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Despite a major surge in cost-of-living pressures, Australians are overspending to keep up with friends and family, researchers say.
A national poll of 1000 adults by consumer comparison site Finder reveals 47 per cent feel pressure from within their social circle to keep pace financially.
One in five, or the equivalent of 4.3 million people provided the findings are accurate, concede going into debt or spending more than they can afford due to peer influence.
Apparently, it isn't just trivial purchases either.
Some 28 per cent of respondents said they felt forced into splitting restaurant bills despite ordering less, while nine per cent 'had to' fund a bucks or hens night and seven per cent felt obliged to fork out for someone else's baby shower.
However one in seven said they'd been coerced into an expensive holiday with loved ones, and eight per cent even admitted buying cars, homes and designer goods to keep up.
Personal finance expert Kate Browne says while no one wants to be a party pooper, there are more affordable alternatives.
"You can always be honest with your loved ones and say while you value spending time with them, you don't want to spend too much money doing it.
"At the end of the day, it's your money and you get to decide how you spend it."
On average, men estimate they've overspent more than $1500 over the past six months and women more than $900 to appease friends and family, with millennials apparently most vulnerable to the trap.
Meanwhile, the cost of essentials keeps rising.
Separate research by consumer networks Frugal Grocery and One Big Switch shows fruit and vegetable prices at some major supermarkets are up five per cent on a year ago.
Drinks are 7.7 per cent more expensive and pantry items, five per cent.
One Big Switch also cites a 12 per cent jump in regional rents and predicts a 4.1 per cent annual increase in daycare fees over the next four years.
However Finder's latest Consumer Sentiment Tracker indicates one in four people agree fuel is now their most stressful cost, up from 17 in January and 11 per cent a year ago.
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Shane Warne's family and friends will gather at a private funeral in Melbourne to say their final goodbyes to the cricketing legend.
Warne's three children, parents and close friends will be among those attending the service today..
The 52-year-old died of a suspected heart attack on the Thai resort island of Koh Samui on March 4.
A state memorial will take place at the MCG on March 30, where the wider public will be able to pay their respects to an Australian icon.
The ground's Great Southern Stand will also be renamed in Warne's honour.
The cricketing legend's death little more than two weeks ago led to an outpouring of grief from people around the world, as well as those closer to home.
St Kilda Cricket Club coach Glenn Lalor spoke about his time playing with Warne in the early 2000s.
"Every time Shane was available he would love coming back and playing with us, which was great," Mr Lalor said.
"The boys appreciated playing with a legend.
"He was just an everyday bloke that just wanted to be around and enjoy the day, he was never hard to deal with, he was always fun."
Mr Lalor said Warne made sure even elite cricket retained a sense of joy.
"He had a point of difference," he said. "There's a lot of professionalism, I suppose, in cricket now but he just kept it real."
Club president Paul Ryan said: "Shane was the greatest cricketer our club has produced in its 168-year history.
"However, just as importantly he was also a great friend to many at our club and supporter of our club.
"Shane is, and will continue to be, greatly missed (but) we are very conscious that our loss needs to be kept in perspective with the devastation being felt by his children and family."
Images: Cricket Australia
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The decimated travel industry has welcomed $75 million in further government support as it prepares to claw back as much as 90 per cent of its pre-pandemic revenue.
In the wake of state and international borders reopening, a new federal program will offer targeted assistance to agents and tour arrangement service providers.
The funds will be directed towards helping travellers re-book trips using existing COVID-related credits, of which there are an estimated $6 billion worth in the system.
Tourism Minister Dan Tehan says the $75.5 million package will boost the industry's bid to rebound from downturns which saw 15,000 jobs representing a third of the sector lost.
With Australia's tourism industry bouncing back, Mr Tehan says confidence is growing, people are booking holidays and agents are in demand.
However Australian Federation of Travel Agents CEO Dean Long says it's critically important the money is distributed quickly to eligible businesses and he believes a revised eligibility framework will facilitate that.
"Australians travelling are relying on their travel professionals now more than ever and this financial support is needed to start the process of rebuilding," he said on Saturday.
Australian Tourism Export Council boss Peter Shelley says it's estimated the gap between border re-openings and the point at which agents are likely to see "meaningful business" will be 6-12 months.
The government's package comes just days after the Commonwealth announced an end to the ban on cruise ships entering Australia from April 17.
The latest round of industry support also follows $184 million in relief measures to travel agents since the start of the pandemic, with more than 5400 grants issued to more than 3200 agents.
The new assistance will be made up of grants of between $7500 and $90,000, based on previous turnover levels with applications to open on March 29.
Acting NSW Premier Paul Toole has meanwhile called for applications to the government's $20 million regional events acceleration fund to encourage new sporting, lifestyle, food, music, art and cultural events.
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