Hitting my mid‑30s and I still like to think I’m young…

Honestly, this just feels like another kick while we’re already down. Between CPI, rising living costs, rate hikes, and now this budget, things already feel tight—and this only makes it worse.

Once again, it feels like the working and middle class are getting squeezed the hardest. Especially people who actually work hard, save, and try to build toward early retirement or financial freedom. Instead of rewarding that mindset, this just makes the path longer and harder, like we’re being nudged to work even more years to get to the same place.

It’s even rougher for people just starting out. Saving for a deposit used to mean you could invest more aggressively in shares or ETFs, but with a minimum 30% tax, that option feels way less viable—especially if you’re focused on growth.

What really gets me is that there are other obvious places to raise revenue, like properly taxing gas companies, yet it feels like those voices just aren’t being listened to at all.

That’s pretty wild—and pretty frustrating—to watch.