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The cost of living is biting. And it is not just you.
- May 3
- 4 min read
Most people I speak to are feeling it. The groceries cost more. Insurance has jumped. Power bills arrive with a sense of dread. Mortgage repayments are higher than they were a few years ago, sometimes much higher. Even people who are doing “okay” on paper are feeling stretched week to week. Cash flow feels tighter. There is less wriggle room. A lot more mental load.
If that is how you are feeling, you are not failing. You are responding to a very real squeeze.
Cost of living pressures are not a headline problem anymore. They are part of day to day life. And they affect people differently. Renters feel it one way. Homeowners another. Retirees feel it differently again. The common thread is this. Things cost more, and the margin for error feels smaller.
That is hard. It is also tiring.
When money feels tight for long stretches, it can quietly wear you down. Even small decisions start to feel heavy. You think twice about things you used to do without a second thought. You replay decisions in your head. You worry about the future more than you used to. That matters. Because money stress is not just about numbers. It shows up in sleep, mood, patience, and relationships. We need to accept that this is not just about the dollars, it is about our wellbeing.
So, let’s talk about a few practical ways to take some pressure off. Not silver bullets. Just small, sensible steps that can help steady things.
Start with what is actually controllable
When costs rise, it is easy to feel like everything is out of your hands. Interest rates, fuel prices, food costs. You are right about that part. But there are still a few levers you can pull.
One is visibility. A surprising number of people do not really know where their money is going right now. Not because they are careless, but because things have changed so quickly. Taking an hour to look through recent transactions can help more than most people expect. Not to judge yourself. Just to see what has shifted. Often it is not one big blowout. It is lots of small increases layered on top of each other. Do this, but be kind to yourself, not judgemental.
Another is asking for better deals.
Insurers rarely reward loyalty. Utilities almost never do. A quick phone call or comparison can still make a real difference. Not life changing, but meaningful. A few hundred dollars here and there adds up over a year. If you have a mortgage, it is also worth checking whether your rate is still competitive. Even if you are not in a position to refinance, sometimes simply asking the question leads to a reduction with your current lender.
These are not exciting tasks. But they are practical ones.
Look for small, repeatable wins
In tough periods, people often feel pressure to make big changes. Cancel everything. Cut deeply. overhaul their entire lifestyle. That approach usually does not stick. Like a crash diet, it is not sustainable.
Small changes that repeat tend to work better. An extra payment knocked off here or there when cash allows. Setting a gentle weekly spending limit rather than a harsh one. Reviewing subscriptions and keeping only the ones you actually use. None of this needs to be perfect. The point is not to restrict life. It is to stop money from constantly feeling out of control.
And it is okay if some weeks still feel messy. That is normal. What matters more is direction.
Be mindful of the mental strain
This part often gets ignored. Living under ongoing financial pressure takes up headspace. Even when nothing “bad” is happening, your nervous system stays switched on. Waiting for the next bill. The next decision. The next surprise. If you notice yourself feeling flat, irritable, or constantly “on edge”, it does not mean you are bad with money. It likely means you have been carrying too much for too long.
Talking about it helps. With a partner, a trusted friend, or a professional. You do not need to solve everything in one conversation. Sometimes just naming the pressure takes some of its power away. It is also worth giving yourself permission to enjoy small things, even when money is tight. Cutting every joy rarely leads to better outcomes. It just leads to burnout.
A steady reminder
Periods like this do pass. Not overnight. Not always neatly. But they do shift over time. Many people look back on these phases and realise they survived them better than they thought they would. Not because they found a clever trick, but because they kept things steady and made reasonable decisions along the way. If you are feeling stretched right now, you are not alone. And you are not broken.
Sometimes the best move is not a dramatic one. It is simply staying engaged, staying informed, and being kind to yourself while you do. That is enough for now.
Go Well
Ben G-N
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Ben Graham-Nellor is an advisor, coach, blogger and speaker who has worked in the financial services industry for over 15 years. He believes that by educating and advising people today, they can improve their tomorrow.
Ben Graham-Nellor is a Sub Authorised Representative (291391) of BGN Financial Management PTY LTD (ABN 45 672 104 196) which is a corporate authorised representative (468796) of Professional Investment Services Pty Ltd (ABN 11 074 608 558) which is the holder of Australian Financial Services License No.234951. Website |www.centrepointalliance.com.au/PIS
BGN Financial Management PTY LTD is corporate credit representative No 528966 of Centrepoint Alliance Lending ABN 40 100 947 804 (Australian Credit Licence Number 377711)
Smart Happy Money is a trading name of BGN Financial Management PTY LTD
This information has been provided as general advice. We have not considered your financial circumstances, needs or objectives. You should consider the appropriateness of the advice. You should obtain and consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and seek the assistance of an authorised financial adviser before making any decision regarding any products or strategies mentioned in this communication.
