<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More and more Australians are draining their savings just to stay afloat as hopes for cost-of-living relief in next month's federal budget slowly fade.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Federal government ministers today hinted the focus would be on reigning in spending.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Data from comparison website Finder shows 54 per cent of Australians have dipped into their savings account in the last 12 months.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-april-5-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/100894e5-3478-48c2-8b8f-1bd882f5eb66"><strong><span>'WE GOT HIM': Downed US airman rescued in high-stakes operation</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On average they pulled out more than $7000 and that's before the war in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/middle-east" rel="" target="" title="Iran "><span>Iran</span></a><span> even started.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That equates to $85 billion in spent savings nationwide, while the conflict in the Middle East shows no signs of slowing down.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It really shows the pressure that a lot of people are under," Taylor Blackburn from Finder said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/iran-war-anthony-albanese-spending/44400f8d-4a1f-4b02-bf7f-010de506c725" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/nsw-motorists-encouraged-to-dob-in-servos-as-93-locations-fined-for-price-gouging/8af78fb3-4803-4deb-a0e9-5cf512633c2c" rel="" target="" title="Motorists encouraged to dob in servos as 93 locations fined for price gouging"><strong><span>Motorists encouraged to dob in servos as 93 locations fined for price gouging</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I think everyone would be well served to batten down the hatches, save where you can."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>With households tightening their belts, attention is turning to the federal budget in May.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Treasurer Jim Chalmers today said there would be spending cuts and likely reforms on tax, housing, and superannuation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Former Nationals Leader David Littleproud said Australian families were cutting back.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They are making these tough decisions at the kitchen table and the government has to do the same," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/iran-israel-usa-war-petrol-crisis-diesel/87e69c4c-8166-4484-ba06-ab03c4004002"><strong><span>Fuel restocked but farmers 'running on empty' leaders warn</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Assistant Foreign and Immigration Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said the focus would be "stabilising inflation and boosting productivity".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's focus was on Easter today, saying it is "a time of reflection and a time of joy".</span></div></div>