$44 a day wouldn't pay the rent.

However, to make ends meet there are some excellent cat and dog foods, that are made to human consumption standards, are great value for money and they are often on 'Special' at the supermarket.

Economical too as they are a bit rich for the average human palate and can thus be used sparingly and have some flour or stale bread added.

Having worked in the industry I can recommend Pedigree Pet Foods products and our house cat loves "Dine" 'cuts in gravy' made in Australia by Mars Petcare Australia.

Yes Is Mise- keeping the rent under $20 per day is becoming more challenging all the time especially given the Australian economy is being supported by a property bubble and has become decoupled from average wages by foreign investment by students and other channels. Certain people within the Australian context are experiencing a short term wealth redistribution as a result of this. One of the processes seems to be- Students come to Australia and pay money to the universities and property owners (causing a theoretical international wealth redistribution)- students get jobs to cover the costs and distort the employment market (the wealth redistribution is translated into one that impacts low income low skilled locals rather than the international visitors)- I can't understand how certain people can say that the number of foreign students in Australia don't influence the employment market in certain industries especially low skill ones. The overall effect of the wealth redistribution seems to be from low income locals to universities and certain property owners. I believe that certain ethnic politicians are heavy investors and beneficiaries of student accommodation- there are a few reasons perhaps why they aren't loyal to the local population.

Country shoppers posing as refugees have been jumping countries to get their snouts into our generous welfare for years now. They stick together and live very well. Australians on welfare have to accept that no work means not much play, or the benefits of work.

Could you live on $44/day ? Not really but you can exist on it !

We also need to remember that the wages of workers whose taxes pay for welfare have been stagnant for some time now.

Investment in durable housing and housing ownership can provide for a more stable and cheaper and manageable existence. The British Industrial Revolution was in a sense built on community infrastructure. Some investments last for a thousand years.

Others prefer the diversion of novelty.