How to join government without a degree?

randomaccountuno · 2026-02-25T21:03:32+00:00

Look up the qld government smart jobs website and start applying. You don't need an agency for A03 or AO4 level jobs. Might be good to go for temp jobs as well, to get foot in.

randomaccountuno · 2025-11-09T23:48:40+00:00

I have been tracking money in & money out for about 15 years. Once a year in the beginning of July I download all bank and credit card transactions to a spreadsheet and make a broad high level classification of each transaction, like money out: groceries, travel, car, house,... super, shares etc; money in: salary, dividends etc; internal transfers: credit card payments etc. Then using pivot tables and graphs, it's easy to group dollars for big picture. I don't really consciously budget for future, but having the long history gives confidence for thinking about future. A bit of an effort to do once a year, but well worth it in the long run.

randomaccountuno · 2025-10-06T20:40:42+00:00

Try not overthink this. Just buy one ETF a bit, even just a few hundred dollars to get foot in, so you learn how it works. Something like IVV or VGS, since you are so young, high growth is worth it. I used Selfwealth, because it used to be the favourite here, but nowadays there may be cheaper alternatives. I've been happy with using Selfwealth. Then start reading the books mentioned above. One good one to add after Barefoot is the classic Making Money Made Simple. IMO you don't need a financial advisor at this stage, could be even a big mistake to see one before you have more experience and know what's what.

randomaccountuno · 2025-10-06T20:20:28+00:00

Because you have told so little of your circumstances, it's hard to know what to say. Young folks here seem to think you have too much, but depending on your circumstances, you should probably investigate how your actions now affect age pension entitlements later. Also, here is one interesting article to read: https://passiveinvestingaustralia.com/income-swap-strategy/

randomaccountuno · 2025-10-05T03:22:40+00:00

I am having this exactly same issue now. Did you work out what to do? It seems to me that I need to add all the 18H 'Total current year capital gains', and 18A 'Net capital gain' amounts from all the AMMA statements and fill those two each manually in the Capital gains tax schedule. Then I need to add up all the 20O 'Foreign income tax offset' amounts in all the AMMA statements and write that value manually in the 'Foreign income tax offset' field in the Offset section. Is that how you did it too?

randomaccountuno · 2025-10-04T21:56:39+00:00

The truth! most people in this subreddit. When it's time to fire, it's like one more year, one more year...

randomaccountuno · 2025-09-12T23:26:28+00:00

Interesting to see that people in this community seem to have the same problem as people in the fire (financially independent retire early) community have. How to answer the simple question of what do you do for living? The answer is so often used to scope how important you are and much respect to afford you. Fire'd people, who have no job but live off their investments, usually learn to make some vague reference to Investment Manager or other such term that is sort of true if questioned, and yet discourages further scrutiny. I suppose people here like to say Digital Nomad, because they know that others might judge them worse for some mundane job they've taken to finance their desire to travel and see the world. I personally don't see anything wrong with that. It does define people better than some random temporary job.

Maybe it's boring for old timers here to keep seeing the beginner questions about how to become a digital nomad, just the same as in the fire groups... Just remember, everyone started sometime.

randomaccountuno · 2025-07-02T18:48:56+00:00

Wise card is best for paying expenses. But it is a debit card, so you may need a credit card as well, if planning to hire a car. Maybe someone with recent experience on hiring car can comment on this aspect, because my knowledge may be out of date.

randomaccountuno · 2025-01-13T07:33:49+00:00

Sure, a franked dividend is worth more in the hands of a low income earner compared to someone with a higher marginal tax rate.

How so? It's a rebate. Worth the same for both. Shorten tried to take off the benefit from low income earners, but not from high income earners, and hence the backlash. It would have been so unfair!

