A Brisbane couple has spoken about the sacrifices they make to support their family of five as the cost of living in Australia continues to rise.
Persistently high inflation, sky-high interest rates and high rents are putting the average Australian family through tough times.
Sandy and Luke Baxby, who have three children aged 19, 15 and 14, have made major lifestyle changes to save as much money as possible.
Recently, they have arranged for all their children to find part-time jobs so that they can cover some of their own expenses, which has taken some of the pressure off the family budget.
Mr. Baxby shared another smart strategy his family uses to save on energy bills.
“We tailor the use of electrical appliances to the peak load on the electricity grid,” he explains.
To avoid higher energy company rates, the family runs the most energy-consuming appliances, such as washing machines, dryers and dishwashers, during off-peak hours during the day.
Mr. Baxby also rotates his family’s entertainment subscriptions so they can still enjoy streaming services without spending too much money.
He subscribes to one or two streaming platforms every month and then cancels them, only to switch to another service the following month.
Sandy and Luke Baxby have revealed the sacrifices they are making to keep their family of five afloat as Australia enters the grip of a cost-of-living crisis
The Baxbys have also swapped their restaurant and takeout dinners for meals at home
This way, the whole family never has to miss their favorite programs again and costs remain low.
“You can only look at so many things,” he said.
The Baxbys have also switched from dining in restaurants and takeout to meals they eat at home.
Expensive trips to major supermarkets such as Woolworths and Coles have been replaced by meal kits from The St. Food Co.
Mrs Baxby said the meal cost less than going to the supermarket and buying all the ingredients.
She was also very conscious of the need to reduce food waste in her household, which would feed a family of five.
Ms Baxby said the last tip was a no-brainer.
She leaves the car at home and finds another way to get to work or university.
In Brisbane, her family uses the 50c fares for public transport wherever they can, and they walk wherever they need to go.
“You benefit from your fitness and you save money,” she said.