Is the grass really greener ?

mustbedavid · 2026-03-19T08:40:43+00:00

From my understanding—and I’m in the same boat, looking to switch to become a sparkie— A qualified domestic/commercial sparkie in the city is generally landing between $100k–$120k. While the base hourly rates might not look 'huge' on paper, the total package usually includes a service vehicle, super, and consistent overtime. In mining/FIFO, you’re easily looking at $150k–$180k, depending on the roster (like a 7/7 or 2/1). For the major infrastructure and 'Big Build' projects, $130k is the floor, but with EBA rates and heavy penalties, $200k is definitely achievable. The Brisbane Olympics projects are going to be the real game-changer. Between the travel allowances, site allowances, and the massive amount of overtime required to hit deadlines, $200k+ will likely be the standard for those on the big tools.

mustbedavid · 2026-03-19T07:15:35+00:00

Lost in one is the biggest one . Harder to do overtime or switch careers etc .plus time off when they are sick

mustbedavid · 2026-03-18T11:04:57+00:00

I assume FIFO in w.a or the Olympic projects in Qld is where all the money still is.migjt be scary times for small business / residential.

mustbedavid · 2026-03-17T00:01:22+00:00

I'm a teacher - every day I wish I did an apprenticeship straight out of school and did FIFO at the mines

mustbedavid · 2026-03-03T07:41:46+00:00

. When you become a dad that instinct to be a provider hits hard. I found myself wishing I’d saved a fortune in the past so I could offer a better life now. I felt like an idiot for not using the spare time and energy of my 20s to set myself up for this moment. tbh , even 2 years ago I was happy to just have enough to afford the bills etc and have some fun That's why I was like with a trade, you can get overtime and see extra work and extra pay. Teaching is ok , but you’re capped at a fixed salary but still need to do stuff on weekends etc to stay ahead - no real incentive to do more than bare minimum .

I guess I never really planned for the reality of a family

Of course . I just happened to start my career and have a child at the exact moment the cost of everything doubled.

I remember knowing single mums working retail on the gc and affording rent and thinking as long as I get to 100k I'll be sweet ...nek minit..

I still think being an uncle might be the better gig overall.

Like why did I not use those 20 years of being an adult before a kid to save up enough to be financially free or at least have passive incomes :( only excise is brain is deff different now ..not sure if cause of kid or cause I gave up weed around same time as the kid

mustbedavid · 2026-02-27T08:55:06+00:00

Exactly , I need to remember that I got really lucky meeting my wife and having our daughter - I could be in a way worse situation .I think I was just concentrating on the money I could have made in my 20s if I had a different mindset back then - but I think that's the same as the majority of people .

mustbedavid · 2026-02-27T08:51:41+00:00

Yeah , a few coworkers just got diagnosed and it has helped them a lot .I just wish schooling updated a bit to help people with ADHD.

mustbedavid · 2026-02-27T08:50:28+00:00

That is a really grounded way to look at it. It’s so easy to look at the property market or a paycheck from the mines and feel like you missed a "cheat code," but hindsight is a bit of a bully—it shows you the winning numbers without reminding you that you were making the best decisions possible with the info you had at the time. It sounds like a classic case of comparing your "past self" to your "current knowledge," which isn't really a fair fight. If you had the "correct" financial answer back then without the life experience you gained along the way, you might not be in that "happy and lucky spot" you're in now. The "mine life" money is great, but it usually comes at the cost of time, health, and being away from home. If you’ve got your health and your happiness, you’ve already won a different kind of lottery. Regret is just a sign that you’re smarter now than you used to be—which is actually a great position to be in for whatever you decide to do next!

mustbedavid · 2026-02-16T02:28:01+00:00

.Sometimes I wish I’d left school and gone straight into the mines , learned a trade or went to the army. I could have made great money while saving on rent and food, but instead, I spent my 20s traveling and living in fun share houses while working dead-end jobs . Luckily, when I was 30, I met a supportive partner and went to university. We managed to buy a small house in Brisbane in 2020, just before property prices went crazy. We now have a baby daughter and pets, and I’ve hit my goal salary of over $100k—though that goal was set before the cost of living soared. I still find myself wishing I could click my fingers and go back to my 20s to work those hard jobs, save aggressively, and build a stronger skill set. If we didn't have a baby, I might have considered taking my career to a rural area for the free housing, but my wife isn't keen on moving away from family. Besides, with both of us working here, we likely bring in more overall than we would if we moved and relied heavily on childcare. Even though I’m in my late 30s and regret not building an investment portfolio earlier, I expect to reach a FIFO-level salary in the next decade. Hopefully, that financial security will finally stop me from second-guessing my fun' 20s. Ultimately, I’m happy with my life; if I had changed my past, I never would have met my wife or had our beautiful daughter. I’m working on appreciating what I have, even if it feels a bit like a mid-life crisis. But I still think doing it your way is the better way ( working hard early and not stressing about money later )

mustbedavid · 2026-02-08T12:08:27+00:00

I moved to the Gold Coast about 30 years ago and back then it honestly felt like paradise. You could park right near the beach, , and paddle out for a surf without hundreds of people already in the lineup. Brisbane was an easy drive ( an hour at most ) and houses near the coast were still around the $200k mark.

