Natasha Loosemore, 22, started investing in the sharemarket last November, but four months later she decided to stop.

The then-childcare worker had just moved out of home and in with her partner. After months of high inflation, Ms Loosemore, who now works in insurance, is struggling to justify investing $1000 a month. She still holds her investments in BHP, Telstra, Woolworths and the Vanguard Australian shares ETF, but has stopped putting further money in, for now.