Big Pay, Empty Bank: Where the F*ck Is All My Money Going?

Published on 22 May 2025 at 08:30

Let’s be honest—FIFO pays damn well. You’re pulling in $120K, $150K, maybe more. So why the hell does it feel like you’re always broke? Where’s all that cash going?

If your bank account looks like it's on life support three days after payday, you’re not alone. This post is for the blokes who are tired of scratching their heads wondering why a six-figure income feels like minimum wage by the end of the month.

The FIFO Financial Sinkhole

Working FIFO gives you a false sense of wealth. You’re isolated for weeks, raking in cash, then you hit R&R like a bat outta hell—booze, takeaways, trips, gifts for the kids, "treat yo’self" gear, and before you know it, you're back on site eating crap food and dodging the budget tracker like an ex you owe money.

Research from the Australian Government's Moneysmart program shows that FIFO workers are more likely to live paycheck-to-paycheck despite high incomes, mostly due to:

  • Impulse spending on break

  • Lack of financial planning

  • Emotional spending to cope with stress/loneliness

We’re not talking about a few hundred here and there. Some guys blow thousands every R&R and don’t even know where it went.

The Mental Health Connection

Here’s the kicker—money stress feeds into your mental health like fuel to a fire. Constantly worrying about bills, debt, or hiding spending from your partner? That’s financial anxiety, and it’s a killer for your headspace.

A study from Beyond Blue found that financial stress is one of the top three contributors to depression and anxiety in FIFO workers. So if your mood’s in the bin and your wallet’s empty, they’re likely tied together.

Let’s Break This Down

Here’s where the money typically disappears:

  • Lifestyle Creep: You earn more, so you spend more. But that raise doesn’t fix your habits.

  • The “I Deserve It” Trap: After a 12-hour shift in 45°C heat, you do deserve a break—but that $800 impulse purchase? Probably not helping long-term.

  • Supporting Others: You might be bankrolling a partner, ex, kids, even parents. Noble, but are you sacrificing your own future?

  • Avoiding Emotions with Spending: Retail therapy is a band-aid. A bloody expensive one.

So, What Can You Do?

  1. Track Every Dollar for One Swing
    Just one. Write down or use an app (like Pocketbook or MoneyBrilliant). You’ll be shocked where the leaks are.

  2. Get Real About Needs vs. Wants
    If you can't distinguish between "I need new boots for work" and "I need a $1,200 TV for the man cave," you're f*cked already.

  3. Pay Yourself First
    10–20% of your pay goes into savings the second it hits your account. Automate it. Don’t even look at it.

  4. Talk to a Financial Coach
    Not some Instagram hustler—find someone legit. It’s not weak to get help; it’s smart.

  5. Cut the Emotional Spending
    Next time you’re about to spend big, ask: “Am I buying this because I need it or because I’m trying not to feel something?”

Hard Truth: High Income Means Nothing If You're Still Broke

If you’re a grown man still blowing cash like you just got your first paycheck, it’s time to wake the f*ck up. Being rich on paper but poor in reality? That’s not badass—it’s financial self-sabotage.

FIFO will chew through your body and your bank account if you don’t learn to manage both.

You work your ass off for that money. Start making it work for you.

 

«   »