealth for the future, I worked hard, I saved as hard as I could, I up-skilled and found better paying work where I could
I did take a hit to my income about 25 years ago when I changed my career path, I went from a high paying job in construction to the defence force, but it was my choice, and it didn't take me long to move up ranks and earn more and more along the way, to the point it has accelerated my wealth more than what I would have made staying where I was, but I did study hard and work hard for it, and saved all the dollars I could
43 years later it has paid off, I retire in 1 year, and will be set for retirement owning a house, a few cars, a large slush fund, and my super, life is good
I was also careful about what people I chose to associate with in my youth, it was touch and go for a while though, I did lose my path for a bit due to me choosing the wrong people, but, after having a good hard look at myself, and where I wanted my life to go, I cut the dead wood and regained focus, all my friends have typically outlooks, all are sorted, and all will drop what they are doing if a friend is in need
My daughter, 23, has had everything she needed along the way, especially a good education, and a good work ethic installed , she started working part time as soon as she was able to at 15, and she has used all this to save and set herself up in life already, her focus and budgeting is actually better than what I tried to teach her, I credit this to her education, and learning from others mistakes, and the way she is going, she will be set up much better than I am, to say I am a proud parent would be an understatement
Strangely, some of their friends are upset that she is able to purchase property and have investments, these same friends are going out partying, drinking, going on holidays and generally pissing money away on rubbish, they say they are enjoying life, the difference is my kids are building for their future, not living in the present, and because they have strict budgets, they still get to have all the things they really need
All it takes is focusing on the important things in life and building your wealth, as well as your fitness, slowly but surely
But, during all this time working I have been paying my taxes, now they want to spend all of our tax money on people who cannot manage a budget or don't want to work by giving them more housing and dole money
Our tax money should go to infrastructure like schools, hospitals, roads and the like to improve our country, and to support the people who actually work and pay taxes
Plan for your retirement, stay fit and healthy, live to your means, not the life style you "
think" you deserve
As for single income families, it is easier than ever before to work from home, full time or part time, if the person staying at home does some training WFH is available, any money coming into the budget is better than none, and I know alot of stay at home parents now that WFH, unless of course they are unable to WFH due to acute medical issues, and not just because they are wanting to be kept sugar momma's or pappa's
TL;DR: some people don't seem to put in the time and work required to get ahead in life, and then want others that do put in the time and work to support them
