Rising cost of living leaving many people struggling to pay for basic essentials


ABC News
February 8 2018


Figures from the Bureau of Statistics show the cost of life's basic essentials like fuel and transport are rising at their fastest pace, and well above growth in wages.   :(
Key points:

    Cost of living rose 2pc last year — strongest pace of growth in 3.5 years
    Some people's living cost index rose 1pc in Dec quarter to annualised rate of 2.4pc
    Salvation Army say more Australians showing up simply looking for next meal

The latest data shows the cost of living rose 2 per cent last year — the strongest pace of growth in 3.5 years.

"Broadly, rising cost-of-living pressures are pressuring income-earners across the board," Commsec economist Ryan Felsman said.

He said Australians receiving welfare payments and pensioners were suffering the most.

"What we've seen of course is that some of the poorer cohorts, their living-cost index has risen by 1 per cent in the December quarter to an annualised rate of 2.4 per cent — which is well above the consumer price index in particular," he said.

"And at the same time pensioners and beneficiaries, their living cost indices rose the most."

Charity organisation the Salvation Army said while demand for clothing and shelter had always been strong, more Australians were now showing up on their doorstep simply looking for their next meal.

Salvation Army's Mitchell Evans said at their Sydney's Street Level Mission he was seeing more people coming to them every day for help.   :(

    "We're seeing people coming to services like Salvation Army just to eat during the day," he said.

"They've had to pay for bills, they've had to pay for medication, which is all quite costly, and they're having to come to services like us just to eat."   :(
'It's impossible to even move out of home'

One young couple, May and Ben, said they had been spending increasing amounts of their money on food, rent and transport.
How to save on the big expenses

The ABS's latest survey shows we're spending more on the basics and are in deeper in debt. Here's how to buck the trend.

"Yeah it's just getting more and more expensive," Ben said.

He said to cut back he had switched to a cheaper phone plan, as well as going out less.

"Wherever you can cut costs," he said.

    "I never actually left home. I'm trying to move out and it's just too expensive — you can't do it."

May said she was 27 and that about half of her friends were still living at home with their parents.

Both expressed concern about their long-term financial security.

A retired couple from Switzerland, which has the world's highest cost of living, have been making the same trip to Australia for 20 years.

They said Australia was heading in the same direction as their own country.

"Sydney's getting close to Switzerland — everything has become more expensive.

Other than self interest crap and ABC rubbish where is the objective data ?

FYI there will always be a certain % below the poverty line and it will move around .... so what ?

people are "struggling".
people are just trying to "cope".
just trying to "cope" with this harsh world.

you will never stumble on success whilst you have a "coping" mindset.

no one will give you anything.
but when you learn to contribute and to look after others and no longer try to be a leach , people will give you everything.

its a combination of the matthew principle and the pareto principle.

all the opportunities go to the people who are already taking advantage of all their opportunities.

this is how evolution works.

the "world" for want of a better word, gives opportunities to those who take advantage of them
this is deeply biological.

if you are just trying to cope, you dont see the opportunities and you shrivel up and die.

dont blame the world, blame your own catastrophic personal philosophy

aquascoot

What I don't understand with people struggling is why do they hang around Sydney. I spent well over a decade working in Sydney's CBD and you get to see the regular beggars. There was even a story of one girl making up to $450 / day hanging around central begging for money to buy a train ticket.

A lot of them seem to have poker machine eyes so they are on something so for me its not a poverty issue at all its about certain life choices which obviously are not options in cheaper cleaner regional areas.

As for people on reasonable incomes struggling this is all part and parcel of capitalism the idea is to better yourselves not complain about it. When I first moved to Sydney it was struggle you just get on with it !

I'm working yet I struggle to pay my bills.
The rates is a killer.
Electricity has never cost so much.
Rego on my car was over $800 this year.

Bobby. wrote on Feb 9^th, 2018 at 8:29am:

I'm working yet I struggle to pay my bills. The rates is a killer. Electricity has never cost so much. Rego on my car was over $800 this year.

I assume you mean council rates ?
Interest rates or mortgages can be a killer if they start going up so it could be a lot worse.

CTP is the issue not rego which is only 200-300 ish

Where's Grap when you need him??

Grap, Grap, Grap, Grap.....

