With rent being about $500+ per week and someone needs to look after the kids.
How Can Single Parents Afford to Live in a Place Like Sydney?
LadyCocoa1234 on 28/07/2019 - 22:44
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@HighAndDry: The AEC says different. That's why I included a link.
My employer has assets all over the state and calls the area I described "The Sydney Metropolitan Area" but whatever, you call it what you want.
A $525,000 property isn't $400k. Show me all these $400k 2 bedroom properties.
Where does this 20% deposit come from? Plus stamp duty, solicitors fees, etc. And then where does the money come from for ongoing costs after purchase? They've spent their $500 on the loan.
Where does this 20% deposit come from? Plus stamp duty, solicitors fees, etc. And then where does the money come from for ongoing costs after purchase? They've spent their $500 on the loan.
Reduce repayments to $1,700 / month and they're still borrowing $360k range, meaning a property in the $450k price range. That's still do-able for a townhouse, not to mention there are also hundreds of 2-bedroom units for that price. That gives them $300/month to save up transaction costs.
As to where they get the 20% deposit? By saving up and not spending $500/wk on rent.
@brad1-8tsi: shrugs
The point is - No one needs a $500/wk property, not even if you have kids, and if you are spending $500/wk on housing, then if you're financially responsible you can buy a property with the same amount of expenditure.
I'm sure no-one NEEDS to live in the metro area. Go a little further out, buy a car along the way. At least in the end of it you'll have a house and a car. Unlike renting for such a high price, where the landlord will have a house paid for and probably a nice car to go along with it and less stress.
Don't have kids you can't afford….. shock
Maybe they could afford them when they had them?
Post-natal abortions………………..?
That's a new way to say murder.
Retrospective abortion. My father has threatened many times rofl…
As someone who currently lives below the poverty line (I can't stand working full-time so I only work part-time), and does so relatively comfortably, sounds quite do-able to me if working full-time, money wise. Time wise and stress wise, well, that's another story!
What's your secret? We want specifics. :)
Uses the BBQ in the local park a lot.
can't stand working full-time so I only work part-time
Huh?
Some ppl choose to take a cut in their income/lifestyle (by intentionally working less hours) to have more 'free' time to do other things with their life… besides working.
Yeah working isn't everything. Its a lie you have been told by everyone else. Sure it gets you 'things' but those things are generally not important either (except for food, shelter, etc)
Working isn't everything but the ones who are earning "just enough" and/or not accumulating savings don't always factor in large unexpected expenses, long periods of unemployment, and retirement. Even the ones who do seem to underestimate inflation and cost of survival in future.
It's all good having life balance until it swings to one extreme and the taxpayers end up compensating.but those things are generally not important either (except for food, shelter, etc)
The point though, is that you need to account for these important things when you're older and have no income earning capacity anymore. And given we're not getting any healthier, just living longer, that could mean upwards of 20-30 years at this point - retire at 65, live to 95.
even james packer (single dad) has moved out of sydney
Well if Barnaby Joyce is struggling on $211,000/year, I can only imagine what you are experiencing :(
The Beetrooter. What a wonderful example of heterosexual marriage that man is. Don't get me started on the BS he came out with when opposing Single Sex Marriage.
What is wrong with the Nuclear Fission Family? If god only wanted children to have one mommy, then he obviously would not have made men sexually attracted to more than one woman. /s
you pay for where you choose to live. If you want to walk to the beach then expect to pay for that lifestyle. If you have a limited budget, then you will have to expand you search criteria and live further away from the beach or the city or your family. Yes, rent is expensive, but that's because people pay it.
It's like saying car prices are unfair because I can't get a Tesla and can only afford a Corolla.
Depends on the CSA calculation..The self-supporting amount is around 21,700 net after tax.
Which pretty much means you need to share.
$500 a week in rent is silly.
Adjust your expectations, repartner and flick the reboot switch.Get a better job - if you're earning less than 1,000 per week as a single parent, you're not fortunately able to have a quality of life in Sydney. Life can be shit!
Sydney's PROPERTY market is to blame as the net costs of services/food/taxes/etc are the same between Sydney (NSW) and the lesser expensive states mentioned here.
The property Martket here has exploded over the past 6 years, just think of any property and add 50%-75% hyper-inflation.
e.g a 3-bedder apartment originally worth $400K is now worth $600K+, without reason except for demand.
Valid scenarios for apartments/houses exponentially rising like this :
- A new school or train line established
- A major shopping centre established within the viscinity
- A gold-mine reported underneath the site
- They're going to film the 2020 Mortal Kombat in that suburb..
Unfortunately for Sydney, it's none of the above, just an influx of people and foreign investors
Winners: (dodgy) Developers, Councils and Government welcomed all this. Incompetent, arm-chair developers with ~2 years experience in the industry were able to build 8-storey+ apartments and sell even before a hole was dug, and at a mass profit.
