We escaped the recession... right? The $10 deal

The economists tell us that Australia escaped the recession, because we didn't have three consecutive falls in the market. Woo-Hoo, so generally this should mean that people can still afford to live, have a job and be getting on with things.

Not so.
The most common complaint I hear myself (and others) say is "I haven't got any money." Not surprising, since the price of food and entertainment just keeps increasing, but pays don't seem to be keeping up with the mark. Myself, I didn't even get the inflationary 3% which most people receive, and yet I'm still expected to pay $4.40 for a Gatorade drink at the BP services station up the road from me.

When we hit the $10 or under mark for items, the variations in expense of things are clear...
1) Food Court Food: In a shopping centre, generally its fast food, and nothing of much nutritional value - I could not find anything to eat which included a drink for under $10, and really KFC and McDonald's were the cheapest thing there - no wonder we have such a high obesity rate.
2) Public Transport Prices: On the same day as the food court experience, I paid $8.40 for a return bus fare to the shopping centre, a half hour (bus)drive... probably more than it would cost someone with a car. To catch a train two stops in the opposite direction is $3.20, and for a return trip you can double that, unless its off peak. That is the cheapest train fare you can get. I suppose perhaps if people are eating McDonald's, and cant afford public transport the government sees that as a built in obesity scheme for society.
3) Pub prices: Its a fact that when a recession hits, people lean towards entertainment as a perk me up, an escapism from their troubles and woes. One popular venue is the pub. At the local dero bar, you can probably find some sort of jug for under $10, the AB Hotel selling their local ale for about $8, yet a jug of cider (the seasons most popular drink) is $21. No cider for me. To drink in the city (which is a $6.40 train fare to start with) its almost $10 a pop, at least $7 for a glass of wine, or a spirit, and prices go up when you are in more classy establishments or its later at night (i.e. Bank Hotel, prices are more expensive after 6).

4) Movie Prices: The one area of entertainment which has been comparably a cheap night out is the movies. But now, you cannot even get a ticket under $10 unless you are a 'tight arse Tuesday' type of person, reveling at the cheaper pizza's, cheaper movie tickets and generally anything that has a T.A.T. mentality attached to it.

5) AND YET... I have expanded my under $10 list this year, only out of necessity.

$2 clean skins - from Dan Murphy's

Feed yourself for a week - from my lovely local fruit and veg shop

$1.80 bread - from my lovely local bakery

2 ply toilet paper - as I cant afford the Australian made Sorbent

$8.50 Thai lunch special - courtesy of Big Boy Thai, and feeds me for 2 lunches

Clothing - the bargain bins at Glebe Markets - or not at all

Lucas Paw Paw Ointment - instead of $20 lip gloss from Body Shop that lasts 5 mins

Shop at the $2 shop - for your toiletries, generally you can get good brands at massive discounts

Glenmore Meats - about 3 times cheaper than my local supermarket, chicken packs for under $2

Living life without money most of the time makes you depressed. Having to watch every penny is a time consuming, soul breaking activity. Just once, I would like to be able to feed myself and go out to the movies in the same week...