Aussies sacrifice surprising luxuries as skyrocketing prices take their toll
- Replies 15
The cost of living surge has led to many Australians being forced to make sacrifices, with some even switching from Coles and Woolworths to ALDI, hoping to alleviate financial stress.
The soaring prices have impacted even the most basic necessities, causing shoppers to rethink their choices, scrapping luxuries, and cutting back on non-essentials as they try to make ends meet.
Amid the 12 interest rate hikes in just over a year—enforced by the Reserve Bank—and increased housing costs, many Aussies are looking for alternative ways to cut costs.
In efforts to find some financial relief, several shoppers have admitted to seeking out alternatives to their local Coles and Woolworths supermarkets and forfeiting small luxuries like getting their eyelashes done or including meat in their meals.
Let's take a closer look at the variety of ways that Australians are trying to stretch their budgets in the face of this economic pressure.
Travelling between suburbs to find the best deals
A Sydney-based shopper, Eliza, shares her experience of travelling from her home in Paddington to an ALDI in Edgecliff just to secure affordable groceries. Initially aiming to keep her weekly grocery bill below $40, she's had to sacrifice subscriptions and even sell her car to stay on top of her finances.
Eliza isn't the only one struggling with rising grocery costs. Local councillor Beverley Maxwell shops at ALDI for bargains and has noticed that prices on items like meat have increased significantly in recent months. Maxwell even went as far as to claim that Woolworths has sometimes become cheaper than ALDI.
'My grocery bill is going up $10 every week,' she said. '500 grams of meat is $10.50. That has just been going up and up and up. We used to be able to get that for $4 or $5 only a couple of months back.'
Juggling multiple jobs to afford groceries
For some young Aussies, like full-time student Rebecca, the cost of living has become so challenging that they've resorted to working multiple jobs to keep afloat. Rebecca shared her struggle to manage her study and three jobs.
'I work three jobs, that's how I keep going, and I study full-time,' she said. 'I study cosmetic nursing, so Botox and filling. It's fun but hard work, and I have three jobs on the side because I'd be broke otherwise.'
Giving up small luxuries and travel plans
Even those in the beauty industry are feeling the pinch, as Miah, a 21-year-old beautician, admitted that she's had to give up on getting her lashes done. She shared her frustration with the increasing rental costs and how it's affecting her ability to enjoy life's little luxuries.
'Thinking of saving at the moment is almost impossible; it's a joke,' she went on to say. 'I wouldn't go into the rental market. Renting is a joke. It takes all your money and just puts it into a hole with no value.'
Meanwhile, Sam, a lawyer, shared that he had to reduce his travel plans. He is now preparing himself for the worst and drew a striking comparison between the current cost of living crisis and standing on the edge of a cliff.
'There is no better at this point,' he said, adding: 'Politicians are sitting on six-figure salaries, and nobody is pointing to them. They're not doing anything, and it's just getting worse.'
Holding back on business expansion
The pressure of rising prices doesn't confine itself to consumers; it has affected businesses, too, like Frankie B's, a restaurant in Parramatta. Operations manager Arti revealed they've had to put their expansion plans on hold due to increased utility bills and customers' reluctance to spend extra cash on eating out.
'We always aim to expand, so we got this idea in place that we were going to, slowly but surely,' he said.
'The second venue opened up in January last year, but the third venue has been delayed due to the rising cost of everything. We just got an electricity bill that's way up because we've been using air conditioning right now, but gas also went up 30 per cent.'
With the concerning financial landscape in Australia, staying informed and adapting is essential. Here are some practical tips to help you navigate through these challenging times:
1. Money-saving tips for daily life
To reduce financial stress, it's helpful to incorporate practical money-saving strategies into your daily routine. Consider the following tips: plan your meals ahead of time, make use of leftovers in creative ways, take advantage of discount codes and coupons, buy items in bulk, and explore local farmers' markets for affordable and fresh produce. By embracing these methods, you can effectively cut down on expenses without sacrificing your quality of life. You can also visit the SDC website and explore the Money Saving Hacks forum for more tips!
2. Price comparisons between supermarkets
A helpful tip when deciding where to shop for groceries is to compare the prices of common items between Coles, Woolworths, and ALDI. By doing so, you'll be able to identify which supermarket offers the best deals on your regular purchases, helping you save in the long run.
3. Government assistance and financial advice resources
If you're struggling with the increasing cost of living, consider looking into government assistance programs and financial advice resources available to Australians. These initiatives help alleviate some of the financial burdens and provide useful guidance during these financially challenging times.
We hope that you found this article helpful and informative and that it opened your eyes to the remarkable efforts Aussies are making during these tough times. If you have any additional tips, advice, or stories to share with us, please feel free to leave them in the comments below!
The soaring prices have impacted even the most basic necessities, causing shoppers to rethink their choices, scrapping luxuries, and cutting back on non-essentials as they try to make ends meet.
