Tensions have risen in share houses across the country as Aussies struggle to cope with cost of living pressures, and the fun of living with friends or strangers has taken a hit.
Alexandra Martin, 28, who lives in a Sydney house with three other young professionals in their late twenties, says the vibe has certainly changed, particularly in the last couple months.
She said the “uncomfortable” reality is basic food supplies like eggs and milk that were once shared without a second thought are now counted and measured to ensure no one else is using other housemates’ supplies.
The days of one person cooking a meal for the rest of the house are almost dead, and there is a lot more attention paid to how much time people are spending in the shower or running an air conditioner.
“Everything is really calculated and counted,” she told news.com.au.
“Everyone is a lot more aware of what is there’s and more focused on ‘what’s mine is mine and what’s yours is yours.’”
Alexandra said it was obvious the rising cost of living had changed the dynamic in her house.
“It’s just not as easy going,” she said. “It’s in the back of your mind that you can’t just ‘use a little bit of this’ because someone is conscious that it is theirs and if you don’t have time to run to the shops and grab some more milk or some more eggs in time before they see it then it’s going to be an issue.”
Taylor, also 28, who lives in another share house in Sydney, said dinners that were previously made for the house as a gesture of goodwill, were now added to the house bills for splitting the cost.
“There’ll be a text in the group chat if heaters or lights are left on,” she added. “There’s noticeable tension in the house when talk turns to bills or money.”
Research commissioned by finance app Revolut, which Alexandra and Taylor said they use in their houses to track and split costs, found almost half the Australians it surveyed (10,000 over the age of 18) believe inflation has the power to affect their relationships.
While 92 per cent of them were concerned about their finances amid the rising cost of living, more than one third said they felt uncomfortable asking for a pay rise.
Revolut Australia chief executive Matt Baxby said Australians concerns about finances was reflected in the increase in people that were downloading his company’s app to help budget and cut costs.
Josh, 30, who lives in a Bondi share house with two others, said the way his housemates socialise and eat together had also changed.
He said they had cut down on their social activities together outside the house and now “make the trek” to larger supermarkets once a week, rather than spontaneously ducking into the shop closest to get supplies.
“Inflation has for sure taken a lot of the fun out of shared living,” he said.
On Wednesday it was revealed inflation in Australia had slowed down but still “remains high”.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported the monthly consumer price index (CPI) indicator rose by 6.9 per cent in the 12 months to October, lower than the 7.3 per cent movement reported in September, which was the highest in more than three decades.
When Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down his first budget in October, he said inflation was expected to peak at 7.75 per cent later this year before moderating over time to 3.5 per cent through 2023 – 24.
Source: 7 News