APPARENTLY Australians got through last year’s recession by binging on drinks, popping a few pills and eating a few burgers.

That is according to CommSec’s economics team who broke down percentages of what Australians spent their money on last year.

They spent less on newspapers and books to compensate but more on going out for takeway, alcohol and pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.

CommSec chief economist Craig James told The Age  that there was clear evidence that a ”cocooning effect” took hold during 2009 due to heightened money and job concerns.

”When there’s bad times around, you cocoon yourself at home and you buy takeaway and liquor rather than going out on the town,” he says.

He said Australians “came out of their burrows” towards the end of the year when the financial side of things started looking better.

And it’s likely to continue into 2010 with the economy still at fragile heights.

At least however, Australia’s unemployment rate has been stable and hasn’t risen too much.

KPMG demographer Bernard Salt told The Age many of the spending trends of 2009 will continue.

”It’s quite clear that we got ourselves through this recession by binging on drinks, drugs and burgers,” he says.

”The amount spent at pharmacies has been on the up for a while, reflecting not only our ageing population but our lifestyle shift towards wellness and wellbeing.”