[Andrew Gigacz]

The term ‘cost-of-living crisis’ has been bandied about a fair bit in recent years. Unsurprisingly mainstream media has adopted it with fervour. Nothing gets clicks like bad news.

But has it really been a crisis? Perhaps not for some. A 20 per cent increase in the price of a packet of Tim Tams is pretty annoying, but it would be difficult to justify referring to it as a ‘crisis’.

On the other hand, having to draw on a line of credit simply to pay for essential groceries would certainly justify the use of that word in the eyes of most. And sadly, that’s what an increasing number of Aussies are having to do.

Non-profit agency Good360 has revealed the results of a survey which show that a quarter of Australians are now finding the cost of living harder than ever. Disturbingly, one in six people have depended on paying by credit for everyday expenses.

The survey further revealed that 8.5 per cent of people have asked a charity for help, or are considering doing so. That’s about one in every 12 Australians, a staggering figure for our ‘rich’ nation.

It means someone you know may well be in such a situation. Or it may indeed be you.

Is it a cost-of-living crisis? Not for all of us, but for some, definitely so.

How have you found the last few years from a financial perspective?

[Jeff]

I have been paying for my groceries with a credit card for years, but then I pay the credit card off in full every month, so I never pay any interest. It’s a convenient way to pay using someone else’s money, and I get rewards points every time I buy groceries.

[Marten]

Like Jeff, I also have paid for our groceries for many years, and then pay the credit card in full when due. One does not spend more one way or another as one eventually has to pay in the end.

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You mightn’t pay interest if you CAN pay your outstanding amount off every month BUT you pay an amount every year to use the credit card. Plus % fees are added at the checkout for using a credit card, which have just gone up. CASH IS KING💰

[mitchell lowe]

while single parents are getting %15 increases in welfare benefits and the unemployed are getting %6 in crease in benefits and me as a pensioner only gets %3 benefits i havs had to cancel my car insurance ,my house insurance and my life insurance
Go no where .Do nothing except see single parents getting more benefits every 6 months for the last 3 years alongside the unemployed
IT seems the less you do and the more children you have the better of you are
WHY DOES THE GOVT REWARD THIS BEHAVIOR WHILE SHAFTING PENSIONERS THE DISABLED AND CARERS

[Author]

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