What is this all “underpaid” posts about?

[Deactivated] on 05/06/2022 - 08:48

I am working in manufacturing from 12 years in Australia and now I’m getting paid 70k(I started with 30$/hr). Same with all my colleagues. Businesses are making most of their stuff in China. So companies like us need to be competitive to stay in business.

If my wife works, my family income will be at least 120-140k. If that isn’t enough for a family, I don’t think even 250k will be enough. As a wise man once said “There is everything in this world for everyone’s need, but there is not enough for one man’s greed”.

Until recently I managed my family with my single income with 2 kids and a mortgage and just recently my wife started working. There is family income offset and rental offset you get from Centrelink if you have less than 100k income.

If everyone pay increases, everyone start to spend more and prices increases. And it’s a lose lose situation for everyone because of high inflation.

Why can’t we just spend on bare necessities and buy what we need rather than what we want. Personally I don’t want or need any material things. Those doesn’t give me happiness. But if you start comparing with neighbours or colleagues then you want everything money can buy.

We are living in a lucky place. If you are not happy here, I don’t know where you can?

What do you think?
Are people running a rat race and that is the reason for present situation where nothing makes you happy because there will be a expensive stuff you can buy.

Should people focus on living happily rather than spending their fortune on material things?

Poll Options

  • 17
    Pay has to increase
  • 81
    People should focus on happiness rather than stuff
Financial

Comments

    • [Deactivated] on 05/06/2022 - 08:54
      +22

      I’m happy with my income and my life. Why should I? I am not complaining about my pay.

      • Stopback on 05/06/2022 - 09:53

        So not private school? Yearly holiday with the family? Life is expensive

      • boxtrot19 on 06/06/2022 - 14:15
        +1

        And for those, such as my wife, who earns $23/hr working as am Aged Care Nurse?
        If those on 70k through much more complain, best ignore them. You're quite correct, they're doing things slightly wrong & in sime cases seem to elect they are under the pump.
        Low pay means exactly that….seriously low.
        And myself? I am an ex Clinical Specialist on a govt pension s8nce serious work injury I 1997. My entire pension is usually $260 per Fortnight or less, as my wifes $23 per hour income reduces my pension from what would be $760/fortnight (not so hot, even if I were to actually get all of that amount).
        The figures I've quoted are spot-on accurate.
        Just to mention them for what they really are. That $23/hr along with my all but negligible income would make for a great joke, if only it was a fabrication.

  • SF3 on 05/06/2022 - 09:03
    +2

    First world problems.

    There is a saying, Keeping up with the Jones - it means they are doing something in order to show that they have as much money as other people, rather than because they really want to do it.

    Personally I don’t want or need any material things.

    This doesn't help the religion belief in business that they must YoY have growth, so they either increase prices, or sell us more crap stuff or planned obsolescence (e.g. a product breaks down after n hours or n years).

  • randomusername2017 on 05/06/2022 - 09:03
    +2

    So this is what they mean about onions making you cry…

    Cringe

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 05/06/2022 - 09:04

    Wage growth has been in the media a lot i thought i'd do teachers because im think they are fairly paid but consistently complaining…. then some people wanted Nurses, then i got comments on doing Politicians then someone PM me to do Childcare….

    as for your comment about being happy fair enough i dont disagree

    • Mechz on 05/06/2022 - 12:34
      +8

      I know lots of teachers, they never ever complained about their pay. It's a media beat up.

      They do however complain that your children are annoying little shits.

      • Trying2SaveABuck on 05/06/2022 - 13:29

        i dont know a profession that has to work with ppl that dont complain about the people they serve….you think doctors/nurses dont complain about patients, real estate agents dont complain about vendors/tenants/buyer, retail workers complain about customers….etc

        • Mechz on 05/06/2022 - 15:01
          +2

          Yes but you don't spend 5 days a week in a room with the same customer for hours on end in 99% of service jobs. Nurses, may be the only exception.

          • Trying2SaveABuck on 05/06/2022 - 15:34
            +2

            @Mechz: from what i found teachers make significantly more then nurses….

