The rising cost of living is hitting Australians hard, with many being forced to make painful sacrifices just to keep a roof over their heads. In a recent survey, Australians revealed some truly heartbreaking stories of how the housing crisis is changing the way they live. From skipping meals to missing medical and dental appointments, people are doing whatever it takes to make ends meet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As housing costs soar, many people have found themselves cutting back on essential expenses. A survey by Everybody’s Home, which involved over 1,100 respondents, found that a significant number of people are sacrificing their health and well-being to afford rent or mortgage payments. One respondent, Meg from Newcastle, shared that she and her partner often live off basic meals like toast and two-minute noodles because they can\u2019t afford fresh produce after paying their rent. \u201cNourishment and healthcare are just not a reality at the moment,<\/em>\u201d Meg said to Yahoo Finance<\/a>. She added that she often has to skip medical and dental appointments because they simply aren\u2019t in the budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This isn\u2019t an isolated issue. According to the survey, 42% of respondents said they had skipped doctor\u2019s appointments, while 38% cut back on driving, and 30% used credit cards or \u201cbuy now, pay later\u201d schemes to help cover housing costs. The most common sacrifice, however, was reducing energy use\u2014half of the respondents reported limiting heating and cooling in their homes to save money. One in three had trouble paying their energy bills or were behind in the past year. This adds yet another layer of stress to families who are already stretched thin. With the cost of living constantly rising, even basic comforts are becoming unaffordable for many.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRising Housing Costs and Energy Strain<\/h2>\n\n\n\n