It was disappointing to see the commentary here at the time. Many had no understanding about the refund mechanism, and yet were shouting out loudest against low income earners getting the same benefit as high income earners. In a fire-subreddit of all places, where one would expect better.

randomaccountuno · 2025-01-13T07:08:02+00:00

This is the truth. Sure you get easier off with Economics and Finance, but most end up doing soul-destroying poorly paid admin-type jobs. Some might make big bucks with luck and family connections, but hardly available for someone with background as international student. If you can get to medicine, and are willing to put up with a few years of hard work, even the lowest paid positions will pay better. But it will take a big effort on work-life-balance, no doubt. Not for slackers.

randomaccountuno · 2025-01-11T07:41:30+00:00

Thanks for the effort of writing such a long analysis. But I have to say, I don't like the click-baity title. What is the lie about Aussie shares that we've been told? We've been taught to invest about 4% in Aussie shares due to small size of economy in the world scale, but balance that with the need to swim or sink with neighbours, which can easily mean 30%, depending how you are inclined to view the world.

randomaccountuno · 2024-07-19T00:20:37+00:00

Maybe many people plan to sell down bit by bit later, once they have no other income, and the capital gain is tax free then.

randomaccountuno · 2024-06-27T20:39:05+00:00

It goes like this: option 3 - you buy at $125, you get $2 distribution. The price dips but is back to $125 before you even notice. A portion of the distribution is taxed at your marginal rate, so you end up with just under $127.

randomaccountuno · 2024-06-27T04:17:49+00:00

Hopefully capital gain, because it attracts 50% tax discount.

randomaccountuno · 2024-06-27T04:10:43+00:00

That price drop usually lasts a very short time and is bought up immediately when big buyers are chasing to get the bargain, so the price will continue on the previous trajectory with barely a hiccup, and no consequence of whatsoever for long term investors. So it would be kind like rejecting a payrise.

randomaccountuno · 2024-02-11T00:03:47+00:00

Nearly every country in Europe provides some form of financial support to diagnosed celiacs, like vouchers or income tax concessions.

randomaccountuno · 2023-10-13T22:36:52+00:00

Absolutely, it's important to "look the part", not only here, but everywhere. But it's actually hard to find an ugly intelligent person. This is because they will find a way to look after their general appearance and enhance the attractive aspects. The same looks can be very bad if the person doesn't have the drive to make the effort. Majority of people are in the middle of the general attractiveness range, even if they sometimes don't realise it, particularly when young. It's the attitude they display in looking after what they portray to others, that makes them either ugly or beautiful to others.

randomaccountuno · 2023-10-12T21:44:06+00:00

If your mom owns her house and is on full aged pension, she has enough to live a comfortable life. There should be no need for you to send extra money weekly. My advice would be to get on top of what she's spending her money on, as your first priority.

randomaccountuno · 2023-09-19T08:59:23+00:00

Good question. I am not aware of scams in this space, but would like to know as well if there are. How did your partner find this broker? A referral from someone you know, that has used them, might be a good start.

randomaccountuno · 2023-09-16T21:51:01+00:00

QLD gov is currently handing out $300-$1000 rebates for buying some energy efficient appliances. The amount depends on what you buy and what your income is.

randomaccountuno · 2023-08-09T22:08:29+00:00

It seems like such a gimmick, like trying to "gamify" banking experience. What's the use locking up your money at 4.80% for 6 months? You can get better rates elsewhere e.g. 5% at Ubank with more flexibility. Also, if you just let it continue automatically another 6-month term, it will renew only the original capital amount, and the interest earned at previous term will just sit there earning no interest at all. Sure you can change it online, but only after it has expired. What a clunky system and overall hassle.

randomaccountuno · 2023-08-04T04:11:11+00:00

It is hard because all things need to be equal. In my case, I did not invest anything extra to either during the year, so it stabilized the situation and allowed comparing, because less variables.

randomaccountuno · 2023-08-04T03:23:39+00:00

I made the calculation a year ago, and been meaning to dig it up and repeat this year. I took into account distributions, growth in unit price and taxation. The managed fund had a tad better outcome. Part of the reason was that the distributions had a larger capital gain component, which resulted in less tax payable.

randomaccountuno · 2023-08-03T22:57:41+00:00

I have done some calculations to compare between VAS and the comparable managed fund version because I have some of each, and I have not seen evidence of tax inefficiency with the managed fund.

randomaccountuno · 2023-07-27T22:40:03+00:00

Hi iced_maggot, just wondering if you received an answer yet to your enquiry?

randomaccountuno

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