RightSaidFred wrote on Feb 9^th, 2018 at 8:38am:

Bobby. wrote on Feb 9th, 2018 at 8:29am: I'm working yet I struggle to pay my bills. The rates is a killer. Electricity has never cost so much. Rego on my car was over $800 this year. I assume you mean council rates ? Interest rates or mortgages can be a killer if they start going up so it could be a lot worse. CTP is the issue not rego which is only 200-300 ish

Of course council rates - what other rates?

Why do we need councils for ? There are enough bludgers in state government to do their job !

Too many people consider drugs, gambling, alcohol and cigs to be essentials

Sir lastnail wrote on Feb 9^th, 2018 at 10:36am:

Why do we need councils for ? There are enough bludgers in state government to do their job !

They piss my money up against the wall.

Bobby. wrote on Feb 9^th, 2018 at 8:29am:

I'm working yet I struggle to pay my bills. The rates is a killer. Electricity has never cost so much. Rego on my car was over $800 this year.

More Aussies should move to the bush. Council rates are only 100s of dollars, not 1000s, mine is $370/year for house on residential block

Greenslips are cheaper in the bush than in the big cities

Water is cheap - no cost at all if you have a tank with auto pump

Bobby. wrote on Feb 9^th, 2018 at 10:30am:

RightSaidFred wrote on Feb 9th, 2018 at 8:38am: Bobby. wrote on Feb 9th, 2018 at 8:29am: I'm working yet I struggle to pay my bills. The rates is a killer. Electricity has never cost so much. Rego on my car was over $800 this year. I assume you mean council rates ? Interest rates or mortgages can be a killer if they start going up so it could be a lot worse. CTP is the issue not rego which is only 200-300 ish Of course council rates - what other rates?

Interest rates ?

miketrees wrote on Feb 9^th, 2018 at 11:32am:

Too many people consider drugs, gambling, alcohol and cigs to be essentials

Absolutely, poker machines make more revenue in lower income areas not sure on the other vices v income but if you are struggling to pay your bills cutting cigs and booze is a no brainer. As for drugs ..... not even worth discussing as they are illegal.

RightSaidFred wrote on Feb 9^th, 2018 at 7:12am:

Other than self interest crap and ABC rubbish where is the objective data ? FYI there will always be a certain % below the poverty line and it will move around .... so what ?

So,

Why bother saying what we already know?

You truly are a f head are not you brother? :D

TheFunPolice wrote on Feb 9^th, 2018 at 3:50pm:

RightSaidFred wrote on Feb 9th, 2018 at 7:12am: Other than self interest crap and ABC rubbish where is the objective data ? FYI there will always be a certain % below the poverty line and it will move around .... so what ? So, Why bother saying what we already know? You truly are a f head are not you brother? :D

As opposed to you I prefer facts and figures not BS but please do carry on Trollboy.

Stop digging ditches and get a better job then.  8-)

Bobby. wrote on Feb 9^th, 2018 at 8:29am:

I'm working yet I struggle to pay my bills. The rates is a killer. Electricity has never cost so much. Rego on my car was over $800 this year.

Yeah
Remember when the grubberment privatised the exercise to save us money and effort?
Now we have to go to three places instead of one.
ONE for an exorbabent third party insurance
One for the prego check
One for the worthless prego, which is nothing but cash for nothing.

Coco, the biggest organized crime organization in the world

Oh and I almost forgot stamp duty
I bought my wife a new car two weeks ago.
Stamp duty well over $1500.
For what I asked the lady behind the counter
To register your car in your name.
But what do I get for my money
Your car registered in your name

In other words.....Nuffink
Just the grubberment doing what it does best........thievery

and yet these low socioeconomic slobs always have money for cigarettes and tattoos..  :-/

Bias_2012 wrote on Feb 9^th, 2018 at 12:11pm:

Bobby. wrote on Feb 9th, 2018 at 8:29am: I'm working yet I struggle to pay my bills. The rates is a killer. Electricity has never cost so much. Rego on my car was over $800 this year. More Aussies should move to the bush. Council rates are only 100s of dollars, not 1000s, mine is $370/year for house on residential block Greenslips are cheaper in the bush than in the big cities Water is cheap - no cost at all if you have a tank with auto pump

Yep - I might move out of the big city - I'm getting fed up with the big prices for everything.

