Comments for We are all dead.

Comment on What is the typical Australian’s income in 2013? by AQQ637

AQQ637 — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:01:45 +0000

This article was extremely interesting and backed up with facts. I enjoyed reading it and the comments below it. It’s a pity I rarely read anything this interesting in the newspapers anymore. I’ve pretty much stopped buying them. Thanks for your interesting blog.

Comment on What is the typical Australian’s income in 2013? by Garry

Garry — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:59:51 +0000

Try living on $40170 a year after tax (tasmanian pesos). What am I a superhero? I do alright. Some people need to lay off the caviar & saffron breakfast.

Comment on What is the typical Australian’s income in 2013? by JekR

JekR — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:09:08 +0000

“Financially better off”? How?

Of course it sounds like he has a better life but I don’t see how he could possibly be “financially” better off. With a $200k salary, you’d pay $60k in tax, and let’s say $55k for a nanny. That’s still $85k of disposable income. How on earth is it possible to be “financially” better off on welfare?

Comment on What is the typical Australian’s income in 2013? by life for rent

life for rent — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:01:34 +0000

I read some comments but not all. yes all opinions are valid so here’s mine. Can’t get by on 200-250k? why? greed?
Can’t get by on government payments? why? greed?
I have been in both situations and personally found the cause came down to “do I need that”. the big house? fancy car? a night out with the boys? even as a single father of three, my kids have learnt to ask “do i need that” before they ask “do i want that”..earn the cash of course you can have what you want but please don’t cry poor, don’t earn the cash or are doing it tough? choices.

Comment on What is the typical Australian’s income in 2013? by JC

JC — Mon, 20 May 2013 06:04:58 +0000

I have a mate who earned $200k+. He also worked crazy hours to earn income for his family including 4 kids . When his wife left (probably due to crazy work hours) he, being a smart guy, did the maths on hiring a nanny and continuing to be the bread-winner for his kids versus staying home to look after the kids himself. Guess what? He was financially better off NOT working because he would save a heap of tax, avoid childcare and nanny expenses, get all sorts of welfare he wasnt otherwise entitled to, etc. AND he gets to now spend time with his kids, is healthier and enjoyes a better lifestyle. He was not up for alimony anyway since his wife didnt want the kids and left the country, so that was not a factor. Annual revenue is NOT a good proxy for wealth nor well-being. Matt Cowgill does some intersting analysis and makes some valid points but somehow misses the big picture.

By the way, great and pertinent comment Jack!

Comment on What is the typical Australian’s income in 2013? by Evan

Evan — Mon, 20 May 2013 05:52:19 +0000

I get approx 32500 per annum after tax with a dependant spouse and child. + 15k per annum in rent. I am not doing it tough – people need to stop whingeing.

Comment on What is the typical Australian’s income in 2013? by huh?

huh? — Mon, 20 May 2013 05:07:55 +0000

If both people in the couple are working full time, it isn’t hard to each be earning 45,000 a year.

Comment on What is the typical Australian’s income in 2013? by MR | Third Edition, May 2013 | Drunken Speculation

MR | Third Edition, May 2013 | Drunken Speculation — Sun, 19 May 2013 23:28:50 +0000

[…] What is the typical Australian’s income in 2013? – Matt Cowgill […]

Comment on What is the typical Australian’s income in 2013? by Julie

Julie — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:39:53 +0000

Nathan- An interesting use of the term eugenics !

Comment on What is the typical Australian’s income in 2013? by nottrampis

nottrampis — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:12:42 +0000

you have made it again as usual

Comment on What is the typical Australian’s income in 2013? by Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:25:52 +0000

Never mind that most single parents are women whose husbands have left them – or is no woman ever supposed to have a baby, K, so that none of us ever end up living in poverty?

Comment on What is the typical Australian’s income in 2013? by Jack

Jack — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:04:06 +0000

Levy’s and flat taxes like the GST are regressive so they indeed do affect those on the lower income to a greater extent than those on higher incomes. If you think those receiving $137 a week from centrelink are living in a form of “luxury” that you’ve been denied because of what you pay in tax on a $100K+ salary you are deluding yourself. Life at the bottom is miserable, and the common perception of the wealthy that they are “takers” makes life even more miserable.

Comment on What is the typical Australian’s income in 2013? by Tom

Tom — Wed, 15 May 2013 23:14:45 +0000

The fact is this: No amount of income will guarantee you don’t have a tough time.

Clearly, some people who make a lot of money forget this (some of the comments in the thread here are prime examples, strange as it is).

