LifeTips for Getting Ahead in Australia

ggkfc on 01/05/2017 - 15:02
Last edited 02/05/2017 - 11:01

What's your tips for getting ahead in life, besides scrouging Ozbargain for sweet deals? Personally, I think negative gearing is one.

Some offered below:

mokr: "surround your self with successful people, its mostly about contacts"

railspider: "get a good job that pays good money"

Archi: good general points but seems like people think good guys finish last

mini2: being frugal, delay kids, make use of family to help childcare

Seraphin7: "Study, work hard, demonstrate value to your employer/customers, spend less than you earn, repeat"

Education & Work

Comments

  • eurodave on 02/05/2017 - 15:36
    +3

    Unfortunately, it's already too late to get ahead.
    If you are ahead - congratulations - you will probably continue to get richer.

    Between ludicrous property prices and our government's determination to crush the dreams of the youth and new migrants through skyrocketing university fees and increasingly restrictive immigration policies I begin to lose hope…
    (btw I am neither that young or an immigrant)

    On the other hand, money isn't everything and we have had an unseasonably warm autumn so maybe we are already ahead!

    • retiredfeline on 02/05/2017 - 15:37
      +2

      Wait till you see next summer's airconditioning bill.

  • desmondnnk on 02/05/2017 - 16:00

    marry a rich person..(obviously a joke)

    let go of the regrets in the past, and try doing more of what makes you happy (within reasons), that's what life is about (loosely speaking).
    be willing to try new things and be ready to adapt.

    • John Kimble on 02/05/2017 - 22:38
      +1

      Marry a rich person is not a joke. People do it all the time.

      • mini2 on 03/05/2017 - 10:48
        +1

        Marrying a rich person is one thing, trying to maintain that relationship is quite another and what if the person has appropriate asset protection strategies in place? You get jack at the end.

        • John Kimble on 03/05/2017 - 11:10

          But you've lived the high life into the meantime.

        • mini2 on 03/05/2017 - 11:16

          @John Kimble:

          Can't discount the fact that some people are rich but frugal. Then they won't be living it up in the mean time…

        • John Kimble on 03/05/2017 - 11:20

          @mini2: Yeah of course and if anyone married just for money these days you would think it wouldn't last long but I'm sure there are a few cases that do. Eg arranged marriages could have a element of it.

          https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypergamy

  • 50centscheaper on 02/05/2017 - 16:20
    +2

    Focus on earning rather than saving

    I would rather to spend 60 minutes to make $20 instead of spending 60 minutes to save $10.

    • John Kimble on 02/05/2017 - 16:26
      +1

      That's not the point this website though!

      • retiredfeline on 02/05/2017 - 16:45
        +3

        My wallet testifies that this website is not about saving either. :)

  • jenkemjunkie on 02/05/2017 - 16:28
    +4

    Learn how to pack a cone and rip a bong!!

    • Ayedeevee on 02/05/2017 - 17:04
      +2

      Truer words have never been tokin'.

    • dogboy on 02/05/2017 - 20:55

      I think learning how to roll a doobie is where the real skill lies

      • jenkemjunkie on 02/05/2017 - 21:51
        -1

        …Fark the zags coz they burn too fast…I need a swisher or a phillie just to make my sticky last!

  • sleet on 02/05/2017 - 17:03
    +9

    How about just doing what makes you happy? I've worked with many people who own business and rake in the cash and they're not entirely happy.

    Find out what success if for you, what makes you happy and work towards it. If there's a hobby or a sport you've been wanting to try out, join a club or hire a coach. Make connections with people, have patience and befriend new people or rekindle old friendships.

    Getting ahead in life is about making the most of it. If you looked back when you are 70 years old, what would you admire most and regret most?

    • superm86 on 02/05/2017 - 21:35
      +1

      This.
      Was searching for similar answer.
      Very Important - as people do earn money but money <> happiness; it might help but certainly money is not the answer.

