Australia is the hardest it's EVER BEEN to get ahead.

Housing is sitting at 10x a standard income, we are taxed on everything that moves and a CGT system about to get even worse. Complaining about it is pointless, so here's what I'm actually doing about it instead:
1. The PPOR is the last great tax shelter.
Your principal place of residence is the only asset in this country that grows completely tax-free. No CGT, ever. Every other vehicle gets clipped. I treat my home as a wealth asset first, lifestyle asset second because the government has made it the single most tax-efficient thing an Australian can own.
2. I don't trade in my personal name.
Trading through a company structure changed everything for me: flat tax rate, cleaner separation and options a personal account simply doesn't have. Cost me accountant fees to set up, but is worth every dollar (this one's genuinely case-by-case so please talk to an accountant before copying it).
3. I budget like I'm broke, even when I'm not.
Every dollar has a job before the month starts. Boring? Extremely yes, but I've watched people make six figures and by end the year they are left with nothing because the lifestyle ate it all away. The market giveth, but Uber Eats taketh away.
4. I cut things ruthlessly but only the things that doesn't compound.
Subscriptions I forgot existed (Apple iCloud etc)? Gone. Gym gear, education, tools that make me money? Untouched. The skill isn't spending less, instead its knowing which expenses are beneficial long term or not.
Ultimately, the sad reality is that the playing field isn't fair. It never has been and the people getting ahead in 2026 aren't the people waiting for it to become fair, instead they're out there already learning the rules and playing them harder than everyone else.
That mindset is exactly what I teach every day inside GTG (my trading community). If you want the framework I use to approach markets the same way: structured, deliberate, nothing left to 'my gut feeling' than join me (link is in my bio).
As always, NFA or tax advice, this is what I do and everyones situation is different.