The rising cost of living has been a core concern across government, media, and among communities for several years. It has also been an increasing concern for children and young people.

This report presents interim findings as part of a broader piece of work ACYP is conducting with young people across New South Wales. This ongoing piece of work includes both qualitative and quantitative consultations and will culminate in a report due to be released in late 2023. These interim findings are drawn from an annual survey conducted by ACYP in the lead up to Youth Week.

The findings indicate children and young people face a broad range of pressures related to cost of living, however they are working hard to adapt to those pressures in a variety of ways. While many young people demonstrate responsible financial behaviours, there are also findings that may be more concerning for their wellbeing, indicating that when those financial pressures become too great, some young people are faced with sacrificing their health, wellbeing, education and social connection in order to get by.