Cost of Living

From the cost of living and transport to housing and the environment, we want to know what's impacting you or your community.

Tip shops, sometimes referred to as resale sheds or treasure chest shops, can be found at dozens of locations around the country. And as Australians continue to grapple with the rising cost of living, some operators say they're seeing new customers.

Australian homes are notoriously cold in winter — draughty, with poor insulation, thin glass and inadequate heating. But there's a growing movement of people retrofitting their homes to make them cheaper to run and more comfortable year-round, while also reducing emissions. 

Spending is down, but there are two sectors Australians are still willing to fork out money for.

It's Pay Day! Author Elfy Scott answers all the money questions we don't like to talk about as we seek to demystify personal finance and normalise conversations about how we think about money, what we earn and how we spend it.

Despite the Albanese Government's tax cuts and cost-of-living measures, Labor finds itself under pressure from the left and the right and grapples with internal disunity.

Parts of Australia are recording their coldest temperatures in more than a decade, and people sleeping rough are bearing the brunt more than ever. 

Trevor Andrei is a self-described doomsday prepper and survival guide. But it's not just people fearing the end of days that are coming to him for help, as the cost-of-living crisis bites hard. 

The craft beer scene's biggest festival of the year became an inadvertent staging point for the many intersecting issues facing the industry. Brewers tried to put on a brave face but admitted "vibes were down."

The council claims more than 1 million passengers could be left behind at bus stops during the trial if there is 10 per cent increase in patronage but the figures have been disputed by Translink.

It's estimated about one in six Australian children grow up in poverty but, without an official poverty line, advocates say the government is flying blind on a crucial issue.

The electoral cycle rollercoaster has Labor holding on for dear life, with the federal party going through its lowest of ebbs this term.

Property prices in Perth have reached record highs in recent months and are expected to rise even further in the coming year, with a prediction they will increase between 8 and 11 per cent.

If inflation keeps sinking when the official quarterly figures are released next month, it'll be doubly good news for stretched households. It'll mean slower price rises, and probably an end to talk of further interest rate rises.

Luke Walles says sometimes he feels better smoking a cigarette than vaping. For health experts, that's a problem.

A middle aged couple is rushed to hospital from their Perth home after inhaling fumes when they tried to burn charcoal to stay warm amid cold overnight temperatures.

The 'new climate wars' between the Albanese Government and Dutton Opposition came to Federal parliament today MPs return for a final sitting before the winter break.

The Beyond Reach report has found affordable housing — where housing costs are 30 per cent or less of income — has "almost ceased to exist" for essential workers in south-east Queensland. 

Reduced prices have seen V/Line passenger numbers increase but the promised extra rail services haven't appeared — which can lead to packed carriages and longer commutes.

Chief executive Kate O'Hara says the Kimberley requires more support to tackle food insecurity, as locals aim to create solutions on the ground to empower residents. 

If you're renting, you'll know that rental increases are a fact of life. But you do have options if you think your landlord (or their agent) is asking for too much.

Inflationary pressures are proving stubborn and the Reserve Bank does not want to push a fragile economy over the edge. So, are consumers in a better position to battle on the inflation front lines?

The results of comparing identical groceries at different supermarkets were hardly surprising to anyone who has set foot in one in the past 18 months. How many more same-same-but-different reports will tell us what we already know?

The rising cost of living is taking a toll on Canberra small businesses, as increasing operational costs combined with customers spending less leaves many in a precarious position.

Store workers at supermarket giant Woolworths have voted in favour of a new pay and entitlements package, after a union campaign plagued by allegations of "misinformation" and "bad faith bargaining".