Why? because people didn't even want to inspect anymore, they were rushing at buy buy buy buy!
Councils made a fortune on Fees
Government made a fortune on stamp duty collection to fund idiotic MPs junkets and business class travels to useless events.Going back to your story, rent is increased because people have unattainable loans and expenses - the avg Joe (like yourself) complains about the cost of living (which I agree with)
It was only worth the $400k due to demand too
To add some background, the OP has previously made a post about spending $5000 during boxing day sales while only working casually. "My biggest purchases were an iPhone X and a Macbook". Maybe it's time for a garage sale.
Well, child support payments pobably got cut since that last post! lol
Yup. Probably plenty of people here who don't have an iPhone X or a Macbook and who don't complain about costs of living.
Haha.. I actually know someone who bought a MacBook Pro for 3.5k after they were made redundant, had existing debt and lower than normal reemployment prospects. Why? Because they "deserved enjoying a MacBook during the downtime" and "Mac should last longer so really it's the same as buying a cheaper Windows laptop".
"Mac should last longer so really it's the same as buying a cheaper Windows laptop"
I'd laugh, except I know, from being on this site, I've used the rationale of "Eh, I'll probably need this some-time, and then it'll be more expensive so I'm saving money by buying it now even though I don't need it," to justify buying stuff from here.
But I also don't complain about being broke either so I guess I have that going for me?
Sadly very common. People splurge using redundancy and payouts buying things they don't need or they pay off cars etc they had loans on. Understandable why they do it but doing so usually affects them once money is gone and they haven't found work yet.
Hahahahahahahah……..hahahahaha
Sorry, this reminds me of my sister. Whinges they have no money or needs my Mum to babysit more so she can do more hours at work cos they need more money. Then goes and buys a new car, goes on a lavish holiday, etc. etc.
That explains why she's looking at 500+ rental
hahaha, wow, some people just SUCK with money!
I spent $750 odd on my Samsung 10e and I thought that was expensive!
I've say move but Melbourne isnt much better…..
You would have to pay me 500 a week to live in Tassie, NT or Adelaide
Perth or QLD are nice
But if that isnt an option then honestly the only other option you have is to move further out until you can hit something you can afford
To answer you original question how do single parents live in Sydney they have a lot of money
Had a friend studying Medicine over in Sydney Uni and he really struggled whilst he was studying was paying north of 350 a week for a 1 bedroom place like 30-40km from the cbd
No idea why people would neg you. Can't have opinions anymore can we, lest we offend someone.
They are probably from Adelaide nothing else to do there…
Look, I don't know how people do it and I certainly would never attempt. Having said that, the costs of raising children are frequently exaggerated. I don't mean to say it's NOT expensive, because it absolutely is. However, once kids are introduced people always factor in luxuries as "essentials."
For example:
A house with a yard vs a modest apartment.
An SUV vs an economy car.
Single-use plastic nappies vs cloth.
Private schooling and tutoring vs public school and parental tutoring.
Child entertainment programs vs taking them to a free public park/library/etc.I can empathise with parents being unable to make ends meet. But don't expect me to empathise that what you really mean is "I couldn't afford to do it the luxury route." Just because you have a child doesn't mean you need to go out and get an SUV.
Whilst this post was centered around rent, you really have to look at an entire lifestyle. Rent is only one part of the picture.
Yes/No
I agree 'luxury' items are increasing for kids i mean how many kids have ipads, mobiles, new video games etc
but a lot of the things you mentioned are kind of essential
- You dont need a big yard but apartment living isnt the best for raising kids - sure it is do able but if you think of your own childhood how were us raised? if you had a yard etc then you might want the same for your kids
- Nappies shouldn't ever be reusable - even in aged care centers/hospitals they use disposable nappies for elderly due to hygiene
- I agree with the car but SUV arent really that expensive anymore just depends on what you get
- Private schooling - i give you this one but it also depends on what area some public schools are great and in some areas they arent so
- Entertainment of course this can always been based on what you can afford
The big thing with kids isn't the expense but it is the LACK of income - in most families you go from 2 working full time to 1 working full-time which makes it difficult i kind of agree maternity leave should be 52 weeks at least a min wage and things like family benefit etc aren't really enough to cover the loss of income. The government doesn't do enough to help families if you ask me
You know you wash cloth nappies before you reuse them, right? you don't just let them dry out then throw them back on…
of course - happy to be wrong i dont have kids so im just talking from a outside perspective
What you basically just said was you're one of the people who also labels luxuries as essentials. For example, when you state "don't need" and substitute "might want."
Yes, raising a child is expensive. But it's hard to reason with parents who insist that it HAS to be even MORE expensive than it actually is.
