How rising prices are forcing Aussies in exclusive suburbs to tighten their designer purse strings

Cash-strapped Australians are cutting back as the cost of living falls. Even those living in wealthy areas are making sacrifices.

One example is Jessica from Double Bay, who despite living in Sydney’s wealthiest suburb, where the average annual income is $354,000, still makes sacrifices.

“I’ve cut back a little on travel,” she said.

‘And I prefer to just visit friends and go to nice restaurants for special occasions, like birthdays.’

But Australians in the western suburb of Parramatta, where the average income is $65,000, are making very different sacrifices. One even admitted he no longer buys tomatoes.

Small business owner Joyce Hammerton has reached retirement age, but she still runs her honey stall in Centenary Square in Parramatta.

She said it is “difficult” when interest rates rise and explained that she sacrifices luxuries to make ends meet.

“My hair color, I haven’t done that this month. I will do that when I can, but I’m doing it myself,” she said.

Mrs. Hammerton said she and her husband are using the fireplace instead of the ducted heating to heat their home this winter.

She also wears her husband’s hoodies to stay warm, as she has donated hers to the homeless.

“I had been generous, but then I realized I didn’t have any change to buy new clothes,” she said.

Mrs. Hammerton and her husband look for deals to save money at the supermarket.

“I look at all the flyers to see where I can save. If it’s really expensive, like $10 a kilo for tomatoes, then we won’t have cheese and tomato sandwiches this week,” she said.

The mother said that things are “really hard” for many people right now.

“One of my kids works three jobs to make ends meet, and he has three kids… and his wife works too,” she said.

‘While I am blessed to have only a small mortgage. I am of retirement age and have a pension, but my husband still works.’

The couple doesn’t go out that often, but when they do, they prefer to opt for affordable options, such as ‘going to the beach’.

“We both read used books from a book club, instead of buying new books,” she said.

“We don’t have Netflix or other TV subscriptions that you have to pay for, so if I really want to see a movie, I’ll go to the cinema.”

She believes that the Albanian government should do more to help people.

“Get your shit together,” she said.

“There are so many who are struggling. I consider myself well off compared to so many who don’t have clean clothes and no place to shower.”

Gai Hawthorn, board member of Penrith Community Kitchen and CEO of Penrith CBD Corporation, said it was “really sad” to see so many middle-class families struggling.

She said the number of people coming to the kitchen has tripled in recent months, with many queuing as early as 11:15 a.m. on weekdays for emergency food and hot lunches.

“The people who come to the kitchen are you and me. They’re not the underprivileged people we normally help,” Ms Hawthorn told Daily Mail Australia.

She said even dual-income families are being hit hard by the rising cost of living.

“People used to eat breakfast every morning on the way to work, drink coffee throughout the day and buy their lunch, but that has all become less,” she says.

‘I think it’s a sign of the times that things are difficult for pretty much everyone right now.

‘During Covid we all had fantastic support from the government, but now it seems like everyone is spending every penny they earn.’

Even in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, Jessica is “very careful” about how much she spends.

“I always have to make sure that before I pay my bills, taxes, social security and all that stuff, I can spend the remaining amount,” she said.

“I’m very aware of it because I don’t have a degree in economics and I just don’t want to get myself into trouble,” she said.

She says she goes out less often these days and prefers to spend a quiet evening with friends.

“It’s not that hard to do, just get some wine and go visit people,” she said.

“I like that; you’re with who you want to be, not with the crowd. I think everyone likes that even after COVID.”

Tahni runs a clothing store in Double Bay and rents a room in Rose Bay for $300 a week.

She says she’s lucky compared to her friends who pay much more to live in places that are “falling apart,” but she still has to watch how much she spends.

The 21-year-old said she started meal planning to reduce her grocery bill and after moving from her parents’ home on the New South Wales south coast.

“When I first moved here, I felt like I was going too far when it came to buying,” she says.

‘I thought, “I’ll cook whatever I feel like cooking,” but now you have to think about it.’

She also said how “blessed” and “lucky” she was to have a supportive family who helped her pay for her gym membership and allowed her to “join in” with their TV subscription.

“I don’t think I would pay for them if I didn’t have them,” she said.

You would think that young people in wealthier neighborhoods would go out every weekend, but Tahni says she socializes most at work or at the gym.

“I’d rather take it easy for a few weekends and go out for a nice meal or something,” she said.

Meanwhile, a young mother of two in Granville, where the average income is $51,000, admitted she no longer buys designer brands.

The mother, who prefers to remain anonymous, says she has learned very well how to budget.

“I’m doing well, but it’s a lot harder than it was two years ago,” she said.

‘I don’t wear designer clothes anymore… the money I earn, I spend on my children.’

She said meal prepping has helped her cut her expenses, leaving more for her mortgage payments, bills and health insurance.

“I now plan what I’m going to cook, whereas before I would just go to the supermarket and grab whatever I saw,” she says.

‘When I see those ‘special’ tickets for something, I buy them and immediately plan a meal so I can use them.

‘And instead of buying a kilo of tomatoes, I buy three or four.’

One in five Australians are working a second job to help pay the rising cost of living, and around 44 per cent of renters are struggling to pay their bills.

Some said they went without food, clothing, showers, toiletries and other basic necessities to keep a roof over their heads.

Others, meanwhile, had fallen behind on payments and were afraid they would end up in their car.

Tom rents a house in Sydney’s Olympic Park, but he says he’s “pretty comfortable.”

When asked if he had made sacrifices to save more, he replied, “Like cooking instead of eating out.

‘If I had a lot of money, of course I would buy a lot of stuff.’

Local musician Evie shared that she still has a second job as a waitress, even though she still lives at home with her parents.

She explained that she tries to live frugally because she still has expenses even though she doesn’t have a mortgage.

“I’m a little more flexible,” she said.

“But as a musician I’m constantly buying stuff and using fuel to get to far-flung places.”