
Most read
Pros and cons: Working in the gig economy...
Pros and cons: Working in the gig economy...

Latest Podcast
Is the market overheating; should ETFs take your fancy, and what’s happening t...
Is the market overheating; should ETFs take your fancy, and what’s happening t...

Resources
There is $17.5 billion in lost and unclaimed super across ...
There is $17.5 billion in lost and unclaimed super across ...
Invest
Instagram, YouTube influencers put pressure on the savings of 20-somethings
Invest
Instagram, YouTube influencers put pressure on the savings of 20-somethings
A new research paper has found the pressures of “keeping up appearances” is having a material impact on the bottom line of Australian investors, particularly those under 30 years old.

Instagram, YouTube influencers put pressure on the savings of 20-somethings
A new research paper has found the pressures of “keeping up appearances” is having a material impact on the bottom line of Australian investors, particularly those under 30 years old.

Mortgage Choice and research house Core Data have surveyed Australian attitudes and behaviours in relation to their finances.
Among some of the findings, the research found “enviable” lifestyles are contributing to the financial decisions Australians are making.
"While 35 per cent of respondents said they felt pressure to keep up appearances, this surged to almost 50 per cent among respondents aged 30 years and younger. In contrast, the research found that only 20 per cent of Australians aged between 51 and 60 felt pressured to keep up appearances,” said Mortgage Choice chief executive, Susan Mitchell.
“This is unsurprising in an age where image is everything, particularly for younger generations and avid users of social media who are bombarded constantly by the enviable lifestyles of Instagram and YouTube influencers,” she said.
“Although it’s very tempting to keep up with trends, it can be a dangerous strategy to live for today and not have a strategic plan for your longer term financial security,” she said.
In particular, the survey found women face a variety of stressors with their finances, motivated in part by the gender pay gap, which hovers at around 15 per cent in Australia.
“Worryingly, the research revealed that some Australians are choosing to sacrifice their health and order to maintain their lifestyle, with almost 39 per cent of respondents forgoing regular dental check-ups and over 31 per cent forgoing private health insurance,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Of particular concern was the difference between women and men who are choosing not to make their health a priority. Over 42 per cent of females saying they forgo dental check-ups versus 35 per cent of males and 32 per cent of women are forgoing health insurance, versus 30 per cent of men,” she said.
“The research also revealed that 38 per cent of Australians are choosing to forgo buying their own home in order to keep up appearances,” she said.

Stock market
Ethical investing tipped to drive ETF market
Following a volatile 2020 where investors poured into ETFs, shareholders are tipped to focus on ethical investing and technology as the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic continues, an industry expe...Read more

Stock market
‘The concept of collective investing is here to stay’
The phenomenon of retail investors acting as a collective, led by social media and celebrity investors, is here to stay, says one expert. ...Read more

Stock market
What is short selling and should you do it?
Short selling stocks may sound like a good investment strategy when you’re after quick and big returns, but is it worth the risk? Here’s a rundown of why shorting stocks may not be a sound stock t...Read more

Stock market
How much insider trading really happens?
There are at least four times as many people who get away with insider trading than the number of those caught by prosecutors, new research has revealed. ...Read more

Stock market
Why you should be wary of the tech stock bandwagon
After a strong year of tech stock gains, tech shares have been on a decline in recent weeks as increasing bond yields rattle equity markets. ...Read more

Stock market
GameStop set to release first earnings since Reddit stock market rally
The video game retailer at the centre of the WallStreetBets saga is set to post its first quarterly market update since the fiasco began, with social-media investors heavily tipped to continue backing...Read more

Stock market
What is thematic investing and why it could be a fad
Long-term investors are being urged to ignore market fads and instead focus on identifying major socioeconomic, environmental and technological themes, an industry expert has explained. ...Read more

Stock market
ASX 300 companies cash in on JobKeeper scheme
Most of Australia’s ASX 300 companies that received JobKeeper payments did not need the subsidy as they recorded increases in profits throughout the calendar year, according to a study. ...Read more

Is the market overheating; should ETFs take your fancy, and what’s happening to the low and middle income tax offset?
Listen now

Home values up 30% (or are they); NFTs taking the world by storm, and why Keating thinks Aussies will be ‘poor’ in retirement
Listen now

Raging floods, the tech stock bubble and the ongoing SG debate
Listen now

Meet the Manager with Trilogy’s Philip Ryan: RBA rates and property price growth
Listen now

Stock market
Ethical investing tipped to drive ETF market
Following a volatile 2020 where investors poured into ETFs, shareholders are tipped to focus on ethical investing and technology as the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic continues, an industry expe...Read more

Stock market
‘The concept of collective investing is here to stay’
The phenomenon of retail investors acting as a collective, led by social media and celebrity investors, is here to stay, says one expert. ...Read more

Stock market
What is short selling and should you do it?
Short selling stocks may sound like a good investment strategy when you’re after quick and big returns, but is it worth the risk? Here’s a rundown of why shorting stocks may not be a sound stock t...Read more

Stock market
How much insider trading really happens?
There are at least four times as many people who get away with insider trading than the number of those caught by prosecutors, new research has revealed. ...Read more

Stock market
Why you should be wary of the tech stock bandwagon
After a strong year of tech stock gains, tech shares have been on a decline in recent weeks as increasing bond yields rattle equity markets. ...Read more

Stock market
GameStop set to release first earnings since Reddit stock market rally
The video game retailer at the centre of the WallStreetBets saga is set to post its first quarterly market update since the fiasco began, with social-media investors heavily tipped to continue backing...Read more

Stock market
What is thematic investing and why it could be a fad
Long-term investors are being urged to ignore market fads and instead focus on identifying major socioeconomic, environmental and technological themes, an industry expert has explained. ...Read more

Stock market
ASX 300 companies cash in on JobKeeper scheme
Most of Australia’s ASX 300 companies that received JobKeeper payments did not need the subsidy as they recorded increases in profits throughout the calendar year, according to a study. ...Read more