The Australian Bureau of Statistics has been collecting detailed household expenditure statistics every few years since 1984. Table 1 of Australia_Data_Tables_

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has been collecting detailed household expenditure statistics every few years since 1984. Table 1 of Australia_Data_Tables_2009-10 (65300DO001_200910)[1] provides the following overview: Proportion (%) of household goods and services expenditure per broad expenditure group - 84 88-9 93-4 98-9 03-4 09-10 - Current housing costs (selected dwelling) 12.8 14.3 14.2 13.9 16.1 18.0 Domestic fuel and power 2.9 2.6 2.8 2.6 2.6 2.6 Food and non-alcoholic beverages 19.7 19.1 18.4 18.2 17.1 16.5 Alcoholic beverages 3.4 3.4 2.9 2.9 2.6 2.6 Tobacco products 1.6 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.3 1.0 Clothing and footwear 6.5 6.1 5.6 4.6 4.0 3.6 Household furnishings and equipment 7.7 7.4 6.6 6.0 5.8 4.7 Household services and operation 4.3 4.8 5.2 5.9 6.1 5.5 Medical care and health expenses 3.9 4.3 4.5 4.6 5.1 5.3 Transport 16.3 15.1 15.5 16.9 15.6 15.6 Recreation 11.9 11.8 13.2 12.7 12.8 13.1 Personal care 1.8 2.0 1.9 2.0 1.9 1.9 Miscellaneous goods and services 7.2 7.8 7.6 8.2 8.9 9.4 - Total expenditures 100 100 100 100 100 100 From this table it appears that Australians are spending a greater proportion of their disposable income on housing, recreation, health and miscellaneous goods and services[2]. Australians are spending less on food, clothing and household furnishings. Do households have more disposable income to spend on luxury and recreational services such as personal travel guides, hot air balloon rides, coaching to ride a horse, etc? Not all of these areas require University-level education. [1] http://abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/6530.02009-10?OpenDocument http://abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/6530.02009-1... [2] 6530.0 HES 2009–10 Detailed tables breaks miscallenous goods and services into luxury items, financing costs (interest), private education, fees, fines and charitable donations, etc.