Cost of living
The cost of living is just crazy, and I am struggling with everything: food, bills, medications, and so on. Life and the cost [of] even putting money away for everything isn’t coming anywhere near close enough.
Home | Cost of living
What we found
-
People who took part in the survey were spending most of their income on basic living costs. Respondents were spending more than two-thirds of their total income on housing and food alone.
-
People’s budgets were stretched, with no leeway for unexpected expenses or discretionary items. In fact, many respondents reported taking drastic actions and making difficult sacrifices to survive.
Cutbacks
- 90% reported it was difficult to afford essential living costs, such as housing, groceries, medical care and utilities over the past 12 months
- 70% reported cost of living was their biggest challenge in the past 12 months
- 70% said they struggled to make ends meet
- 55% were unable to pay their electricity, gas or phone bills on time
- 54% reported they had at least one of the utilities disconnected or restriction due to financial difficulties in the past 12 months
- 53% could not afford public transport or fuel for their vehicle
- 43% could not afford basic hygiene items such as soap, toothpaste, toilet paper or menstrual products
- 35% used “Buy Now, Pay Later” services to cover essentials like food, utilities and medicine
- 20% reported living in darkness or using candles or torches at night to cut down on electricity costs
The cost of living is out of control. As soon as the pension is increased, everything else increases, and so we are no better off.
- 74-year-old woman from New South Wales
I have gone without medications so that groceries would go further, and my son would have extra to eat. Never having enough fuel in my car to the point where I have run out, having to use Afterpay for pet food and Woolworths vouchers, selling household items to get through till the next payday, extreme stress trying to keep a roof over our head, etc., which has made my anxiety/major depression disorder worse.
- 47-year-old woman from New South Wales
I go without to try and give my children what they need. I have payment plans with electricity, so my power does not get turned off… I buy the same food every week because that's all I can afford. Haven't eaten meat in many months. Have to use Afterpay at Big W to get washing powder and food.
- 43-year-old woman from New South Wales
How the Salvos help
In 2024, The Salvos Moneycare financial services:
- Provided financial counselling to more than 11,000 people
- More the 50,000 sessions of care