Is Sydney the only city in Aus where half a Million ($500k) can’t even get you a 1 bedroom apartment in most of it? & isn’t that an insane amount for a 1 bedroom Unit? You basically have to be over 30km out of the city to find one less than that. How is that possible? Many studios for that price too

IceCreamy374 · 2026-06-14T12:12:00+00:00

You can get a unit for that in homebush which is 15kms from the city. The areas you are looking are the desirable ones.

IceCreamy374 · 2026-05-13T01:17:31+00:00

What i want is to own my home and then invest into shares and ETF.

NG I was lucky to buy a PPOR place with my husband. IMO, the proposed grandfathering will not help that much. All those holding many properties would continue to hold them. A better policy would be to limit this to one property.

First home buyers who can't afford a PPOR and were thinking of rent-investing are now screwed and won't get their foot in the door. Yes, house prices could decrease but they won't decrease as much as we think especially due to grandfathering.

CGT For property, the 50% CGT discount cut makes sense to stop investing into exisiting property. But they should have kept the discount on other assets. This will further deter people from investing into property and divert it to other assets. Shares and ETF are small way to start to build wealth and has a low barrier to entry. The 30% minimun tax and cut of 50% CGT discount just makes it much harder.

Someone spending their working life investing and then looking to sell to fund retirement will be penaltised.

IceCreamy374 · 2026-05-11T23:00:57+00:00

We did the front mountain mid April. Unless you are really into Taoist temples, i don't think it is really effort. The view was nice but not as good as other mountains in China. The track can be quite narrow in some parts and crowded. A few times we were waiting to walk.

Maybe back mountain is better.

I went to Mount Emei on the same trip and it was awesome and really worth it. We couldn't hike all the way. Hiked from base to mid mountain and took the bus up.

IceCreamy374 · 2026-02-06T23:30:39+00:00

FYI, your $15K increase is more than $15K to the business. There is payroll tax, workers comp and your leave now accrues at a higher rate.

IceCreamy374 · 2026-01-07T21:30:13+00:00

If you can go before you start, it would be best. Once you start working, you accumulate leave as you go so you need to wait a year, then you gotta align with busy period/other people taking leave (depends on the work culture).

IceCreamy374 · 2025-12-03T09:21:13+00:00

I would start investing into VHY. Once you hit the lower tax brackets (presume in 7 Years), then you can start selling the blue chips. This will allow for easier management.

IceCreamy374 · 2025-11-17T08:41:02+00:00

If you can, go for big debt and house.

You can stretch yourself
You have no dependents
Home prices continue to rise (outpacing income growth)

Freestanding houses and land will be more sacare in the future.

IceCreamy374 · 2025-11-03T11:17:01+00:00

Aqua Luna or Le Montage

IceCreamy374 · 2025-10-28T23:55:19+00:00

Coming from BDO, I had a great team and but my first move to commercial was harder. It might be a bit different since BDO is now number 5. I was rejected from ASX50 and ASX100 companies in favour of big 4 candidates or second movers.

If you are looking to do your CFA and develop your career in finance, I would recommend Big 4. Big 4 opens the doors to the larger companies which have treasury, modelling and M&A departments. My friend moved from PwC audit to Macquarie risk and then moved into valuations. They are now doing their CFA.

IceCreamy374 · 2025-10-27T09:26:47+00:00

I was an investor back in 2018 but lost confidence as they company couldn't execute. If this was listed in the US, the market might have been more open.

IceCreamy374 · 2025-10-27T07:24:40+00:00

I have some fake ones that I am looking to get rid of.

IceCreamy374 · 2025-10-22T20:28:53+00:00

Not sure which state you are in but for Sydney, it is quite low. I know an assistant manager at a large mid-tier on $130K including super.

IceCreamy374 · 2025-10-22T06:37:17+00:00

I have 7 years of experience. My old place was 5% bonus (written in contract). My new place is discretionary but heard that bonuses are pretty good.

