Sadly this is now our new way of Life we just have to learn how to budget be wise Yes its really hard but I cannot see it getting any better

It’s biting just about everyone. I have turned to cheaper cuts of meat, a LOT of chicken legs hahaha. But with recipes online (especially recipetineats) this is not so bad. I am sourcing as much as I can myself (growing a garden) but also baking a lot more for snacks, even dabbling in bread baking! You are not alone.

A lot of factors contribute to this situation, like inflation, increased demand for housing, and supply chain issues that affect food and other goods. While it’s frustrating, there are a few things we can consider to ease the burden:

Budgeting: Creating a detailed budget can help identify where you can cut back on non-essential expenses, even if it’s just a little at a time.

Community Resources: Look into local assistance programs for food and utilities. Many communities have food banks or help with utility bills that can provide some relief.

Sharing Costs: If you have friends or family nearby, consider sharing resources, like bulk buying groceries together or carpooling.

Still no relief in sight for many people. I wonder what next year will bring?

The cost of living has definitely gotten worse and many people are struggling pay check to pay check. It’s so hard for some especially when supermarkets increase their prices drastically too. I mean a loaf of bread which only lasts a few days is $4.50 these days.

Everything has gone up except for jobs. It’s like covid was used to change the entire system. House prices are insane and groceries have tripled in my household. Rent is $700 a week and that’s impossible for a lot of people. It makes me sad because whole families are becoming homeless because of this.

I completely understand where you are coming from. As a family of 6 on a part time wage it is so difficult to make ends meet and often have to cut corners to be able to stay on budget. I tend to find we buy things in op-shops and as a parent, we’ll often go without so our kids don’t miss out.

I do not know your situation. But cost of living has risen because we destroyed society for years during covid, and there is no such thing as a single income family anymore. But for most people l see complaining it isnt that bad – they just need to cut down to one car, cut out holidays and luxuries. It hurts to see them complain when some people seriously cannot afford food.

It certainly is a tough time! We’ve had to tighten our belts. No takeaway food at all! Shopping around for insurance and gas/electricity etc…

I ask the same thing. Big companies are continually putting their products/services up, which in turn ups inflation causing the RBA to put up rates. Everyday Aussies are struggling while the big companies are raking in billion dollar profits. It’s so unfair

Shopping around to make sure you are on the best energy plans, insurance etc can take the pressure off a little.

I do my shopping in both Coles and Woolworths and always go through all the offers online before deciding what’s on the menu for the next week. Everything is so pricy now I try to make sure all the items or as many as possible were on half price special when I bought them. Every little helps.

Sorry to say but this is now our life like it or not government not doing anything to help us. So I guess we just have to work harder make some big sacrifices to try and live a sort of good life for our family.

Control what you can in your world. Plan ahead for meals and shopping as it’s so easy to overspend if you’re not organised (or get takeout if you are unsure what to make for dinner). We pay our bills fortnightly so when we get our electricity bill for example, it’s already paid. I can’t stand bill insecurity and heart attacks and this has been my number one key to success from that aspect.
Don’t be hit by the lazy tax. Review your providers and don’t be afraid to move or ask for a better deal if there’s a better offer but you don’t want to move. You have nothing to lose.

It’s ridiculous isn’t it? I think with most things like luxuries companies take advantage and raise costs that they don’t need to. People keep buying the products so they don’t care. I think if everyone just stopped purchasing these luxuries they would be forced to put it down or they go to waste.

I think some businesses are taking advantage and raising their prices and blaming it on inflation. Also we are so reliant on fuel and it is far more expensive so transport costs are adding to the cost of goods and services. It seems to be a worldwide problem.

We literally pay the government to run this country with our taxes they make us pay and they sit back and laugh while we all struggle. It’s ridiculous! As long as they’re living comfy lives, that’s all that matters.

Yes it is getting hard but I still see so many people eating out at Cafes and restaurants and they say people dont have money

Unfortunately this is a very complex issue. We can hope there’ll be some attention to it in the Budget.

Without change at a government level we’re limited to making changes and budgeting and trying to get by. If you need help reach out for it Ask Izzy can help put you in touch with local support services