A single mother has divided Australians after revealing how she saved $20,000 for a car deposit while receiving Centrelink payments.
Susie, 22, explained she receives approximately $850 a week from Centrelink in a video posted on social media.
She rents through social housing and receives family tax benefit as a single mother.
However, to achieve his goal of buying a car, he had to adopt a frugal lifestyle and save every last penny he could.
Susie cut out online streaming services like Netflix and now watches YouTube, while replacing expensive foods like meat with homemade plant-based products.
The young mother said she does not smoke or drink and has stopped enjoying “aesthetic” luxuries such as manicures and professional haircuts.
“These are just a few of the small sacrifices I’ve personally made that have helped me reach my savings goal,” Susie told her followers on TikTok.
Susie explained that she never buys takeout coffee, although she misses it, and avoids eating out at all costs.
Young single mum Susie (pictured) caused a stir online after revealing she was able to save for a $20,000 car deposit thanks to Centrelink payments and government subsidies.
Susie has managed to save more on Centrelink than many Australians who have a full-time job.
‘Sometimes I still have to dip into my savings to pay for food. I’m saving for college and a safety net right now. “Once I have a job, it will be a home,” he told NewsCorp.
However, he admitted that sacrifices are often difficult.
‘The hardest thing is just watching others outdo you. Watching my friends leave their kids with their grandparents while they go out at night is hard,” she said.
‘I have to budget for months to pay for a babysitter and be able to spend a few hours alone. Seeing others live rent-free at home generates feelings of jealousy.’
Many Australians expressed frustration at working hard but not being able to save as much as the young mother, who receives welfare.
“I don’t know how people do it. I make more than $75,000 and I feel like a serf,” said one.
‘I simply exist, from time to time I eat and sleep’
“I can’t save $20,000 and I work full time, I have a hard time paying the bills and I don’t depend on handouts,” added a second.
“What’s the point of working, I guess?” said a third.
A fourth said that, despite working full-time with overtime, they couldn’t save $20,000 and wondered if they should consider receiving welfare.
Some Australians were outraged that their tax money had contributed to Susie’s savings account.
“My salary will go into your savings, get a job,” said one.
‘What do you mean by “save” while you’re on Centrelink? I thought it was to cover essential expenses, not to save,” wrote a second.
The 22-year-old mother said she had to adopt a frugal lifestyle to save so much on Centrelink payments of around $850 a week (file image).
But other taxpayers commented in support of Susie, saying she was a perfect example of who they want to receive payments from the government.
“This is the kind of person I want Centrelink to turn to, goal-oriented and financially savvy,” one user wrote.
“People don’t understand that putting something away while you’re on Centrelink is incredibly difficult, you have to be very disciplined for a long time, well done,” said another.
Another single mother on Centrelink described Susie as an “absolute inspiration” to those trying to better themselves.
Welfare payments for retirees, jobseekers and students increased in March this year in a bid to reduce cost of living pressures.
Payments for single parents increased by $17.50 a fortnight, while those in couples received a rise of $12.30.
Senior, disability and carer payments have also increased to a maximum fortnightly rate of $1,140.40 for singles and couples can now receive up to $1,725.20.
Meanwhile, a single parent of a dependent child can receive up to $833 per fortnight and a partner can receive up to $712.30.