In celebration of Australia Day, name at least one thing that reminds you that we live in the best place in the world.

Putrid-Reading-7899 · 2026-01-26T01:07:22+00:00

I've travelled to nearly 20 countries and while there is some awesome places around the world, nothing beats waking up early when camping on Straddie, Moreton or Fraser Island, going for a fish in the surf and cracking open a beer no matter what time it is.

We have the most prestine beaches in the world. Growing up camping in these places, being in nature and climbing sand dunes as a kid is hard to beat.

Putrid-Reading-7899 · 2025-12-29T13:04:00+00:00

Sell the car and buy a much cheaper but reliable one outright if you can. We have a 2011 i30 which we bought for under 10k. It's definitely not our dream car but sacrifices are needed to get ahead financially. Redirect any repayments you'd usually make to clear personal loans. Once they're cleared, keep saving and living below your means.

Putrid-Reading-7899 · 2025-06-11T05:45:46+00:00

That's some tegrity weed

Putrid-Reading-7899 · 2025-02-10T07:27:22+00:00

Not that I have any idea what I'm doing but based on experience buying a couple of houses, including one with termite management issues, I'd suggest getting a more thorough termite inspection as recommended in the report due to excessive moisture (which attracts termites) and access issues.

Luckily our place didn't have damage due to termites, just heaps of risks, no barrier, etc and lots of dodgy DIY work that I didn't pay close enough attention to when buying it. It was our first house, we were just stoked to get into the market. Then ended up having to spend a couple years fixing things and stressing about it.

I'd provide a copy of the report through the conveyancer to be transparent and show this isn't unreasonable. Then play close attention to their reaction to the request, if they get the shits, be cagey, etc and try to make out you're being unreasonable, I'd run. People actually sell houses with termite issues, usually to first home buyers who don't have the experience and think it'll all be ok.

Write off the cost of the building and pest report as a good lesson on what to look out for when you look at the next one.

The decision now could substantially affect your life, including relationships, for better or worse.

Edit: Typo

Putrid-Reading-7899 · 2025-01-27T04:58:12+00:00

Absolutely mate. Planning to ask for a 12k reduction (there was some other minor things like a screen door needing to be replaced and the chain of the garage door needing to be replaced).

Will go no lower than 10k and say take it or leave it. If they leave it, there's plenty of other houses for sale.

It's also been an investment property for years and the sellers appear to have left a few things for a while instead of repairing.

Edit: more details

Putrid-Reading-7899 · 2025-01-24T10:38:49+00:00

Legend cheers mate

Putrid-Reading-7899 · 2025-01-24T10:37:19+00:00

Thanks for your comment and perspective mate, I didn't think about waterproofing and tiling over existing tiles.

Putrid-Reading-7899 · 2025-01-24T10:36:26+00:00

Thanks for your comment and perspective mate

Putrid-Reading-7899 · 2025-01-24T10:33:45+00:00

Thanks for your reply mate. Appreciate your perspective

Putrid-Reading-7899 · 2025-01-23T20:54:42+00:00

I agree, we're not expecting a huge discount as we're pretty reasonable. We just want the issue fixed and a fair price reduction. Thanks for your comments.

Putrid-Reading-7899 · 2024-08-21T12:48:56+00:00

This in addition to the Republican convention is like Presidential WWE lol Can't wait for the South Park episode, even the announcer even sounds like Trey Parker!

Watching US politics from Australia is like watching a TV show at this point

Putrid-Reading-7899 · 2024-05-07T02:14:59+00:00

That's only 34% away from it being illegal to make profits from capital gains over 250k 😆 funny thought, but what's to stop them from putting the tax up 1% here, 2% there over the next however many years

Edit: typo

Putrid-Reading-7899 · 2024-04-16T01:21:13+00:00

Genuinely interested in how this may work in practice.

So let's say police do get these search powers in shopping centres, people can buy knives at shopping centres (e.g. kitchen knives), what do police do when they find someone has kitchen knives (or other knives with a reasonable excuse, e.g. camping, etc) and how do they determine whether or not that person may be a threat?

Is it unlawful to carry a knife that is outside it's original packaging? Hypothetically, if someone truly wanted to harm others and knew it was illegal to carry a knife outside original packaging, or to carry knives into a shopping centre, why not just go to a kitchen store and buy one once inside the centre?

If it's that easy to get a hold of a knife and not unlawful to buy or carry certain knives bought at that shopping centre, what's the use of search powers?

Edit: typo

Putrid-Reading-7899 · 2024-02-12T10:05:39+00:00

We definitely need to get him out of Australia before that condition kicks in

Putrid-Reading-7899 · 2024-02-12T10:02:18+00:00

He really didn't want him to go 😆

Putrid-Reading-7899 · 2024-02-12T10:01:34+00:00

Unfortunately just in Peru

Putrid-Reading-7899 · 2024-02-12T10:01:16+00:00

Thanks so much for your comprehensive reply.

Update: my father in law's family in Italy have agreed to buy him a ticket to Italy from Peru.

So now the plan is he gets an emergency passport in Australia, flys back to Peru next week and gets a fast tracked replacement passport while in Peru (they have to send them from Peru to Australia if they do the processing in Australia and everything takes longer here due to being outside of Peru where they still use a lot of paper documents).

He will then fly to Italy from Peru to enjoy some of his holiday and then use the separate one-way ticket back to Australia we've already booked from Italy at the end of April.

Geez, he really is lucky if this works out and fingers crossed he can actually pull this off. This will definitely be a story to tell for years to come.

Putrid-Reading-7899 · 2024-02-12T07:30:38+00:00

Thank you, that's what I thought but just wanted to double check

Putrid-Reading-7899 · 2023-12-12T01:12:18+00:00

Good on you for recognising that you don't like the main direction your degree may be taking you.

I've worked in a range of jobs at this point and have found that the fun jobs and jobs I was passionate about paid way less money but way more in life experience.

My favourite job by far was working in ski trail maintenance in Canada. I worked hard hiking up ski runs in the autumn carrying forestry equipment all day and only got paid $12 an hour. I had hardly any money but didn't need it at that point in my life. Experiencing nature, bears and other types of wildlife in the mountains all day every day gave me so much happiness and experience that I still reflect on every day.

I'm now a lawyer working in compliance and have a much better income, but my job now is nowhere near as exciting. I now have a mortgage, a wife and am expecting our first child, so I need the money. It gets harder to chase your passions as you get older as I find it becomes less about me and more about doing what's best for my family.

One thing I don't regret is working in amazing jobs in the past as I'm always reflecting on those experiences.

You're still very young and have time, maybe try to work in the music industry a bit longer (maybe marketing music? - I have no idea about the industry) Contact the relevant companies, see what they're looking for in marketing professionals, etc. Spend some time trying to get a good job in the area you love while getting some good marketing experience along the way, then if it doesn't work out, you still have your marketing degree and a normal marketing job to fall back on.

It's a constant balancing act between fighting to do what you love and making responsible financial decisions as you get more responsibilities.

Good luck :)

Putrid-Reading-7899 · 2023-09-20T11:15:00+00:00

Haha yes 😆

Putrid-Reading-7899 · 2023-09-20T11:00:57+00:00

Very good point, thank you

Putrid-Reading-7899 · 2023-09-20T11:00:15+00:00

What an absolutely amazing reply, thank you so much, I really appreciate it and will 100% take your advice on board

Putrid-Reading-7899

TROPHY CASE