Adulting’s a bummer: 2 in 3 Aussies struggle with everyday responsibilities
From changing a light bulb to lodging a tax return, millions of Australians are clueless when it comes to everyday tasks, according to new research by Finder.
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A Finder survey of 1,014 respondents revealed 2 in 3 Australians (66%) – equivalent to 14.1 million people – struggle with some aspect of 'adulting'.
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The research shows investing in shares is the most elusive, with 35% of Aussies saying they don't know how to do this.
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Almost 1 in 3 (31%) don't know how to change a tyre, while 23% say they don't know how to check the fuse box in a power outage.
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Sarah Megginson, personal finance expert at Finder, said a worrying number of Aussies are struggling with the basics.
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"It's alarming how many Australians are winging it through adulthood.
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"Some are out of their depth when it comes to handling life ranging from incompetence to ignorance."
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Finder's research shows 1 in 5 (21%) don't know how to negotiate a better deal on a financial product such as a home loan.
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Lodging a tax return (17%), claiming on health insurance benefits (16%) and making an insurance claim (15%) round out the top 7 'adult tasks' that Aussies are clueless about.
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Shockingly, 11% of Aussies don't know how to use a dishwasher or a washing machine.
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One in ten (10%) don't know how to get a refund for a faulty product, while the same proportion admit they don't know how to book an appointment.
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The research found a significant generational divide, with 37% of Gen Z unaware of how to change a tyre, compared to just 20% of Baby Boomers.
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Worryingly, 14% of Aussies admit they don't know how to save money, and more than 1 in 10 (11%) don't know how to create a budget.
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"This financial illiteracy can have serious financial implications down the track. Aussies can't afford to bury their heads in the sand."
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Megginson urged Aussies with children at home to teach their offspring essential life skills including budgeting, cleaning, and household maintenance.
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"Time spent learning things like household and money management can go a long way.
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"For those who have already flown the nest – look to upskill yourself through courses or diving in headfirst.
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"Sometimes the best way to learn is by doing. Set yourself a goal of accomplishing an 'adult' task you've been procrastinating on.
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"Adulting doesn't come with a manual, but it's never too late to learn."
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Do you not know how to do any of the following 'adult tasks'?
| Investing in shares | 35% |
| Changing a tyre | 31% |
| Checking the fuse box in a power outage | 23% |
| Asking for/negotiating on a better deal on financial products (e.g. home loans) | 21% |
| Lodging a tax return | 17% |
| How to claim health insurance benefits (e.g. when visiting the doctor or physio) | 16% |
| Make an insurance claim | 15% |
| Saving money | 14% |
| Changing a lightbulb | 13% |
| Creating a budget | 11% |
| Using a dishwasher | 11% |
| Using a washing machine | 11% |
| Getting a refund or exchange on an incorrect or broken product | 10% |
| Booking an appointment | 10% |
| None of the above | 34% |
| Source: Finder survey of 1,014 respondents, July 2025 |  |
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Methodology
- Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker is a monthly recurring nationally representative survey of more than 60,000 respondents.
- Figures in this release are based on 1,014 respondents from July 2025.
- The Consumer Sentiment Tracker is owned by Finder and operated by Qualtrics.
- The survey has been running monthly since May 2019.
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Sources
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