It's become an increasingly depressing sight for Dianne Lenger when she eyes her fuel gauge at the end of a work day and makes a mental note to stop at the next service station.
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Dianne, like many Australians, has been hit hard by the recent surge in petrol prices which are further exasperating a rising cost of living.
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The Crookwell local is in a particularly vulnerable position, having dropped down to part-time work after a health scare in addition to caring for her elderly mum who is also recovering from surgery.
With prices well over the $2 per litre mark, Dianne is facing an uncertain future as she continues to pour money into her tank in order to commute to Bowral and Goulburn three days a week for work.
"My biggest fear is if it keeps going up it's going to get to the point where I don't know if I can keep my job," she said.
"I'm putting petrol in everyday and I have to say to my boss I can't get to Bowral every week because when you're only part time it's such an expense. I put in $20 a day and it doesn't even give me 10 litres of petrol.
"When you actually physically put the money in, go for a drive and realise you're on empty again in a day [it's depressing].
"The fuel is killing me."
It's a similar story for Goulburn woman Marie Pedlow who said her husband Rob would have to rethink his commute to Canberra.
"It's getting to a point now where you think oh my god, how much more is this going to take," she said.
"Mondays and Tuesdays he's home but the rest of the week involves him going to Canberra and back again.
"But if it does go up anymore he might have to try and stay home another day which is tricky because he has to be in Canberra at least one day a week."
People like the Pedlows who are able to work from home are unfortunately considered the lucky ones as a broadening group of Australians feel the pinch.
Dianne, who works in employment services, said she sees the daily effect rising fuel prices are having on rural people.
"For people in similar situations to myself, you're almost ready to put your hand up and say ok well do you want more people on a government payment or do you want people to stay in work," she said.
"In lots of businesses like retail and hospitality that don't have high wages, people are spending more money trying to get there then they are actually earning.
"Especially out rurally, they have to drive, they can't take a bus.
"Touch wood nothing happens to my car otherwise I'm stuffed."
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