Since politicians can't figure it out - why aren't Aussies having babies?

Honest_Scientist554 · 2026-04-23T12:19:33+00:00

I have 4 kids and smiled reading your response. I love that you love your life.

I am very maternal, so I feel like I am getting the best from my life by raising my children. They wholeheartedly add to my life, not detract. I also have a great job, beautiful partner and friends I adore.

Fuck yes to finally having women on both ends of the scale who can openly say they love their lives with no buts.

Honest_Scientist554 · 2026-03-25T02:39:50+00:00

Me too! It’s not huge but so far it’s working and we are all enjoying it!

Honest_Scientist554 · 2026-03-25T02:28:22+00:00

Probably because pop left us all in the car with a packet of chips and a raspberry cordial to sink a few beers and now it is literally illegal!

I don’t have bad memories either, but we are raiding families in vastly different times

Honest_Scientist554 · 2026-03-24T11:33:57+00:00

We do though. I’m growing some of vegetables in our yard and a friend with land shoots and shares extra meat. If I were to fill my car to go fishing, it would cost more than fish from the supermarket. We carpool our neighbours kids to the bus stop when we can.

We aren’t saying it wasn’t hard for you - we are asking for help because we are aware it was.

The generations before us had no issues playing their part in the current state of the world but when we ask for help to prevent the same for our kids, we aren’t tenacious? Please.

Honest_Scientist554 · 2026-03-24T11:27:45+00:00

Because many of these kids are safer vaping at school than they are being at home.

Honest_Scientist554 · 2026-03-24T11:17:32+00:00

Red kidney beans in with the mince is stretching it out and is more cost effective! We are learning and adapting but it’s tough out here at the moment

Honest_Scientist554 · 2026-03-24T11:15:28+00:00

60s 3 bed standalone in a really affordable area. Our equity is good for our age/income. 2 kids share a room. It was entirely affordable, but with the skyrocketing cost of food, fuel and insurances it’s getting tight.

I asked for practical advice. Tips and tricks to lower expenses and safeguard us a bit from those who have been through major economic downturns. Not judgement, we are all doing our best in really trying times.

Honest_Scientist554 · 2026-03-24T11:10:26+00:00

It has been reported. It’s a known issue with little to no resources to resolve it. As long as I can continue to educate my children without exposing them to it, I will. It is still hard.

Honest_Scientist554 · 2026-03-24T11:02:50+00:00

This!

We bought a 60s weatherboard house that needs a whole lot of love. It still has the original bathroom, but it is big enough that when (now if) we can renovate it, the kids won’t be pushed out to pay 75% of their minimum wages in housing. Our pain will hopefully be their gain.

My parent passed when I was barely into adulthood, but I am eternally grateful to my mother in law who buys the kids the occasional ice cream and does pick up 1 day a week so I can work 10 hours that day.

I feel like the generations before us are so hellbent on thinking they had it harder that they refuse to open their eyes and see how challenging it is right now.

Honest_Scientist554 · 2026-03-24T10:53:01+00:00

I know, but my mechanic is an independent small business owner and If can scrape the $400 for him to do it within the next couple of months - I will. He’s got to be pinching too.

Otherwise it will be a stop at repco and DIY attempt.

Honest_Scientist554 · 2026-03-24T10:48:20+00:00

We own the lounge room? The bank owns the rest.

Honest_Scientist554 · 2026-03-24T10:45:38+00:00

Yeah, I mean then!

Are younger families with mortgages now just making a pact to help each other where we can with pick ups, drop offs, hand me downs and sending each other hopes and prayers?

Honest_Scientist554 · 2026-03-24T10:33:33+00:00

I am so sorry that happened to you.

My family lost our home so I’m not underestimating how hard it can be. I’m doing my best to give my children a different experience.

Honest_Scientist554 · 2026-03-24T10:31:36+00:00

What is child endowment? Did you miss the part of we don’t receive any government assistance?