  • PcisT on 02/05/2017 - 17:14
    +3

    Don't waste time on OzBargain saving dollars and cents. Your time could be better utilised (e.g. learning a new skill).

  • Illian on 02/05/2017 - 17:24

    I'm assuming you're talking financially/career wise, in that case it doesn't matter what anybody else has said. It's all about and will always be 80% about one thing: Luck.

    Getting ahead in your personal life though? Don't give in to peer pressure, and make the effort to actually find out who you are early, most people don't even try until they have an 'oh shit' moment in their late 20's or even later.

    • watwatwat on 03/05/2017 - 16:36
      +1

      80% luck? Pfffffffffffffft.

      You think a person born in to a family with 17 year old ghetto mother will most likely not do much in life? And 80% "luck" that the daughter of a doctor will also be a doctor?

      If you want it enough, you can get it. It's definitely not luck that people get rich. Some people start to learn about how to invest and some don't.

      • jenkemjunkie on 03/05/2017 - 22:46

        I've found mr. Bootstraps everyone!

      • Illian on 05/05/2017 - 22:47

        Does it feel nice to be as ignorant as you are? They say it's bliss you know!

  • So Was Red on 02/05/2017 - 17:50
    +2

    Realise how valuable your time is. Time spent before being happy or successful etc comes out of the time available on the other side of that hurdle.
    So shut up, get off the internet and do it. I wish it was as easy as typing it. :/ Good luck and thanks for reading.

  • gdaymate on 02/05/2017 - 18:01
    +22

    Get a job at Westpac as an analyst and invest in an $80k car. It's a high yield investment.

  • captobvious on 02/05/2017 - 18:27
    +3

    Be a woman in public service.

    • dogboy on 02/05/2017 - 20:56
      +3

      Also helps if you are overweight and have a chip on your shoulder. Public service is full of them.

      • gimli on 02/05/2017 - 22:32
        +4

        i had a chip on my shoulder.
        but then i got hungry
        qq

      • plentifoo on 03/05/2017 - 15:53
        +1

        Lol surprisingly true. I was in a committee recently put together to improve internal opportunities for employees. The brainstorming session became just this one lady complaining about how unfair part timers are treated and how lacking the confidence to interview for roles are a big hindrance to their progression. Talk about self-entitlement, I'm sure her being overweight was completely unrelated… Right?

    • HangryCakeStore on 02/05/2017 - 22:58
      +1

      Also be black. But not asian, everyone likes to bash the asian. figuratively & literally, no joke :]

      • greatlamp on 03/05/2017 - 17:21

        I don't think we are there yet. Let's hope we never get to the state sponsored racism they play in the USA

  • outlander on 02/05/2017 - 18:50

    Take big risks when you have nothing to lose

    • gimli on 02/05/2017 - 22:33
      +7

      then it won't be a risk if youhave nothing to lose

      • dmac on 03/05/2017 - 22:34

        I'm guessing this is more about responsibilities. If you are young and living at home with parents, you can risk all your money a lot easier than if you have children and a wife that depend on your income.

  • urzu on 02/05/2017 - 19:17

    Live within your means: don't let your lifestyle force you to live paycheck to paycheck and don't borrow money for things other than education or a house.

  • titanus on 02/05/2017 - 22:07

    Avoid getting bitten by spiders, snakes, sharks, crocs and dropbears.

  • gimli on 02/05/2017 - 22:31

    Buy shares in XYZ

  • asrey1975 on 02/05/2017 - 23:37

    Trading your time (hours worked) for a fixed wage, even if its $100+ per hour is a dead end path.

    Start your own business that your your passionate about. If you fail, thats fine, everyone makes mistakes. Learn from it and start again, better to do this when your in your 20's then 40-50+…

    You dont need a fancy degree for this, but sure, it could help depending on what business you want to run.

    If you are still working for a boss when youre 40+ you will probably come back to revisit this thought :)

    +1 for the comment "surround yourself with people who think like you and are supportive", do this with the above (start your business) and you will get ahead for sure!