It doesn’t follow that: Having a tough time means you aren’t making enough money.

That would be “denying the antecedent” which is a logical fallacy, and can be committed by rich or poor people or even politicians.

Comment on What is the typical Australian’s income in 2013? by Steve

Steve — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:12:23 +0000

I’ve worked with a few people over the years on dual +100k incomes (well over $250k coming into their household ) and no kids. In their forties and still “struggling” to pay off their house.
They buy a new laptop, phone, tablet every other year. Go on expensive holidays and then wonder why they are still in debt.

People want the big flashy lifestyle but don’t want to make the sacrifices like cooking a meal instead of eating out, buying fresh food instead of packaged, forgoing the luxury holiday abroad for a local destination in more modest diggs, bringing their lunch to work.

I cringe and want to slap some sense into people when I hear them whinge about hard up they are!
Go out and try to feed a family of 4 kids on a single median income I feel like telling them!

Comment on What is the typical Australian’s income in 2013? by ngaireg

ngaireg — Wed, 15 May 2013 08:26:01 +0000

“federal income tax cuts have disproportionately benefited the top earners”

If this is true – then it also means that tax based levies such as the medicare levy and the new disability scheme are also disproportionately paid for by the top income earners.

You need to go back to the old cake distribution analogy to look at why your statement is not entirely fair or accurate. If you pay very little or nothing in tax, it’s hardly right that you should get a disproportionate amount back compared to those who substantially fund everyone else.

I’m totally for paying a fair contribution to help others out – but when paying for all that means I have to live a less “luxurious” lifestyle than some of those I am supporting – then that’s when I cry foul. I don’t have a bottomless pocket and when my kids miss out – despite my decent job and the personal effort (and money) I have put towards attaining that job – then I am less inclined to agree to more taxes on the so-called ‘filthy rich’.

We do live responsibly – but there are many (not all) we ‘support’ that don’t and want us to fund them to what they think they should be entitled to.

Comment on What is the typical Australian’s income in 2013? by K

Wed, 15 May 2013 05:31:43 +0000

And someone choosing to have children when they can’t afford to support them isn’t in that situation because of their own poor decisions?

Comment on What is the typical Australian’s income in 2013? by Jack

Jack — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:34:40 +0000

Interesting article. I agree with it mostly. Id be interested to see your thoughts on some other aspects of peoples quality of life/perceptions etc.
1. The amount of money people spend on eating out…I spend a lot…but my parents spent about zero.
2. Costs of buying and or renting. Seems our housing policy has failed by enriching the banks and landowners at the average persons expense. Our taxation system seems to promote astronomical house pricess…and people are constantly worried about their ability to pay for a basic need…a roof over their heads.
3. There is a lot of income hiding going on in our tax system. I suspect the PAYG taxpayer is heavily subsidising farmers, small business people and those that earn enough to avoid tax through various schemes. We used to live on a farm and it was very simple to minimise your apparent income, while greatly adding to your wealth…so wealth is a slightly different measure than income. Plus for no good reason we make wage earners pay more of their tax than those who are rich enough to make money through capital gain etc. But overall, income minimisation thus avoiding tax is rampant in many sectors….can you have a look at that? Its why the famers near us, who were worth millions, still managed to get subsidised university support, where the bricky in the town earning much less had to pay full whack.

Comment on What is the typical Australian’s income in 2013? by Grummm_Didley

Grummm_Didley — Tue, 14 May 2013 23:37:39 +0000

Its a total no-brainer. You got the mortgage when you earned more. Sell the place and move somewhere less expensive where your wage can cover your mortgage and living expenses. Or find a way to get you income back up to what it was. Asking someone else to cover is completely irresponsible.

Comment on What is the typical Australian’s income in 2013? by ronnie

ronnie — Tue, 14 May 2013 22:11:46 +0000

$90 510 is the typical income for a couple with 2 kids? scheeez – where can I sign up to get my hands on that! mother-of-god! that’s and ENORMOUS amount of money!!!!

Comment on What is the typical Australian’s income in 2013? by That dude?

That dude? — Tue, 14 May 2013 21:53:49 +0000

I think you’ve overextended yourself. 100k is doing very well. Prices for inner city purchase and rental are CRAZY. It’s a myth to think regular people can easily afford it. I only have ONE friend who rents entirely by themselves (He’s doing well). The rest are in a share arrangement or coupled up. I don’t think you can count renting by yourself as “cost of living” I’m sorry.