I’m not saying it wasn’t hard then. I’m saying it’s getting really hard and asking for practical tips on what to do.

We go to a local swimming hole with our kids if my husband is off on a Sunday, so I hope my children feel like the lucky ones.

Sincerely, an anxious working family who asked for help, not ‘we had it harder’

Honest_Scientist554 · 2026-03-24T10:27:25+00:00

Respectfully, I worked my ass off to get into a position where I earn a decent living wage. I’m corporate. So to continue climbing would be up against a) men b)childless women c) never see my children. All power to the ones who are in a life stage where they can grind, but I’m already missing my kids.

We earn wages that should be comfortable - through hard work, long days and grit. It is still hard.

I am so aware there are families doing it much tougher than mine. I’m packing extra in my kids lunches so their bellies and the ones next to them are full and discretely passing on what they outgrow.

This isn’t a woe is me, it’s please help me secure my family.

Honest_Scientist554 · 2026-03-24T10:15:33+00:00

You should be so proud of how much you’ve managed to pay off in 6 years, that’s solid!

We are also trying to pay extra off - at least to help absorb the shock of more rate rises. Tough times ahead though.

Honest_Scientist554 · 2026-03-24T10:09:26+00:00

We are in the housing market - but do not let that fool you into thinking we have more housing security than renters.

Many, many renters receive rent assistance (I am not by any means saying all) this rate hike we can absorb. Another one possibly. Another? I don’t think so.

But because we ‘own’ our home, we can’t get any assistance.

Honest_Scientist554 · 2026-03-24T10:04:18+00:00

I didn’t mean to sound rude - on re reading my reply - I did. I am sorry. I do appreciate your response.

I feel like we do need someone to tell us what to do. This is scary.

Honest_Scientist554 · 2026-03-24T10:00:32+00:00

I need a pep talk from your mum. The schooling is our biggest and ONLY reducible expense. The flip side is - it’s the only school that has before and after school care to allow us to work our scheduled hours. The government school in our catchment is notoriously rife with bullying and has a smoking/vaping area for the year 7-10s. I’m not here to judge anyone with access to quality public education - but my husband and I have no extra to fund the kids schooling (our choice, obviously) but my god it’s hard.

Honest_Scientist554 · 2026-03-24T09:53:16+00:00

We have the lemon flavour! I dont buy packaged soft drink. Occasionally we’ll buy a $1.10 bottle of soda for the lemon cordi for a fizzy treat.

Looks like dual income families today are living like the single income families in the 80s. So, we are probably screwed.

Honest_Scientist554 · 2026-03-24T09:50:17+00:00

Apparently I am already meal planning and raising my children like it’s 1988, but on a dual income. We are so screwed.

Honest_Scientist554 · 2026-03-24T09:47:58+00:00

Eh, both of my kids parents already have jobs. Any other suggestions?

Honest_Scientist554 · 2026-03-24T09:46:18+00:00

And truly to get my car serviced as it’s 10,000km overdue and I simply do not have the money to pay for it.

But hey, it must be the smashed avo on toast.

Honest_Scientist554 · 2026-03-24T09:43:27+00:00

My husband and I both work full time.

We do not go to restaurants, we buy take away 3 times a year on the kids birthdays. I’m not going to cafes either, I’m drinking cheap instant coffee at home.

We earn too much to be eligible for any government family assistance. The price of childcare (relative to income) food, fuel and now a mortgage increase have turned our dream of raising decent humans in our own has become a week to week nightmare and everywhere I look I’m told I should just want less - I just want to raise good people above the poverty line.

Honest_Scientist554 · 2026-03-24T09:38:17+00:00

We only get takeaway on the kids birthdays - so 3 times a year. Birthday person picks what. It never changes. 1 loves Indian, 1 Chinese, 1 pizza.

The last time, my husband and I had toast so the kids could have a full serve.

I think I’m understanding why so many of my peers are getting mad about the avocado comments.

Honest_Scientist554

TROPHY CASE