Grim $215 revelation exposes bleak cost-of-living reality for millions in Australia: 'It's crazy'

People talking about their savings
People in Sydney have revealed how much they had in savings and it ranged from 67 cents to $600. (Source: TikTok)

Millions of Australians have little to no financial backup, as new data has revealed the startling amount in people's bank accounts. Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker found the average Aussie had about $33,345 sitting in an account.

However, 43 per cent of people who responded to their survey, equivalent to 9.2 million Aussies, said they had less than $1,000 stashed away. The average amount of that cohort was just $215.

Finder also discovered 18 per cent of people, or 4.3 million individuals, had absolutely nothing.

67 cents to $600: How much do some Aussies have as a backup?

Many who were in the sub $1,000 club expressed that the cost of living in Australia was holding them back from being able to get ahead.

"It's really expensive," a 59-year-old with just $19 to his name explained to loan company Coposit.

"Food has gone up from $150 a week, and now it's like $300... it's crazy. A loaf of bread went from $1.85 to almost $3, [it's] doubled in the last 12 months."

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"Living out of home at 24 is very expensive, and I'm a student, so I'm only working part time," a Sydney resident, who had $600 in her account, said.

"[Renting] makes it even more difficult to save that money, because there's no backup."

A 22-year-old said he was "broke" mainly because of rent and spending too much money on nights out.

"Sydney, is expensive... you can go get a s**tbox apartment for $300 a week... that's like, heaps, right?" he said.

"One bedroom, and you got a sink that doesn't work. Laundry doesn't work, you know? It's just too pricey. But I also go out too much and drink too much."

Another 24-year-old from Germany who is living in Sydney said rent was her biggest wallet drainer, as she only had 67 cents in her savings account.

A 77-year-old former music promoter who worked with bands like Men at Work and INXS had zero savings. Despite that, he didn't seem to be too glum about his financial situation.

"Spend your money," he said.

"You can't take it with you. You've got a million dollars when you die or no money, having no money's better."

How much does the average Australian have in savings?

Findex financial adviser Jess Bell said a good savings goal was to have three months' worth of income stashed in your rainy day fund.