Everyone is on the same boat. Rising interest rates and cost of living has impacted on everyone.
I always ask myself “do I need it or do I want it? You end up saving a lot

We are struggling as well, built our dream home last year and moved in at Christmas. Now been caught out with rising interest rates. Meal planning for the week and only buying what I need has helped. Freezing any leftovers so we have extra lunches for those days there aren’t leftovers. Stopped buying daily coffees and take my own each morning to work. We rarely go out. We have invested in solar to save money (as we live in a place where power bills are over $1000 eatery two months as it’s so hot). I buy in bulk when I can, do surveys and competitions for extra shopping vouchers and utilise flybuys and everyday rewards to my advantage. You make do and will get through this with careful use of money – well that’s what I tell myself.

This is biting so many, us included. You’re not alone in reviewing this but good you’re focusing on it. Sometimes it’s not the big bold things you do, but the little incremental things. I set a a budget and stick to it, reviewing regularly as I need (mortgage increases etc). I bpay my bills ahead of time so my electricity is in credit when I receive the bill (also phones and internet, rates, water bill etc). Are you using energy as efficiently as you can, lights left on, plugs left on standby etc. Look at ways you can cut down on spend, do you really need to buy what you do or is it a nice to have to make you feel good (I’m working on this myself). I recommend reading Barefoot Investor’s book. Scott has some great tips and scripts to help with budgets. Call all your providers and ask for a better deal (what have you got to lose??!) If they won’t better their deal, shop around until you get one. Side hustle, how can you earn more money? For me, I find doing online surveys, focus groups and entering competitions has been useful, especially if you win vouchers. I bought my husband a weber last year completely out of vouchers either won or earned from surveys. Shopping, we all have to do it. Are you making the most of rewards schemes. Woolies have Everyday rewards that you can either build up to get $10 off or save for Christmas. We save ours for Christmas and that is usually around $400 that we use for Christmas food and alcohol, as well as presents here and there. Also consider Everyday Extras from Wooiies to ramp up earning and you get 10% one Woolies and one Big W purchase a month (it all helps). Flybuys has similar.
We’ve also reduced eating out and I make sure I have stocks of meals in the freezer so we don’t fall into the habit of getting takeout instead. Also consider making snacks etc instead of buying.

Consider everything you buy first. Is it a real NEED or a WANT.
Set a budget.
Walk where you can, plan car trips, shopping etc in the one outing, where you can. Meal plan. Use your leftovers.

Just save as much as you can, or if you can’t, don’t. The future will worry about itself.
We stopped eating meat to afford groceries. We also stopped subscriptions, take away, etc to afford medical bills.

Also; find out what can be accessed in your local area at reduced prices. We use a community garden to purchase fruit and vegetables. It supports community projects and assists us with food costs.

I know it’s a concern for many, you’re not alone. We ourselves are renting, so have no mortgage and we too budget everything and adjust our budget when needed.. But I have a friend who’s renting too, lost her job and facing eviction. Financial concerns can give such a pressure.

I had to retire from work early due to so many Health issues I am now 62 but cannot even get a Pension until I am at least 67.

We stick to a budget and have a plan for saving, bills and spending. We regularly review our budget, we stick to a menu plan, buy products on special and look for ways to cut back. We are strategic about use of petrol and plan trips to make the most of each trip.