Graduate teacher's plan for prosperity

By Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon
Updated June 18 2017 - 12:18am, first published June 17 2017 - 9:13pm

Hi Nicole, I am 25 and I have just completed my Masters in Teaching and I am starting to look for teaching jobs. I currently rent, and enjoy living within 25 kilometres of the CBD. I am working casually at $30 an hour plus penalty rates (about $47,000 a year). I also have about $50,000 HECS debt. I want to remain positive, but I find it difficult to consider who my future financial self will be when a lot of jobs on offer are only part time, casual or, if they are full time, contracted for 12 months at a time. I wish to have children in the next five to 10 years and so maternity leave is something I always thought would be an option, until now. One day I'd like to buy a home. Even though I like avocado on toast, I make sure I mostly eat it at home - but I will buy an occasional croissant. Thank you, Isabella, Northcote