By Sam McPhee For Daily Mail Australia
Published: 11:16 EDT, 2 June 2022 | Updated: 11:20 EDT, 2 June 2022
A mother has shared details about how she may soon have to choose between feeding her children and paying the electricity bill as the reality of Australia's cost of living crisis is laid bare.
Paulene Stephanie from Redcliffe, Queensland is struggling with surging food and electricity prices so much she has to go days without eating to ensure her son is properly cared for.
'It's scary. It'll either be turning off the hot water and showering every second day, or not eating every second day. They're the only options I can think of.'
Australian have been feeling the pinch with food prices going up, electricity rising and inflation of the up
New Treasurer Jim Chalmers is warning of 'skyrocketing inflation' with the Reserve Bank of Australia widely expected to inflict five more increases before the end of 2022
Ms Stephanie said she 'sits up at night crying' because she can't pay her bills after struggling to find work as a casual retail staffer.
'Sometimes I'll go without a meal to make sure they eat, to make sure they have enough,' she told 10 News.
She is concerned for the cold winter months ahead, as she is currently unable to fund heating and electricity.
Ms Stephanie is not alone. many Australians are now facing the same issue as prices continue to climb.
And now there are growing fears the nation could see a gas shortage, which would drive another bill up even higher.
'We've got no idea when or what is going to happen,' Ms Stephanie said.
Ms Stephanie said she 'sits up at night crying' because she can't pay her bills after struggling to find work as a casual retail staffer
The Queensland mother is concerned for the cold winter months ahead, as she is currently unable to fund heating and electricity
Chris Bowen, the new Energy Minister, will convene a meeting with state MPs from around the country as they look for a solution to rising wholesale prices.
Among the topics to be discussed are telling energy export giants to divert more gas to public use.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said Labor's hands are tied with the situation they inherited from Scott Morrison's government but insisted dealing with the issue is a 'priority'.
Earlier this week he warned of 'skyrocketing inflation' with the Reserve Bank of Australia widely expected to inflict five more interest rate increases before the end of 2022 in an attempt to put the brakes on price rises.
German discount Aldi estimates a typical family spends $192.19 a week or $9,994 a year on groceries. In a month, that works out at $832. Should inflation stay at 5.1 per cent, that would equate to a $42.47
'This perfect storm of energy price spikes is doing enormous damage to our employers, to our households, and to our national economy,' he said.
'There are far more troubling aspects in our economy: skyrocketing inflation is a big challenge.'
Ms Stephanie said politicians have no idea the struggle everyday Australians are currently living through.
'I wish they'd come and live with me for a month. I would love to see them try and live on my budget for a month,' she said.
German discount Aldi estimates a typical family spends $192.19 a week or $9,994 a year on groceries.
In a month, that works out at $832.83.
Should inflation stay at 5.1 per cent, that would equate to a $42.47 increase taking groceries to $875.30.
In the year to March, fruit and vegetable prices rose by 6.7 per cent following floods along the east coast of Australia as meat and seafood prices went up by 6.2 per cent.
MORTGAGE : Borrower with a $600,000 mortgage would see their monthly repayments rise by $460 to $2,844 as interest rates rose five more times
PETROL : A doubling of fuel excise back to 44.2 cents a litre would see a bill to fill up a Toyota RAV4 rise by $48.60 a month
ELECTRICITY : A doubling of power bills meaning $118.67 more a month as a doubling of wholesale power costs are passed on to consumers
GROCERIES : A family shopping at Aldi would see their monthly grocery bill rise by $42.47 should inflation stay at 5.1 per cent
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