    • RocketSwitch on 03/05/2017 - 11:36
      +2

      You're right for most of it, but if I had a fixed wage with $100+ per hour and not living above my means, you can save a hell of a lot of money and retire by the time you're 40-50 easy.

    • tsunamisurfer on 03/05/2017 - 13:59
      +2

      $100 / hour x 40 hour week x 50 working weeks a year = $200k pre-tax.

      Thats 2.5 times the average wage and puts you in the top 2 percentile of earners.

      This may be I have a less entrepreneurial instinct but for $200k I can switch off when I go home.

      A small business owner can never switch off fully.

  • smit0847 on 03/05/2017 - 02:15
    +3

    Everyone is good at something. Try and work out as early as possible what you are good at, try and work out how to make money from it, and then become as good as you possibly can at it. Hopefully it is also something you enjoy/don't hate.
    No-one is good at everything so become the best at something.

    When looking for work the job description is the ideal candidate. That candidate may not exist or may not want the job that is advertised (because of the people, conditions, employer, pay etc). Therefore, the employer is looking for the best candidate, not the ideal one.

    You don't have to be perfect at your job in a corporate environment, you just have to ensure the right people think you are.

    Many businesses are very poorly run and fundamentally broken but still manage to make money.

    With change comes opportunity.

  • digitalbargain on 03/05/2017 - 06:47
    +3

    Be born in the right year

  • DiscoJango on 03/05/2017 - 09:14
    +7

    You are expendable and just a number to your employer, so dont feel like you owe them anything. If a new job offer comes up, that pays more, take it. Dont decline it because your current boss might get upset. Ive seen so many people just cruise along in their careers and ultimitly get nowhere, because they think that if they put thier head down and work hard, their boss will magically promote them or give them a pay rise. The people tat get ahead, and get that pay rise, are ruthless and work for hard for it.

    • Powershopz on 03/05/2017 - 10:21

      Yep. Never think you are irreplaceable. You are.

      Sadly hard work doesn't account for much in most industries these days. It's all about who you know so work on your network connections. Learn how to chat to strangers and get your face out there.

  • Powershopz on 03/05/2017 - 10:07
    +5

    Be a white male

    • rgr on 03/05/2017 - 10:11

      LOL

      • [Deactivated] on 03/05/2017 - 12:50
        +1

        pretty sure like >50% of the management positions are like that already

        • Powershopz on 03/05/2017 - 16:40

          It's far worse than that depending on the industry you're in and what company you work for.

          My 'Executive Team' - COO/VP or above for my company is 30 men, 2 females.

          My wife works for a government entity and part of her job is establishing government panels, committees and boards. One of her KPOs was that the boards are at least 30% female. They would take a satisfactory female candidate for a position over an above-satisfactory male candidate purely just to make sure the male to female target ratio was achieved.

        • greatlamp on 03/05/2017 - 20:53
          +2

          @Powershopz: what a great way to break stereotypes and promote gender equality.

          When a man looks at his female coworker he will assume 1. she is not as qualified as me, She only got the job because they had to meet the ratio, and 2. She will probably get promoted before I do so I won't help her out too much.

    • [Deactivated] on 04/05/2017 - 08:17

      Be a dropbear

  • Shame on 03/05/2017 - 10:44
    +3

    1) Marry an old federal public servant that was enrolled in the Defined Benefit superannuation scheme (started in the PS before 2005).
    2) Wait for them to pass on (god forbid) and then you are entitled to their pension until you die.
    3) Goto step 1 and repeat.

    A 30 year old should be able to get 4 pensions by the time they are 70 by my reckoning.

    • mini2 on 03/05/2017 - 10:52

      You really need someone who's still in the APS otherwise their CSS/PSS wouldn't be that lucrative. Someone I know who's been in the CSS for 25 years, acted in an EL2 position for 2 years even and only getting 50k a year when he walks out in 2 weeks time. Then again he's only in his mid 40's right now. Someone else I know who's only contributed to the PSS for about 17 years and only ever reached APS 6 is getting a substantially less amount if they get a voluntary redundancy.

