It's no secret that the housing market in Australia is pretty messed up right now, which means fewer and fewer people are able to actually buy a home, despite wanting to. Generally, their inability to purchase said home is linked to some kind of ~reckless~ spending habit — e.g., eating avocado toast at brunch every Sunday.
Curious about what these spending habits are, Reddit user u/EliteLandlord9 posed the question, "We all know the trope that millennials can't afford a house because of unsustainable purchases such as avocado toast or education. So, what's your 'avo toast' spending habit?"
Here are some of the most interesting and relatable answers.
1. "Buying lunch every day. Shit is expensive."
2. "Tech. I have expensive hobbies that revolve around home theatre, gaming, audiophile headphones, and flight simulation. But to be fair, I enjoy every second of being home and surrounded by these comforts and bits of enjoyment."
3. "Clothes I never wear because I buy them for their beauty, but they never fit me. I imagine them on a younger, smaller me and am seduced — but that me hasn’t existed since 2011."
4. "Ikea and Bunnings. I'm addicted to home improvement, decor, and plants."
5. "For me, it's feeding my kids. I know I shouldn't and should just stop and put it on a house purchase for 2089...but when they look at me with those eyes, I just want to feed them."
Editor’s note: FYI — this response is satire, in case you didn’t realise that.
6. "I buy brand-name products at Woolies instead of the store brand, simply because I like them better."
7. "Streaming services. I’ve got Netflix, Binge, Disney +, Kayo, Stan, Apple+…it’s an addiction."
8. "Fresh flowers every Sunday. Can’t stop, won’t stop."
9. "Bubble tea 😭."
10. "Gel manis and pedis. Makes me feel put together even when I’m an exhausted mess."
11. "Boost Juice. A lot of Boost Juice."
12. "Video games — though I try to buy things on sale or wait until they’ve been out for a while."
13. "Sourdough bread. That shit's expensive, but super healthy for the gut. Taking a dump has never been easier."
14. "Synthesisers. Somebody, please help me…find space for more Euroroack modules."
15. "A regular size of Schnitz chips."
"I don't know why these people ask me for my name anymore. Every damn day I’m in there and I look the same girl in the face.
"'Regular chips, please.'
'"Anything else?'
"'Nope.'
"'Name?'
"'FourSharpTwigs.'"
16. "Craft beer. I don't spend stupid, but I do spend to get good beer — it's my only real vice."
17. "My computer setup."
18. "Guitars and pedals."
19. "Religiously getting my hair done every eight weeks. I have short hair and far too many greys. It’s something I won’t compromise on."
20. "I'm slowly building my wine cellar. I buy more wine (and other liquor) than I can drink. Ironically, I'm not actually a big drinker, but I like to have fine things available."
21. "Aldi specials, because you never know when you might need a ski mask in southeast Queensland."
22. "Camping. If you think camping is a cheap way to travel, think again. Petrol is still quite expensive; add to that the coffee and sausage rolls, camping fees and supplies — and you end up with a lot less money than when you started."
23. "Business class airfares. I am not going any farther than southeast Asia unless it’s business class."
24. "Weight loss surgery and surgery for my lipedema. It's not recognised by Medicare yet, and therefore not covered in any way by them or by health insurance."
25. "Plants. Many, many plants. Now I have started to sell them, as they are getting too big and numerous to manage."
26. "Cheese."
27. "Rent. I'd rather fork out the extra cash and live somewhere comfortable with AC and a decent-sized kitchen that's close to public transport with a shorter commute."
28. "Subscription streaming services. Gotta catch 'em all."
29. "A 5-dollar energy drink and cheeky snack for breakfast every morning. I'm a construction worker who gets up every day at 4:30am to go to work, and I hate coffee. It probably comes to about $60 a week that could be in my pocket, but you have to use money to enjoy yourself a bit."
30. "Clothes and shoes. I don’t go overboard, but I’m definitely happy to sacrifice in other areas to have a wardrobe that makes me feel good."
31. And finally, "Hair products. I will cheap out on everything else in my life, but I bleach my hair, so to keep it healthy, I need quality products and a fair few of them."
What's your "avocado on toast" spending habit? Let us know in the comments below!
Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.