‘A lot of sacrifices’: 22yo reveals how much she’s saved while on Centrelink

A young Aussie has caused divide online by revealing the staggering amount she’s saved while on Centrelink benefits.

Susie has caused a divide online by revealing that she’s managed to save $20,000 while receiving Centrelink benefits.

The 22-year-old just completed TAFE and is off to university next year. She rents through social housing, is on the Family Tax Benefit as a single parent, and gets $800 per week and she’s managed to save.

Susie shared on TikTok that she just put down a $20,000 deposit to buy a car and people online were stunned.

She said she was able to save that much up, despite not currently having a job, because she doesn’t “smoke or drink” and she doesn’t get any cosmetic procedures done.

“I don’t think people truly realise how much that takes out of your bank account,” she said.

Susie said she also doesn’t get her hair, eyebrows, or nails done, and she doesn’t get a fake tan.

The only time she’s spent money on something aesthetically in recent years is the occasional piercing and when she got two tattoos over two years ago.

The 22-year-old said that she never buys takeaway coffee even though she “misses” it a lot, and she avoids eating out like the “plague”, all of which has allowed her to save.

Susie revealed how she has managed to save while receiving Centrelink payments. Picture: TikTok/_arcane_02

There’s many things she doesn’t do in order to cut down on her expenses. Picture: TikTok/_arcane_02

Despite Susie revealing all the “sacrifices” she’s made to secure herself some savings, people on the internet were divided.

Plenty of people claimed in the comment section that she shouldn’t be able to save while on government benefits.

“What do you mean ‘save up’ while on Centrelink. I thought it was to cover essentials costs, not save up,” one person wrote.

“My wages are going into your savings account! Get a job,” another claimed.

“That deposit was from my taxes; you get it from Centrelink,” someone else wrote.

“Wow not sure how you can save $20,000 on Centrelink. They money is to support your living costs and not to spend on a car,” another argued.

“Sounds like you’re receiving a bit much then if you’re able to save. Centrelink is not an income and lifestyle, it is to assist people in time of need,” someone else said.

People were divided on her savings. Picture: iStock

It wasn’t all negative though. There were lots of Aussies cheering on the single mum.

“Absolutely love this,” one complimented.

“This makes me happy about where my tax goes! Driven and smart,” one said.

“Well done. Where there’s a will there’s a way,” someone else noted.

“You have to be super disciplined over a long time, well done,” another person wrote.

Susie told news.com.au that she’s made “a lot of sacrifices to get where I am”.

“It hasn’t been a fun journey. I’ve watched on as my friends enjoy their twenties travelling and treating themselves, while I sit back and focus on being frugal and getting through study,” she said.

She said saving hasn’t been a ‘fun journey’. Picture: Instagram/ _iamsuzar

The cost of living crisis has made things tougher. Picture: Instagram/ _iamsuzar

Susie explained that even though she’s worked hard to save that doesn’t mean every week she’s putting money away.

“I still have to dig into my savings to pay for food sometimes. I’m saving for university and a safety net right now. Once I’m employed, it’ll be a house,” she said.

The single mum said she’s also had to miss out on so much to get herself into a position where she even has savings.

“The hardest is just watching on as others surpass you. Watching my friends drop their kids off with their grandparents while they have a night out is hard,” she said.

“I have to budget for months to afford a babysitter in order to get a few hours by myself. Watching others live rent free at home leads to feelings of jealousy.”

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reported in March 2023 that 5 million Australians received income support payments, equating to 24 per cent of the population aged 16 and over.

Welfare payments for pensioners, job seekers, and students increased in March this year.

Under the new guidelines, single-parent payments increased by $17.50 a fortnight, and those in a couple received an increase of $12.30.

Singles on aged, disability support or carer payments now receive a maximum fortnightly rate of $1144.40.

Couples on one of these payments can receive a maximum benefit of $1725.20 a fortnight.

A single person on JobSeeker with a dependent child or children will receive a maximum fortnightly payment of $833, while a partnered person can receive a top of $712.30 a fortnight.