  • mbck on 05/06/2022 - 09:09
    +2

    Everyone is different (circumstances, wants, needs, goals). Ie, everyone's definition of happiness is different.

    I don't think anyone has the right to force anyone to do/think in anyway.

    Just because you're happy where you are now, doesn't mean someone else is fulfilled.

    • [Deactivated] on 05/06/2022 - 10:18
      +3

      Everyone is different (circumstances, wants, needs, goals). Ie, everyone's definition of happiness is different

      Happiness is only one thing. There is no person in this world gets happiness from materials. Ask any rich guy? You get pleasure from buying stuff or eating chocolate. A low always follows a moment of pleasure. Happiness isn’t that. If you are eager to wake the next day, and enjoy every thing you do is happiness.

      I don't think anyone has the right to force anyone to do/think in anyway.

      I didn’t force anyone. Just asking questions.

      Just because you're happy where you are now, doesn't mean someone else is fulfilled.

      If you are after properties, cars or other materials, there is always someone better than you. Eventually you compare with them. And happiness will be a distant dream.

      • mbck on 05/06/2022 - 10:36
        +8

        I disagree with your comment.

        A low does not always follow a moment of pleasure. I've bought things and I definitely have not felt low after, and I'd imagine many others haven't felt low too. In fact, there are also negative emotions from people not being able to do what they want.

        'Enjoy everything you do', well that depends on the 'what' isn't it?

        You are defining your own happiness and projecting it onto others. Who are you to say no to someone who defines it differently?
        You are denying other people's circumstances. How they were brought up, including potentially the difficulties they had and a promise to not live in 'bare minimum'.
        You are ridiculing others for their own dreams of chasing materials, implying they do this to 'keep up with the Jones'. You don't know their story and their drives to do what they do.
        You are concluding that everyone is the same.

        Your opinion are your own, that's fine, but while you deny you are forcing your ideas, you definitely have the tone that you have the high moral ground. In fact, the only definition of happiness you have is your current life at this point in time. And I sense you have fear that this will change, resulting in your eventual unhappiness.

        The only thing that is true in this world is, things will always change and you will have to adapt.

        There is no right or wrong answer. There will be people who buy things, there will be people who live minimalistic, such as yourself. And as you said, we are lucky to live here because of the relative freedom and peace to live the life each and every single one of us wants.

        edit:
        fml, I'm talking about things with someone who doesn't believe in sunscreens and vegetables. Nevermind then.

        • [Deactivated] on 05/06/2022 - 10:41

          Cheers

  • Ocker on 05/06/2022 - 09:17

    Human nature - people always live up to their income and the more they get the more they want

  • DarkOz on 05/06/2022 - 09:18
    +9

    Aussies have a relatively high income to sustain our relatively high standard of living. Unfortunate when income doesn’t grow proportionately with inflation all of a sudden the money is not enough. The real issue is many people are unwilling to or don’t know how to reduce their spending to match. We have it too good in Australia and people don’t really know what it is like to struggle. I don’t mean the struggle to buy a $1m house or a $80k luxury car but the struggle just to put a roof over the family and keeping the family fed.

  • AustriaBargain on 05/06/2022 - 09:39
    +2

    It's partly a meme. OZB loves repeating/referential jokes. However, the mods hate it. I would have made a "are OZB mods really underpaid?" or "is Scotty really underpaid?" thread by now if I weren't worried about being put in the penalty box.

  • djones145 on 05/06/2022 - 09:43
    +6

    this is the first line that I agree with you ever lol

    Should people focus on living happily rather than spending their fortune on material things

    I had an aunty that asked my dad, why doesn't my wife work and how do u survive .

    I'm like I just spend within my means. I got young kids, job that's 9 to 5 so I can spend more time with the kids.

    • [Deactivated] on 05/06/2022 - 10:20

      line

      You mean time

    • DarkOz on 05/06/2022 - 11:47

      Should people focus on living happily rather than spending their fortune on material things

      To too many people material things = happiness. That’s the problem.

      You don’t own a house? You must not be happy.