      • Shame on 03/05/2017 - 10:57
        +1

        "Only $50k"???

        I'd love a $50k, inflation adjusted, annuity that I'm going to collect for the next 35 years or so (and then my new wife will collect for another 70 years).

        • mini2 on 03/05/2017 - 10:59

          He won't be drowned in cash that's for sure but comfortable. Well not until his mortgages disappear anyway.

        • greatlamp on 03/05/2017 - 20:55

          @mini2: you could literally cruise around the world year round for the rest of your life.

    • brokeunistudent on 03/05/2017 - 23:03

      Username checks out

  • centrelink on 03/05/2017 - 11:47
    +4

    Dont work hard because anyone can do that.. just work smart

  • JH100 on 03/05/2017 - 12:24
    +1

    Learn to relax …

  • [Deactivated] on 03/05/2017 - 12:49

    buy 33 investment properties, gg ez
    https://www.businessinsider.com.au/australias-federal-politi…

  • JetLi on 03/05/2017 - 13:40
    +1

    work hard and be good to your mother.

  • Zondor on 03/05/2017 - 13:59
    +3

    Be 21yo and buy an $80,000 car because you've reached a new stage in your life and you think you deserve it.

    It is a high yield investment in terms of opportunity.

  • OzTightArse on 03/05/2017 - 14:12
    +2

    Earn Australian salary, spend like you're in 3rd world. Put all extra money into 'good' debt (ie. mortgage)

    • cut your own hair
    • bring lunch to work
    • don't 'finance' new cars. stop trying to impress others
    • no designer shirts, bags, shoes etc. just go to op-shop
    • don't buy furniture, just wait for hard rubbish collection
    • don't go overseas for holidays
    • don't participate in dubious tax 'saving' tricks like negative gearing. keep own money

    did all of these and more, and was easily debt free in 10yrs. Now trying to get ahead even more doing the same thing + OZb

    • watwatwat on 03/05/2017 - 16:39
      +1

      Lol I agree with a less serve version of your points.

      cut your own hair - get cheap $8 or $10 haircut
      bring lunch to work - buy cheap lunch from coles
      no designer shirts, bags, shoes etc. just go to op-shop - buy nice clothes on sale.
      don't buy furniture, just wait for hard rubbish collection - buy discounted furniture or second hand
      don't go overseas for holidays - go for cheap overseas holidays. asia ftw

      • Zondor on 03/05/2017 - 17:07

        I've found getting shirts from ed harry and such (Especially dress shirts) often last longer and look better.

      • jellykingdom on 04/05/2017 - 15:15
        +6

        ^^^^ I agree with this more, it makes no sense to live like a pauper. Don't WASTE your money but far out. You need to enjoy your life and spend a bit

        I bet this guy is popular with his mates when its time for the next round of drinks……. "don't drink that craft beer, I brewed my own beer in this garbage bag that I carried with me on the bus"

        • jenkemjunkie on 04/05/2017 - 21:00

          Scout the bar for glasses with dregs still in the bottom and combines them to form one big schooner of dregs!!!

      • jellykingdom on 05/05/2017 - 10:18

        Don't buy furniture, just loot construction sites for old bricks and scaffolding planks

        Don't cut your hair, just dunk your head in a vat of acid and you'll never have to worry about having hair again

        Don't buy cars, just steal bicycles from the front of the library

        Don't go on a skiing holiday, just put swimming goggles on and stick your head in the freezer

        I'm reminded of the Simpson's where one of the bullies is wearing an old electrical cord as a belt

    • chumlee on 03/05/2017 - 17:07

      Spend like you're in 3rd world or live like you're in 3rd world?