Auggie wrote on Feb 9^th, 2018 at 8:41am:

Where's Grap when you need him?? Grap, Grap, Grap, Grap.....

Unlike the VC - I'm not everywhere....

As long as we are forced to endure this farce of 'privatised' utilities and insurance companies desperately 'needing' to procure billions for their major shareholders and their boards and other parasites - such things as cost of living are always going to outdistance incomes by many a country mile and accelerating..

As long as the corporations that offshore profits and pay no taxes here are allowed to continue to do so,and to operate in some mythical fairyland of a 'global economy', which is just another way of saying they will sit offshore and set prices here while not paying their way, the same will continue to apply.

This is all part of The Big Plan to reduce the populace under the despotism of permanent fear of poverty, which offers unto the self-appointed 'ruling classes' every opportunity to exploit those who must tremble in fear at their shadow passing over them.

What this country needs is a good management massacre wrought by a DEE - Disgruntled Ex Employee... we need some good old Murikan solutions here sometimes... one such event would change the face of industrial relations here unto eternity.... and bring the boss class to heel where they properly belong since they are so much lower than arseholes.......

Then the Revolutionary Committee and the Underground Movement could move on to a few judges etc, and politicians who step out of line.... pour encourager les autres....

All those found guilty of treason will be punished on The Hook.... Kurt Vonnegut Jnr - Cat's Cradle

RightSaidFred wrote on Feb 9^th, 2018 at 2:55pm:

miketrees wrote on Feb 9th, 2018 at 11:32am: Too many people consider drugs, gambling, alcohol and cigs to be essentials Absolutely, poker machines make more revenue in lower income areas not sure on the other vices v income but if you are struggling to pay your bills cutting cigs and booze is a no brainer. As for drugs ..... not even worth discussing as they are illegal.

A new form of bread and circuses.... put a car race on in a city..... put in a few more pokies.... make the peasants desperate so they'll chance their little money on a big win... drown their sorrows in cheap liquor (we haven't had that spirit here since nineteen sixty nine) and cheap sex .... smoke their lungs out in a desperate attempt to part this mortal sphere more quickly.... drug their minds until they can no longer string two thought bubbles together.... tattoo yourself to the max so people will mistake your puny little skagger ass with the bad skin for a famous footballer or a Veteran of Afghanistan or similar.... watch Rambo and Bruce Lee repeats and figure out how great you are in the fight against injustice etc....

Bobby. wrote on Feb 9^th, 2018 at 10:06pm:

Bias_2012 wrote on Feb 9th, 2018 at 12:11pm: Bobby. wrote on Feb 9th, 2018 at 8:29am: I'm working yet I struggle to pay my bills. The rates is a killer. Electricity has never cost so much. Rego on my car was over $800 this year. More Aussies should move to the bush. Council rates are only 100s of dollars, not 1000s, mine is $370/year for house on residential block Greenslips are cheaper in the bush than in the big cities Water is cheap - no cost at all if you have a tank with auto pump Yep - I might move out of the big city - I'm getting fed up with the big prices for everything.

Of course the biggest payoff is if you sell your city house for x amount, a country house will be x minus a half that amount approximately

Houses in the country can range from 180k to 2million, choose carefully after researching everything else, about rates, distance to nearest town, water supply, condition of roads, flooding, mail delivery etc etc

To lower cost of living, the best situation is out of town but not too far. That will get rate cost and other govt costs down as much as possible

It goes like this; The more govt "luxuries", the more you pay - The less govt "luxuries", the less you pay

Where I live there is no "luxuries" at all, the roads are bad and dirt roads at that, there is no street lighting in the village to speak about, the Council doesn't cut the grass, there is no sewage, no stormwater drainage, no footpaths .... so my rates are very low

You need to work out what luxuries you want, then ask the local council what the rates are in that location. If you choose to live right in a country town, expect the rates to be higher than in the bush

Remember though, that rego and the towing levy, if you have that in Vic, will be the same as the city. But greenslips are cheaper by about $50-$100

Food is dearer, but work on your diet, don't pig on stuff

Drive a fuel efficient vehicle, I drive a diesel, the cost is minimal, hardly notice it, just pocket change