I guess i dont have kids so maybe im wrong i've never tried washable nappies
but i have worked in hospitals and aged care and trust when i say this if they can save a dollar in aged they would but they still use disposable nappies
So it is probably easy to talk (without experience) but perhaps it is a essential some might see as a luxury….
@Trying2SaveABuck: It’s a bit different in hospitals because they outsource linen services and have to manage a whole logistics chain with potentially biohazardous material. It doesn’t really apply to a parent and a child.
@Trying2SaveABuck: No, if some people can raise kids without it, it's by definition not an essential. Words have meanings. For example:
You dont need a big yard but apartment living isnt the best for raising kids
The first three words of that was: "You don't need". That should've given you a hint.
@HighAndDry: This i dont agree with you
By your definition you dont need Internet, a phone, a car etc because it isnt essential to survive.
You also dont need to have children…
If you take things too literal you dont even need nappies …
You dont have to throw a birthday party or buy xmas presents etc but these things are the norm in society you dont have to conform to social pressure but some would argue they are essentials..
But yes you can raise kids in an apartment but id argue this is financially a poor decision due to poor capital growth in the long run it will cost you more…also id argue you want to give you children an upbringing similar to your own if not better and if you where brought up without a yard then thats fair enough but some/most ppl where brought up with a backyard thus it is an essential to myself
You also dont need to have children…
Astute observation. I can understand people who already have kids finding their circumstances changed to the point where they now have trouble financially supporting them. But if you know you can't afford kids and have them anyway - you give up any entitlement to complain about not being able to afford them.
also id argue you want to give you children an upbringing similar to your own if not better
Go get a better job then, instead of complaining about it. Note it's "YOU want to give…", not "You want society to give…".
In any case, go invest in a dictionary, because by your own words you said:
You dont need a big yard
@HighAndDry: Fair enough if you cant understand the discussion is more about 'opinions' not absoults that is up to you
I accept your point but it isnt really what the discussion was about.
Id like to point im not complaining about anything…just saying many things that arent needed to survive would be essential in the modern day ie Internet.
You had me until "Single-use plastic nappies vs cloth" I would rather go without food than use cloth nappies hahaha
Aldi or similar nappies are probably cheaper than washing cloth ones anyway.
daycare & work
Why would anyone with kids, want to live in Sydney.
There are much nicer places in our beautiful country to raise a family.Yeah. Sydney is a city set up for single people. You get punished in so many ways by having a relationship or kids. If you want to do it then go somewhere where it's worth it. Raising a kid in Sydney, especially living close to the CBD while you work full-time and struggle to make ends meet, is just unfair to that child.
OP, I pay almost $500 a week on the Sunshine Coast, and that's average. People cope here by depending on unpaid childcare or living in a Housing Commission house if they're eligible or sharing a house. This is why retail spending is down.
Depends what the single parent does..
I know a few that earn more than my 2 income family
Pimpin' ain't easy
Pimpin' ain't easy
^Username checks out!
Come to Perth, $230 a week in Vic Park and St James area, 2 by 1 flat with access gate.
Because these young generation want to live in bondi or coggee near the coast. Lower your standards and choose to live somewhere like Liverpool/blacktown/Campbelltown: You can get a 2 bdr apartment for $300/week.
It depends where in Sydney you want to rent
Penrith for instance has decent 3 Bedroom Houses for $420 a week.
https://www.domain.com.au/23-andromeda-drive-cranebrook-nsw-…
So LadyCoco, after seeing a post about your expenditure of $5000 on 2 items which I'm sure you didn't need at all, but just wanted to 'spoil' yourself. I really think you need to re-adjust your mindset and think twice (even three times) before you make any purchases or rash decisions.
Having kids, you always need to consider how your choices will affect them first.
Eg. I want a new car, I want to live in the city, I want to go out with my mates every weekend and party…..but you know what. All those decisions will affect my kids, and those things can wait. It is OK to be a little 'selfish' at times, but not to the point where you will struggle to put food on the table or pay rent/mortgage.
There are many things you can do to save money, plenty of Forum posts about how people save money etc. on here. You may not like some of the ideas, but unless you want to be in debt your whole life. Sometimes you just need to forego some luxury or simply understand where you're at financially and bite the bullet and say NO to yourself.
I don't mean to sound like a broken record, but if you ever want/need advice on anything in regards finances, parenting or even relationships, I think I have had some good (and bad experiences) that might be able to help :)
Up voted, I wish I have a friend like you haha. Your advice fits perfectly for me.
Happy to give any advice you might be looking for too mate, I'm just a PM away :)
$500 for rent? are you renting a 3 bedroom townhouse/house?
Move somewhere affordable, it's only normal to adapt to a new way of living if you're struggling. From posts above, you seem to have quite the luxurious lifestyle
The point is Sydney isn't affordable, $500 is not much for rent in a lot of Sydney, I was paying a lot more than that and never lived in a house or anything "luxurious" either.
