u/ManiMovez

Looking at the numbers right now:

Cash rate sitting at 4.10% after back-to-back hikes in February and March.

Inflation still around 3.7% — above the RBA’s 2–3% target.

Feels like both are hitting at the same time.

Higher rates → debt gets more expensive

Inflation → purchasing power quietly erodes

So even if income grows slightly, real disposable income ends up lower.

On paper things look stable… but day-to-day it just feels tighter.

And with April 29 CPI data coming up, there’s a real chance this isn’t over yet.

Curious — where are you feeling it more right now?

Mortgage repayments?

Or everyday expenses like groceries, rent, and bills?

Genuinely been thinking about this lately.

I earn more than I did two years ago.

Most of my mates do too.

But somehow… nobody actually feels better off.

Groceries are up.

Rent is up.

Insurance is up.

Bills are up.

It all just quietly disappears before you even notice it.

After looking into it a bit, it feels like two things are hitting at the same time:

Interest rates going up

Inflation rising

And together… it just eats into your money without you realising.

Where are you feeling it the most right now?

Rent?

Groceries?

Mortgage?

Or just… everything?