Seven simple ways Australians are surviving the cost of living crunch

Australia is contending with a cost-of-living crunch as inflation keeps household budgets tight. Across the country, families are adjusting routines and spending patterns to stretch pay packets, with many turning to simple, practical strategies shared online.

One common approach is to reframe certain chores as hobbies to avoid the lure of dining out and paid services. Posts describe cooking more at home not as a duty but as a value-adding activity, while substituting paid cleaners, task services, or gardeners with DIY efforts. A cash-based budgeting tactic also circulated: take a set amount of cash to the weekly shop to curb impulse buys, with observers noting that 'If it's a hobby, you don't see it as a chore...'

Online grocery shopping is another widely cited tactic, as several posters say they spend noticeably less when shopping online, due in part to online-only specials. The same thread notes that some shoppers see tens of dollars saved each week, with caveats about missing the shopping experience.

Other tips focus on meal prep and beverages: bringing lunch to work, making coffee at home, and cutting out alcohol and soft drinks in favor of water. Several commenters say these small changes add up to meaningful savings over time.

Some users have audited subscriptions, cancelling unused services and using renewal as a temporary measure. Advice included setting calendar alerts to track what you watch, renewing a service for a single month and then canceling again before the period ends, to avoid paying for idle access.

Yet others advocate locking away savings: moving money into a savings account and leaving it untouched, applying a simple rule that time plus consistency yields growth.

The collection of tips emerged from online discussions among Australian shoppers as households contend with inflation and a rising cost of living. The strategies reflect a broader shift toward frugal budgeting and small, repeatable habits as families seek to preserve finances amid economic volatility.