[derrida]

I punched in my details and there are approximately 100 people like me. What has occurred to me is that people like me (20's, single) that live in rich mobile areas of Sydney spend less than the national average across most things, and overall. But also, compared to people like me, I get away with about 1/8th of what everybody else spends, and do not feel poor. To the contrary in fact.

What is going on here? I am inclined to believe the data.

What this has really reinforced for me is the extent to which other people must spend their income as it comes in. It has also reinforced the importance of my friends, connections, values & personal knowledge. My friends who enable me to live a life that feels rich whilst, apparently, spending about 1/8th of what everybody else does.

I really am surprised. I was not raised frugally and if I want something and have the money, I generally buy it & I don't need more than I have.

[viraptor]

A couple of guesses:

- single does not mean no kids

- once you are in debt, you may have problems getting out of it (you spend a lot on credit repayment rates)

- does spending include investment? for example would a life insurance / retirement fund count towards "spending"?