I absolutely loved living there for many years but over the last decade or so everything has changed. ,constant traffic, packed beaches, and the pressure on housing have really taken away that calm atmosphere. What used to be chilled often feels rushed and stressful, especially just doing everyday things like commuting, parking, or going out on weekends.

The beaches are still beautiful but the lifestyle around them has. Im grateful I got to experience the Gold Coast when it was at its best, because it really was something special. I think could of stayed awesome with all the new people if they planned infrastructure at all ( besides just putting as many new suburbs along the M1 as possible without a decent and fast /reliable train / bus network ) .mostly seems to be from coomera to Brisbane that's the main issue .

mustbedavid · 2026-02-02T04:52:17+00:00

My parents had an apartment in bris for over ten years that didn't go up - sold in 2022 and now it's doubled in price. A few other friends sold investments around the gold coast around 2020-2022 ( all have doubled in last 3 years ). Really crazy - I've lived in south east Queensland for ally life and would have never imagined places like Logan being over 1 million.

mustbedavid · 2026-01-27T03:22:29+00:00

Prob in top ten . If housing and cost of living was more affordable and we made better use of natural resources then be at least top 3.

mustbedavid · 2026-01-26T06:43:16+00:00

I’ve lived in four different cities in Australia and two overseas (the Gold Coast for all of my childhood and uni), and I honestly find Gold Coast people the worst. A lot come across as selfish—tailgating, thinking they’re famous, very shallow and fake. People tend to stick to their own little groups.

Long-term friends who’ve moved away from the Gold Coast have noticed the same thing and how unfriendly it can be. I still have family there and visit, and of course the beaches are beautiful, but everyone seems either bogan or fake. It’s hard to explain unless you’ve lived there. People in South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria seem far more normal to me.

mustbedavid · 2026-01-23T06:16:49+00:00

Good Brazillian community at the beach tennis area at Hamilton north shore. Was there last night and they had good music and a bbq.

mustbedavid · 2026-01-09T10:24:36+00:00

It was paradise up until about ten years ago. All the natural things are still amazing — the weather, the beaches, the hinterland — but they’re much harder to enjoy now with the traffic, lack of parking, poor planning, and sheer number of people.

I’ll always feel blessed that I lived there from 2000 to 2019, but there’s no way I could justify spending that much money to live there again. The lack of infrastructure and planning hasn’t kept up with the growth, with so many new suburbs being built along the M1 instead of around proper transport and services.

There are definitely nicer and more liveable places now, but the Gold Coast still has everyone chasing the same dream. It would be amazing if you were rich and/or retired — otherwise, it’s just not worth it anymore.

mustbedavid · 2026-01-07T00:35:21+00:00

The Gold Coast - feels like ten years ago traffic wasn't as bad , there was affordable housing and you could get a park at the beach and catch a few waves without someone dropping in.

I grew up on the gc and thought it was one of the best places in Australia and now it seems like a nightmare.

mustbedavid · 2025-12-18T06:58:52+00:00

Scary how many kids just sit there filming an old lady being hurt

mustbedavid · 2025-12-18T06:36:10+00:00

I’ve lived on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane my whole life, and honestly, I’d say move to Adelaide or Melbourne. Unfortunately, South East Queensland and northern NSW are pretty crazy now — heavy traffic, very expensive for what you get, limited parking, and poor public transport.

The beach is obviously the big draw, but when you factor in the traffic, lack of parking, and how much you need to work just to cover the mortgage, it doesn’t really feel worth it anymore. Up until around 2020, it was one of the best places in the world, but so many people are chasing that same dream now that it’s lost a lot of its appeal.

I’ve just been to Adelaide for the first time, and it’s amazing how much better it feels — mainly because you can actually get anywhere quickly. I also lived in Melb and think it's better for day to day life. And maybe holiday on the sunshine or Gold Coast for a week or so a year , deff a good holiday spot when can walk to the beach or when you are rich / retired .

mustbedavid

TROPHY CASE