      Overseas holidays introduce you to different cultures, foods, architecture etc. They can be a learning experience not a luxury experience

      • brokeunistudent on 03/05/2017 - 23:04
        -1

        They can be a learning experience not a luxury experience

        Yeah learning how to hide from the credit card debts

        • Zondor on 04/05/2017 - 16:42

          Or just learn how to save and control your spending, Holidays overseas aren't that expensive.

  • t_c on 03/05/2017 - 16:16
    +3

    Buy a return ticket to columbia. That should get your foot in the property door and set you up for 30 years of mortgage repayments. Totally worth it!

    • AMLagonda on 03/05/2017 - 16:51
      +1

      Only need a one way ticket to Columbia -_-

  • scepticpsych on 03/05/2017 - 18:21
    +9

    Bring 18 boxes of 'headphones' from Columbia to Australia

    • ggkfc on 03/05/2017 - 19:40
      +3

      but you have to be photogenic and blonde so you can get suckers to fund your legal bill!

    • xoom on 03/05/2017 - 23:08
      +1

      This one ruined it for me. Was going to do a trip to colombia and come back with a suitcase full of headphones. This would set me up for life. She ruined my retirement plans.

    • lolmao on 05/05/2017 - 14:27

      maybe she was going to sell them on eBay when she got back

  • kywst on 03/05/2017 - 19:20
    +1

    The second noble truth; eliminate unnecessary desire.

  • whoopdeedoo on 03/05/2017 - 21:11

    plan for the future
    live within your means

  • johnyBgood on 03/05/2017 - 21:57

    Read Rich Dad Poor Dad and apply what you learn.

      • echelon6 on 04/05/2017 - 13:52

        Although I tend to agree Kiyosaki is a bit of a shyster, bankruptcy should be seen as a financial tool, just like any other tool available to one managing their financial affairs. On its own, it's not conclusive that someone is doing poorly financially. As your link mentions, it wasnt a personal bankruptcy. But even personal bankruptcies are a financial planning tool, just a rather extreme one.

    • jenkemjunkie on 04/05/2017 - 21:03

      Biggest load of shit that book…uses the same formula self help gurus incorporate to make the reader feel good and totally get it.

      'Seriously just buy houses and sell them for higher and keep doing it, it's so easy. Just buy shares, wait till they double then just sell half and buy more shares.'

      Such wisdom in that fairytale, I mean book

  • Alpacino299 on 03/05/2017 - 22:18
    +1
    1. Join young libs
    2. Profit from being born into wealth
    3. Become a politician
    4. Ensure you remain wealthy by increasing inequality
  • mousie on 04/05/2017 - 00:08
    +3

    Don't seek life advice for free from a bargain site.

  • justcallmeboss on 04/05/2017 - 00:48

    Cease the means of production

    • altomic on 05/05/2017 - 21:22

      Seize the means of production

      • justcallmeboss on 05/05/2017 - 21:22
        +1

        jesus christ I am an idiot

        • altomic on 05/05/2017 - 21:27

          C's the means of production

    • Scrooge McDuck on 08/05/2017 - 11:54

      Cease the means of production

      Freudian slip?

  • bozbargain on 04/05/2017 - 03:46
    +2

    I'll summarise the advice given here for you, just to make it clear:

    Buy an investment property - don't buy an investment property
    Don't have kids - have kids late - have kids early
    Use a credit card - don't get a credit card
    Work hard - don't work too hard

    • mini2 on 04/05/2017 - 07:50

      There's no hard and fast rule as everyone's different. Things that seems to be consistent are luck, hard work, be at the right place at the right time and be ready to pound on a situation when it appears.

      • bozbargain on 04/05/2017 - 09:04

        3 things out of your 4 examples are purely (based on) luck. :-)

  • [Deactivated] on 04/05/2017 - 05:42
    +1

    Become deeply involved with the Liberal or Labor Party of Australia (Your fortunes will change approximately every 8 years) or both if you can

  • BargainCowboy on 04/05/2017 - 07:24

    Be passive-aggressive, wealthy and white.

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