Amid the 12 interest rate hikes in just over a year—enforced by the Reserve Bank—and increased housing costs, many Aussies are looking for alternative ways to cut costs.
In efforts to find some financial relief, several shoppers have admitted to seeking out alternatives to their local Coles and Woolworths supermarkets and forfeiting small luxuries like getting their eyelashes done or including meat in their meals.
Let's take a closer look at the variety of ways that Australians are trying to stretch their budgets in the face of this economic pressure.
Australians are making sacrifices in order to deal with the crisis of high living costs. Credit: Shutterstock.
Travelling between suburbs to find the best deals
A Sydney-based shopper, Eliza, shares her experience of travelling from her home in Paddington to an ALDI in Edgecliff just to secure affordable groceries. Initially aiming to keep her weekly grocery bill below $40, she's had to sacrifice subscriptions and even sell her car to stay on top of her finances.
Eliza isn't the only one struggling with rising grocery costs. Local councillor Beverley Maxwell shops at ALDI for bargains and has noticed that prices on items like meat have increased significantly in recent months. Maxwell even went as far as to claim that Woolworths has sometimes become cheaper than ALDI.
'My grocery bill is going up $10 every week,' she said. '500 grams of meat is $10.50. That has just been going up and up and up. We used to be able to get that for $4 or $5 only a couple of months back.'
Juggling multiple jobs to afford groceries
For some young Aussies, like full-time student Rebecca, the cost of living has become so challenging that they've resorted to working multiple jobs to keep afloat. Rebecca shared her struggle to manage her study and three jobs.
'I work three jobs, that's how I keep going, and I study full-time,' she said. 'I study cosmetic nursing, so Botox and filling. It's fun but hard work, and I have three jobs on the side because I'd be broke otherwise.'
Giving up small luxuries and travel plans
Even those in the beauty industry are feeling the pinch, as Miah, a 21-year-old beautician, admitted that she's had to give up on getting her lashes done. She shared her frustration with the increasing rental costs and how it's affecting her ability to enjoy life's little luxuries.
'Thinking of saving at the moment is almost impossible; it's a joke,' she went on to say. 'I wouldn't go into the rental market. Renting is a joke. It takes all your money and just puts it into a hole with no value.'
Meanwhile, Sam, a lawyer, shared that he had to reduce his travel plans. He is now preparing himself for the worst and drew a striking comparison between the current cost of living crisis and standing on the edge of a cliff.
'There is no better at this point,' he said, adding: 'Politicians are sitting on six-figure salaries, and nobody is pointing to them. They're not doing anything, and it's just getting worse.'
Holding back on business expansion
The pressure of rising prices doesn't confine itself to consumers; it has affected businesses, too, like Frankie B's, a restaurant in Parramatta. Operations manager Arti revealed they've had to put their expansion plans on hold due to increased utility bills and customers' reluctance to spend extra cash on eating out.
'We always aim to expand, so we got this idea in place that we were going to, slowly but surely,' he said.
'The second venue opened up in January last year, but the third venue has been delayed due to the rising cost of everything. We just got an electricity bill that's way up because we've been using air conditioning right now, but gas also went up 30 per cent.'
Given the current financial situation in Australia, it is crucial to stay well-informed and adaptable. Credit: Shutterstock.
With the concerning financial landscape in Australia, staying informed and adapting is essential. Here are some practical tips to help you navigate through these challenging times:
1. Money-saving tips for daily life
To reduce financial stress, it's helpful to incorporate practical money-saving strategies into your daily routine. Consider the following tips: plan your meals ahead of time, make use of leftovers in creative ways, take advantage of discount codes and coupons, buy items in bulk, and explore local farmers' markets for affordable and fresh produce. By embracing these methods, you can effectively cut down on expenses without sacrificing your quality of life. You can also visit the SDC website and explore the Money Saving Hacks forum for more tips!
2. Price comparisons between supermarkets
A helpful tip when deciding where to shop for groceries is to compare the prices of common items between Coles, Woolworths, and ALDI. By doing so, you'll be able to identify which supermarket offers the best deals on your regular purchases, helping you save in the long run.
3. Government assistance and financial advice resources
If you're struggling with the increasing cost of living, consider looking into government assistance programs and financial advice resources available to Australians. These initiatives help alleviate some of the financial burdens and provide useful guidance during these financially challenging times.
We hope that you found this article helpful and informative and that it opened your eyes to the remarkable efforts Aussies are making during these tough times. If you have any additional tips, advice, or stories to share with us, please feel free to leave them in the comments below!
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how much is she spending on fares? How can she survive on under $6 per day? 
, can't afford to get her eyelashes done. What do they do to eyelashes when you get them done? I'm a mere male so valid question. Also on her not wanting to enter the rental market, one must assume she is living with parents. I hope she is paying her way.
