let an unfortunate Canadian take your place here in Australia
Lexi,
May I suggest you swap places with some of your fellow australians from the basic wage society. Those who pay tax so people like you can afford so much compassion as to invite low income Canadians & boat people to Australia.
Yes, things are quite rosy for many Australians but there are many Australian who can't afford anything. Breadline Pensioners come to mind there. Do you think about them when you collect your obviously generous pay ?
I don't mean to be sarcastic. I simply want to say that SoG puts forward a valid argument.

SOG I agree with the concerns in your list for the most part, however I believe people are just becoming less consumerist and like Yabby wrote are more wary of the debt trap.

The GFC has changed many people especially if they lost their jobs as a result (like many I know who worked for American owned companies in Australia). Most of them have found work without too many problems unless they were aged in their mid-late fifties.

We are doing well financially and spent less this year than previous years because we are more interested in increasing our nest egg and saving money. We also have become more aware of buying 'things'. Things are not important but spending time with family and friends and living with less emphasis on material goods. We are not unique in this I think, this movement away from mindless consumption is growing.

Now you're making me feel guilty.

I have never been in a Myers store, never bought anything from a David Jones, & have yet to make it to a Boxing day sale.

I did once buy a yacht [which I then lived on for almost 19 years], from the owner of Knock & Kirbys, if that counts. Do they still exist?

Other wise I have to admit, I have not done my bit for the prosperity of our consumer society.

"Cocaine sales in Sydney are booming, like never before".

Prior to the recent cocaine importation drug busts within the last 3 months Nationwide Yabby which has set the industry back significantly. Watch the media sensationalism, as you would know, it is often crap.

Nevertheless, I always agree with your 'choice' facts and theories along with giving the credit cards a rest.

In relation to the purchasing of shares for the average families struggling with high interest rates/20-30 year mortgages while paying off a little vehicle, fuel costs, rego, insurances for home, contents, vehicle, tyres, dealing with high water and energy utilities, food prices, medical, education, the cost of crime setbacks, the unforseen costs involved with childrens illnesses, disabilities, dental, technology required for education, clothing, excursions for kids, forget a break for those earning under $42,000 raising 1-4 children, the list is endless.

Families make up a high proportion of our population Yabby.

I would love you to be a realist, stop for a moment, and think to yourself "how would I cope and survive working on a $42,000 income or less, raising 3 or 4 children, starting from scratch, with no handouts from family or government, no land left to me through the family, no superannuation, living in suburbia".

How many flaming shares could a parent or both working on low incomes purchase over the years whilst dealing with unforseen obstacles such as crooks, natural disasters, paying for funerals, paying for the treatment of childrens illnesses, disabilities and a host of other unforseen events that occur with the average family

Oh...and Yabby, please don't spin me the 'cop out' line, where you state words to the effect of 'people choose to have children' therefore they should face the burden of child raising/family costs". I read your unrealistic comment on an economy based thread this year at some stage.

The reality is that many people gave birth to children ten or fifteen years ago when mortgages and interest rates were a great deal lower, home prices were half the price, utilities and other costs half the price with the range of technology and its costs not required for a child's education. More expensive excursion costs [both public and private], more expensive clothing and footwear for children required, as I said, the list is endless as other Australian parents live the reality and situation.

*how would I cope and survive working on a $42,000 income or less, raising 3 or 4 children, starting from scratch, with no handouts from family or government, no land left to me through the family, no superannuation, living in suburbia*

Oh, that is quite easy, Unique. For a start, I would tie a knot
in the line, ending at 2, much to the horror of the Catholic Church.
Breed like rabbits if you will, at your own expense. Don't expect
sympathy from me.

What do smart couples do? They did it years ago and it worked just
fine. Shack up together, both working. Bank one wage, live on the
other. Within 3-4 years, you've paid for half a house.

Buy shares if you want, they will give you a future, unlike
make up, more cds and even more shoes. Your fella will love you
for what you are, not for the new shoes, otherwise find a new one.

It works like a charm, as smart women have proven to me. But I
admit, they are not that common.

The majority prefer to complain about how tough life is, because it
does not fall their way, on a plate.