In an effort to combat the ever-increasing cost of living, I find myself juggling multiple roles. Alongside my full-time position in the insurance industry and my passion project creating YouTube content, I’ve taken on additional shifts as a food delivery driver. This hustle is part of my strategy to manage expenses and save for future goals.

Reflecting on my family’s past, my mother stepped away from her career to focus on raising me after my birth in 1989. My father, a dedicated bricklayer, supported us on a single income. Despite this, they were able to purchase a spacious plot on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and construct a new home, all for just over $40,000.

Today, the landscape of homeownership has shifted dramatically. Housing prices have soared, while the dream of owning a substantial property has become more elusive than ever. The Australian Dream, once a symbol of prosperity, now comes with a hefty price tag and often, a smaller footprint.

For many, including myself, saving for a house deposit feels like an uphill battle. The economic conditions are vastly different from those of my parents’ generation, requiring a level of financial acrobatics just to stay afloat.

My mum left the workforce when I was born in 1989 to be a stay-at-home mum, while my dad continued to work as a bricklayer. On that single income, they built a new house on a large block in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast for just over $40,000.

Chris is trying to save for a house deposit. Source: Supplied

Now, the price of the Australian Dream has risen, but the size has shrunk.

With housing affordability now the worst it’s ever been in Australia, I believe the Great Australian Dream blueprint is changing.

My partner and I would love to settle down, but we feel we must slug it out to leap over the first hurdle of home ownership and financial stability before starting a family.

Picking up more work

This is when I picked up another job to try to out-earn inflation and chase my dream of hanging my clothes out on my own Hills Hoist.

Chris started delivering food in 2023 as a third source of income. Source: Supplied

I worked. I did the long hours. I threw everything against the cyclone of inflation — and I still do.

How many millions of Australians locked out of the housing market will it take before something changes?