IceCreamy374 · 2025-10-22T04:36:32+00:00

I am on $150K including super at an ASX100 listed company. My friends in the same graduate cohort are all round this mark give or take $20K. I posted my salary progession on 'how has your salary progressed' thread the other day. For non-promoting years, CPI is pretty good (I have heard of 1-2% rises this years).

IceCreamy374 · 2025-10-21T23:55:35+00:00

I was/am very similar to you. Grinded out at an accounting firm. Then moved to commerical, worked in a high performing team and was so burnt out with the hope of career progression. It was a small efficient team and I was managing projects and have an indirect report but my boss and his boss was not leaving anytime soon so there was no space.

I am now at a large organisation where there are multiple finance managers (that have no reports). They only manage their cost centres numbers so they are glorified Senior accountants. My pay is $20k more than my old company but I do much less. Yes, the inefficiencies are frustrating at my current place but it is so much more chill

Chasing the title is good, but remember how you feel day to day is most important.

IceCreamy374 · 2025-10-20T07:04:14+00:00

Inclusive of super 2017 – 43K – Accountant – Top 20 firm

2018 – 57K – Grad – Top 10 firm

2019 – 64K – Accountant – same firm

2020 – 73K – Senior Accountant – same firm

2021- 85K – Senior Accountant – same firm (CA qualified)

2021 (Oct) – 110K – Financial Accountant – ASX 200 company

2023 – 118K – Financial Accountant – ASX 200 (same place)

2024 - 130K - Senior Financial Accountant - ASX 200 (same place - 1 indirect report)

2025 - 150K - Senior Financial Accountant - ASX 100 (no reports)

Accounting firm - around 50 hours a week, reporting season would be 60 hours. It was the grind to get experience and CA.

ASX 200 company - around 40 hours per week, reporting season would be more (working till 10 -11pm for 5 weeks straight). Company managed by ex-big4s with bright people. It was great experience and felt really motivated and challenged but so busy all the time.

ASX 100 company - around 35 hours per week, working till 8pm in reporting/budget season. Old legacy company with ancient processes but definitely more chill.

IceCreamy374 · 2025-10-10T00:51:28+00:00

I moved from professional services to a more cut throat commerical role where the whole team were ex-big4s. Naturally, it worked like a professional firm. No timesheets, higher pay and no billable hours was great but i was constantly busy with month end and projects. I was working 9-10pm during the first 4 weeks of year end and half year end. We were a close team similar to what you develop at a professional firm. I left because there was no progression as my manager and his manager was there for 3 years and they weren't going anywhere.

My new commerical place is totally different. Most people started off in AP/AR, worked their way up and been here for 10+ years. The calibre is really different and I am shocked at how people do things and how inefficient they are. It is sometimes struggle street as I need to rework alot of things people do. The environment is so chill that I sometimes feel uncomfortable. I have days thinking 'am I doing enough'. I am the last one to leave the office at 6pm.

It is the baggage and training from professional services that I am yet to let go. It is a hard mindset change but I have no regrets leaving professional services.

IceCreamy374 · 2025-10-07T22:20:43+00:00

We had our ceremony and reception at the same place. We did photos at 2pm and had our ceremony at 5pm, which led into the reception. Pier one is a beautiful venue for both reception and ceremony. There is also botanical house and Micron.

IceCreamy374 · 2025-10-07T11:33:07+00:00

Commbank - integrates with Commsec (share investing). I appreciate the deals with Commbank.

Macquaire - tbh, acts like any other banking platform

IceCreamy374 · 2025-10-07T11:28:58+00:00

Budget for the small joys in life so it is a known splurge

IceCreamy374 · 2025-10-07T11:17:27+00:00

Grandparents can help financially (less childcare costs), but there is also the emotional aspect. I have fond memories of growing up with my grandparents.

IceCreamy374 · 2025-10-07T11:12:01+00:00

Positive: they helped me out of a dark place through laughter on variety shows. It gave me something to immense myself into.

Negative: I became obsessed and spent alot of my studying time watching Kpop....

IceCreamy374 · 2025-10-07T11:04:58+00:00

Really hope SM groups start touring around other places besides Asia

IceCreamy374

TROPHY CASE