Under pressure: More Australians are over extending to keep up appearances
As costs continue to mount, more Australians are feeling the weight of expectation to keep spending
1 min
More Australians are living beyond their means in order to keep up appearances, new data has revealed.
A survey by financial comparison site, Finder, has shown 30 percent, or 6.3 million people, have felt pressured into purchasing to keep up with family or friends. The research, which involved surveying 1,062 Australians, also showed 15 percent of people have gone into debt as a result.
The most common sources of over spending people felt pressured into included splitting an expensive restaurant bill despite ordering less (14 percent), taking an expensive holiday (11 percent) and buying tickets to an event (10 percent). However, six percent of Australians had bought a nice car and five percent had bought a house in order to keep pace with others.
Tellingly, the wedding industry made an appearance on the list, with five percent of people pressured into over extending for a bucks or hens night. Three percent reported feeling pressured to pay for someone’s baby shower.
Sarah Megginson, personal finance expert at Finder said ‘comparisonitis’ was exacerbated by social media consumption.
“Never before have we had such an intimate and behind the scenes view into other people’s lives – but it’s important to remember it’s a highlight reel,” Ms Megginson.
“The millionaire next door might be drowning in debt to afford that apparent life of luxury.”
She counselled against falling into the trap of living beyond your means because others appear to have more.
“Getting into debt, ruining personal finances and compromising your values are all very real risks when it comes to trying to keep up with what others have,” she said. “Success isn’t defined by what you have or where you holiday. Focus on future wealth by paying your debt off and dedicating more money to investments and savings than to material possessions.”
Borrowers cannot control the Reserve Bank, but they can control how exposed their household budget is to its next decision. The RBA meets on 29 September with inflation concerns still elevated and major-bank economists increasingly bringing forward their rate-rise calls. Fixed mortgage rates have also been moving, reducing the value of waiting for perfect certainty. …
Continue reading “What mortgage holders should do before the next RBA decision”
Australian shares finished higher on Tuesday, September 22, as a technology rally and lower oil prices outweighed weakness in energy companies and continued anxiety about domestic interest rates. The S&P/ASX 200 closed 25.9 points, or 0.30 per cent, higher at 8,757.8. The All Ordinaries gained 0.36 per cent to 8,951.0, while the All Technology index …
Continue reading “ASX Wrap: Technology lifts the ASX as falling oil relieves inflation pressure”
2 minAustralian shares finished higher on Tuesday, September 22, as a technology rally and lower oil prices outweighed weakness in energy companies and continued anxiety about domestic interest rates.
The S&P/ASX 200 closed 25.9 points, or 0.30 per cent, higher at 8,757.8. The All Ordinaries gained 0.36 per cent to 8,951.0, while the All Technology index rose 1.71 per cent.
Information technology was the strongest major sector, up 2.67 per cent. Megaport gained 4.3 per cent, NextDC rose 3.8 per cent and Life360 added 2.9 per cent, according to the ABC’s closing market report. The move followed a record Nasdaq close and reflected renewed demand for growth assets as oil prices eased.
Consumer discretionary gained 1.29 per cent, while real estate and healthcare each rose 0.76 per cent. The simultaneous strength of technology, discretionary shares and listed property was consistent with a modest easing in market inflation anxiety, although it did not erase expectations of a possible RBA increase at the 29 September meeting.
Energy was the clear laggard, down 1.16 per cent, after Brent crude briefly fell below US$100 a barrel overnight. Origin Energy dropped about 4 per cent, Woodside lost 2.4 per cent and AGL declined 2.3 per cent. Utilities were the weakest sector overall, down 2.03 per cent.
Among larger and liquid movers, Telix Pharmaceuticals rebounded 6.85 per cent after the previous session’s sharp acquisition-related decline. IDP Education jumped 20.67 per cent and was the largest percentage gainer in the ASX 300 screen, while Catalyst Metals fell 14.37 per cent. Those moves should be checked against company announcements before publication; percentage rankings alone do not establish cause or index impact.
Mining performance was mixed. Sunrise Energy Metals rose 12.71 per cent, FireFly Metals added 5.7 per cent and Bellevue Gold gained 4.8 per cent, while Resolute Mining lost 4.44 per cent.
The Australian dollar traded near US71.18 cents late in the session. Oil remained volatile as markets assessed potential US–Iran talks, making energy prices a continuing input into inflation expectations, bond yields and the RBA outlook.
For Wednesday, investors will watch oil, offshore technology leads, Australian bond yields and any new evidence that changes the probability of a September rate rise.
Market dashboard
S&P/ASX 200: 8,757.8, up 25.9 points or 0.30 per cent.
All Ordinaries: 8,951.0, up 0.36 per cent.
Best sector: Information Technology, up 2.67 per cent.
Weakest sector: Utilities, down 2.03 per cent. Energy fell 1.16 per cent.
Material winner: Telix Pharmaceuticals, up 6.85 per cent. Megaport rose 4.3 per cent and NextDC rose 3.8 per cent.
Material loser: Origin Energy, down about 4 per cent. Woodside fell 2.4 per cent.
ASX 300 percentage leader: IDP Education, up 20.67 per cent. Confirm announcement context before publication.
ASX 300 percentage laggard: Catalyst Metals, down 14.37 per cent. Confirm announcement context before publication.
AUD/USD: Approximately US$0.7118 late in the session.
Next catalyst: RBA policy decision on 29 September, oil-price volatility and offshore technology trading.
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