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SLIDE 1
Priced out of friendship
When the cost of living shrinks your social world

SLIDE 2
For many Australians, socialising has quietly become a paid activity.

Ever hesitated before saying yes to dinner — adding up the meal, drinks, transport, parking, or a babysitter?
Or turned down a birthday, kids’ party, or weekend away with a “busy” excuse… when it was really the budget?

SLIDE 3
That’s cost-of-living loneliness: when practical money pressures quietly price people out of the everyday moments that keep relationships alive.
It’s the cancelled coffees, the skipped milestones, the shrinking circle — not because you don’t care, but because you can’t keep paying to belong.

SLIDE 4
Loneliness isn’t simply being alone.
It’s the distressing sense that your relationships aren’t as connected or nourishing as you want them to be.
(It’s different to social isolation: having fewer social contacts.)

SLIDE 5
This isn't a personal failing — it's life under pressure.
In Australia, problematic loneliness affects around 1 in 4 people.
Midlife is a hotspot for some groups: one national survey found high loneliness in about 1 in 4 men aged 35–49 — but loneliness affects people of all genders.
And shame keeps it hidden: many people conceal loneliness rather than say “I’m struggling”.

SLIDE 6
Loneliness doesn’t land evenly.
A long-term Australian study (2003–2020) found people with disability were about 1.5–1.9 times more likely to experience loneliness than people without disability, and the gap persisted over time.
Carers, single parents, shift workers, newcomers to Australia, and people under housing stress can also be squeezed out when time, money and energy are scarce.

SLIDE 7
What helps: rebuild connection without the price tag.
Try “micro-connection” this week:
• 10-minute call while you walk
• “Parallel hang”: cook, fold laundry, or commute on speakerphone
• A free/low-cost third place: library, park, community centre, volunteering, local sport
• A standing plan: fortnightly home cuppa or walk, predictability beats big events
• An honest text: “I’ve missed you. I’m stretched. Want a free walk?”

SLIDE 8
If you’re the one doing the inviting, make it easier to say yes:
• Offer a no-spend option (“walk + BYO tea”)
• Say the quiet part out loud (“No gifts, please” / “Kids welcome” / “Leave early if you need”)
• Rotate hosting, or pick places where spending isn’t the entry fee
Tiny design choices reduce pressure — and keep people in the room.

SLIDE 9
This isn’t just compassionate, it’s practical.
Loneliness is estimated to cost Australia $2.7 billion a year, and modelling suggests every $1 invested in programs that address loneliness can return $2.14–$2.87.
Community programs can work too: a South Australian pilot (the Community Connections Program) reported reduced loneliness and improved quality of life.

If loneliness is persistent, worsening, or tied to low mood or anxiety, talk to your GP or a mental health professional early.
If you’re in crisis or feeling unsafe, contact Lifeline (13 11 14) or 000.
Because the real cost isn’t the coffee — it’s what happens when we stop seeing each other.

Sources (not for the carousel)

• “~1 in 4” and the $2.7b + ROI figures: Ending Loneliness Together submission to Treasury. (Treasury)

• “~1 in 4 men aged 35–49”: Healthy Male survey write-up. (Healthy Male)

• Disability odds (1.5–1.9x) and timeframe (2003–2020): PubMed abstract (Bishop et al., 2024). (PubMed)

• SA Community Connections Program pilot outcomes: publication listing (BMC Psychology, 2025). (researchnow.flinders.edu.au)