      You don’t drive a luxury car? You must not be happy.

      You don’t earn over $100k? You must not be happy.

  • nubzy on 05/06/2022 - 10:03
    +3

    Life is a rat race, but no one is forcing you to participate and getting a big mortgage, fancy car and having kids are choices. I can imagine nothing worse than spending 40+ years working a 9 to 5, what a waste of life. Money isn't everything, time is far more valuable, learn to be happy and live with less, the best things in life are cheap/free.

  • deme on 05/06/2022 - 10:22
    -1

    spam

    deme on 05/06/2022 - 10:22 (Collapsed - Offtopic. Show)
  • [Deactivated] on 05/06/2022 - 10:29
    +3

    Hi Ozzie Slav

  • Hardlyworkin on 05/06/2022 - 10:35
    +2

    Taking about not wanting material things on a bargain site for buying material things 😂

  • AndyC1 on 05/06/2022 - 12:02
    +1

    Most are trolling posts.

  • sharkyoz on 05/06/2022 - 12:06
    +1

    what are you doing on Ozbargain then if you reckon spending money nilly willy on things we want is wrong.

    • Melencir on 05/06/2022 - 12:35
      -1

      Ozbargain is also a diary/blogging website and baits unsolicited opinions, from my observation. It's also entertainment and is in cahoots with the snack companies to increase sale of popcorn.

  • core101 on 05/06/2022 - 12:37
    +1

    Billionaire Klaus Schwab has the same philosophy of "you will own nothing, and be happy"

  • [Deactivated] on 05/06/2022 - 13:12

    Happens every year

  • nushydude on 06/06/2022 - 08:05

    Don't mix up demand pull inflation with monetary debasement. The latter is the killer. You won't be able to live with a 140k income in 10 years the way things are going.

    • MontyMacaw on 06/06/2022 - 08:43
      +2

      The amount is not relevant. It’s the whole system that is relevant. I used to be able to live well on $1.50 an hour when I started working because that was enough for all the things I needed and wanted including a brand new motor bike which cost $1000 and petrol was 50c a gallon. Houses cost about 5 grand as well. The system is designed to devalue money to give the illusion that more money equals more wealth which is a myth over time.

  • MontyMacaw on 06/06/2022 - 08:32
    +1

    I live as a minimalist. Everything I own fits in my car. I like to live that way which makes me feel like I am lucky. I’m am individual and came to this way of living because my work had me relocating regularly. Not many people would want to live like that and I’m ok with that. They can live the way THEY choose. That may not be what they want however.

  • LFO on 06/06/2022 - 10:14

    The issue on those threads is/was with certain groups: teachers, nurses, politicians and others asking/wanting more money for the same position and commitment.
    "Just pay me more because in my opinion I deserve more."

    In other words, instead of seeking a better pay by changing jobs they are pushing for the pay rate to go up so they get more doing the same. Money for nothing …
    Appalling, really.

    Now, on topic, human expectations are unlimited … up until maturity settles in and the real important gains take place. Then money is completely secondary.

  • leiiv on 06/06/2022 - 10:19
    +1

    It is all about balance between "professions" in the market. If the income of a doctor is 10 times more than the median of others, then clearly there is something wrong.
    And also getting content with what you have does not give you a reason to vote for government that actively widen the gap between the ultra rich and the rest of them.

    “There is everything in this world for everyone’s need, but there is not enough for one man’s greed”

    We have even bigger problem here: It is not only one man, but a lot of them..

  • bobbified on 06/06/2022 - 11:47
    +2

    If everyone pay increases, everyone start to spend more and prices increases. And it’s a lose lose situation for everyone because of high inflation.

    "But I don't want a pay increase for everyone. I just want a pay increase for myself!" 😋

  • Speckled Jim on 06/06/2022 - 18:16

    I eschewed mindless self-indulgence (hehe) long ago. Example>still using my 2018 phone which is actually a 2016 model that was on clearance.

  • sydsm on 17/06/2022 - 12:52

    Love you Handle; Peel the onion … made my day.

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