On the outside you think they have money but the major reality is this
- the kids go to private boarding school because often there is no school within 100kms of the farm for them to attend and thus boarding school is the only option. (farmers get concessions for sending their kids to private boarding schools to help out on the tuition)
- the 60k SR5 Hilux is purchased for a reason. They are solid reliable vehicles and if your farm is remote, you need a good vehicle because if you break down in the every day bomb, 9 times out of 10 there is no reception and you might be lucky to see a car every 6 hours on the rural roads. The 2k gumtree special doesn't cut it in rural Australia. You have to spend money on a good Toyota to ensure you survive out there not just as a matter of convenience
- Farmers are always asset rich, cashflow poor. (even the old generational ones) Sure they might have 25 mill in land and assets, but you don't see the 10 mill overdraft to maintain the asset. The fact that droughts can complete ruin a farm within 3 years (you cant make it rain) is a factor a lot of people never consider and say you got rain now so be quiet when in reality one good season doesn't necessary make up for 5 bad seasons previously. Farming's a lot tougher than what a lot of people think. The fact that the land continually rises is sometimes the only way a lot of them can hold on.