‘What am I doing wrong?’: Distressing radio call highlights young Aussie mum’s plea
Updated . First published
A young mother says a $1500 power bill, soaring childcare costs and a string of household expenses have left her asking the same question many families now face: “What am I doing wrong?”
Fresh inflation figures released this week have eased fears of another immediate interest rate rise. But families are still battling skyrocketing everyday costs despite signs price growth is slowing.
Host Mark Levy heard the distressing call on air yesterday morning. 2GB
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed headline inflation eased in the year to June, while underlying inflation also came in below expectations.
The results prompted many economists to abandon predictions of an interest rate rise at the Reserve Bank’s August meeting.
However, experts warn inflation remains above the RBA’s 2 to 3 per cent target, meaning the cost of everyday essentials is still weighing heavily on budgets – and another rate rise later this year cannot be ruled out.
Speaking on 2GB’s Mornings with Mark Levy, one 32-year-old mum said the past few weeks had delivered one financial blow after another.
“My husband and I in the last three weeks have been smashed by bills. I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
She said the family had received a $1500 electricity bill, even while being mindful of their power use.
“We’re not doing anything excessive. We have two very young children. We’ve received a daycare increase, and we’re now paying $900 a fortnight on daycare.
“That’s after the subsidy.”
The caller said she and her husband were on modest incomes, but the rising cost of living had stripped away simple family treats.
“We’re on modest incomes but nothing where you can say comfortably that on a Saturday night, ‘hey let’s go out to dinner’ like we always used to back in the day.”
Price growth might be easing, but for families at the supermarket, the cost-of-living nightmare feels far from over. Getty Images/iStockphoto
She said even routine grocery shopping had become a source of stress.
“Even if I had to pick out five things, it’s costing me at least $100 … you look at that and think, my god, what am I doing wrong?
“I’m just trying to live and put a roof over children’s heads.”
The financial hits kept coming, with the family also receiving a $700 council rates notice.
“I have a bin, a little red bin, that’s overflowing because if I want a bigger bin I have to pay more.”
Her comments come as economists caution that lower inflation does not mean prices are falling. Instead, it means prices are still increasing, just at a slower pace.
While the threat of an immediate rate hike has eased, RBA Governor Michele Bullock warned that the board won’t hesitate to raise rates again if necessary.
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