$500p/w wont get you a house unless you're way out on the edges like Penrith, Blacktown etc. You have no idea about Sydney clearly.
While its easy to say move somewhere affordable there are many factors that come in to such a decision, not just the money.
Work, commute times, family or other support locally that plenty of single parents rely on don't just appear if you move suburbs or cities away.
Lots of unknowns from a very simple question of "How Can Single Parents Afford to Live in a Place Like Sydney?"Yeah cause the OP CLEARLY asked about the unknowns on "How Can Single Parents Afford to Live in a Place Like Sydney"
I've lived in Sydney all my life, changing and adapting to your requirements is common sense and it's not about KNOWING Sydney. Derp
A small place on the Central Coast and Newcastle goes for 400+ and that's just a 2 bedder, Cessnock more bang for buck. Rents are insane
Not renting in a 500+ area
If you're poor, you move to a poor area.
I think it has been covered enough already but living within your means which is easy to say on the outside looking in with next to no info.
Also have a look at books like the barefoot investor on way to spend and save your income.As others have mentioned, there are thousands of social housing (public) estates funded by NSW FACS (and many more on the waiting list). A social housing tenant can have up to 80% of their market rent subsidised.
They…. don't.
Single parents probably cant afford it. In the old days they might be living at home; maybe in their parents granny flat or in a caravan in the back yard.
Certainly I think there is space for non-mainstream co-habitation models; but I'm not sure that councils are on board.Sydney and Melbourne are second tier global cities and may eventually become first tier cities. There are no global cities for thousands of kms in either direction. This makes it very difficult and competitive to live there. The possibly horrible reality is that many people need to make huge sacrifices to live in global cities. The huge sacrifices will be time with family or sacrifices to their career . It is hard to have both in a global city. Single parents or low income families may get more balance moving to a medium sized town.
How can single parents afford it? Either via crime, by living with parents, or getting a government apartment (they don't seem to offer houses anymore).
We need something like Section 8 in America. Poor people apply, they wait, and when their waiting time is done they government pays about 90% of your housing and utility bills. You get booted off it if you start accumulating wealth. It's a better deal than public housing in Australia, where you cannot choose where you will end up living, often have criminals and/or substance abusers for neighbours, and have to give the government 25% of your income.
Government housing is better than no housing, but "Section 8" blows it out of the water. Housing comission concentrates poverty, Section 8 disperses it.
Concentrate/disperse the wealth you mean? Because dispersing 'poverty' doesn't really make sense as you can't disperse nothing…
I am not sure USA has the best models for dealing with poverty.
Sydney is packed with well paying jobs, and lovely urban sprawl up to 60km from the CBD that allows cheaper dwellings. People for some reason assume everyone's living in $600/week apartments in the inner west or eastern suburbs. Some do, but only the well paid couples (mostly).
Probably lots of childfree couples as well.
When I finished school, I lived almost outside metropolitan area. I commute 70kms one way to work everyday and I survived with families. Rent about $1,500 per month. Lucky to be in Australia, we should have different ways to live.
Don't dive into something you cannot afford. Prepare for changes that may affect your income stream(s).
This isn't rocket science, nor is it new.
Generally people are just bad with life/finances.
I think it must be bloody hard. Full time work and daycare is the only option once you become a single parent unless you have massive family support. Ideally you need a high paying job too so you can outsource as much as possible eg, cleaning cooking.
It sucks, but there are so many options before it gets to that point. Don't have kids. Don't live in an expensive city. Don't marry a douche bag. Etc.
I agree. But some single parents end up there through uncontrollable things like spouse dies of heart attack etc.
Pro bit of advice - if you're living in Sydney you better damn well make sure you have close family living there too. This ain't a city for the lonely wanderer.
I have a huge, loud, invasive, and annoying family. The only reason I haven't moved away from them completely is the economy factor. Having close family means you can always rely on someone to take you in if you become homeless or need support. If you have Kids, even more so.
There's no shame in it. That's what family is for. I'm genuinely surprised at how many people I hear who are struggling with daycare fees even though their parents or siblings live locally. Ask them for help! If you have a bad relationship with your family, perhaps starting your own isn't the smartest thing.
Find a better job.
More specifically, a job that pays more
OP usually never respond after their post.
Yeah pretty sure this is not a serious discussion and OP is a troll
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@brad1-8tsi:
Pretty sure that's the Greater Sydney Metro Area. And even in that case I still disagree because you said:
https://www.ratecity.com.au/home-loans/calculator?h_advertis…
For:
Repayments of $2,000 (technically $2,005)
Interest rate of 4.00%
Loan Term of 30 years, and
Principal + Interest Repayments
You can borrow $420,000.
That being at 80% LVR, you're looking at a property of $525,000.
Dozens of townhouses just in Emu Plains at around that price, probably hundreds if you include all of the (Greater) Sydney Metro area.