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Inflation Fighting Tips To Preserve Your Spending Power

May 03, 2022 Personal Finances

Saving for the future can take a back seat, be prepared with these valuable tips on how to stretch your finances when inflation hits hard.

A woman at the grocery store, she is using a phone and looking at a can.

Of all the economic problems that arise, inflation is among the most destructive. When prices rise, every dollar earned is worth less, making it even more challenging to make ends meet.

Saving for the future can take a back seat during inflation and even after prices stabilize — putting families behind in their savings goals. To preserve wealth and buying power, a strategy is needed for survival, and here are valuable tips to use starting today:

Put An End To Those Nuisance Fees

With every dollar worth less, no one can afford to waste them. So now is the time to get rid of those monthly bank service fees, ATM charges, and other costs that may be lingering.

Banish Food Waste

The only thing worse than spending more at the grocery store is watching those dollars disappear into the trash or down the garbage disposal. With inflation on the rise, it has never been more essential to banish food waste. Embrace those leftovers, freeze the excess, or share the bounty with those in need.

Stock Up On Shelf-Stable Staples

Even with prices on the rise, there are bargains to be had. When deals pop up, it’s time to stock up. Filling the pantry with pasta boxes, jarred sauce, and canned vegetables will be good for future finances, so clear some space and start shopping.

Experiment With Meatless Meals

With the price of meat rising faster than other grocery store staples, now could be the time to embrace an inner vegetarian. Try meatless Mondays as a way to experiment. Of course, giving up meat entirely isn’t necessary, but eating meatless one or two days a week could make a big difference in the size of monthly grocery bills.

Put Off Major Purchases

If you are contemplating a major purchase, ask if it’s something you can live without. If so, putting it off until the worst of the inflation spike is over might result in considerable savings.

Seek Out Inflation Friendly Investments

If extra cash is available to save and invest, looking for products that benefit from inflation is smart. From government savings bonds that track the rate of inflation to stocks of companies with rising earnings, these smart money investments could be suitable for the short term and the long term. Consult a financial advisor for the best options.

Optimize Your Fuel Economy

The price of gas has been especially problematic of late, and inflation at the pump is surely one of the most painful aspects of rising prices. Looking for ways to maximize fuel economy can have an outsized influence in this environment. Think about the way you drive as well as how many miles are traveled. Are there other, less expensive transportation options available?

Inflation is nothing new, and the trend of rising prices has occurred in decades past. When prices are rising, it’s easy to despair, but it’s important to realize that spending power can be retained. Solving the Federal Reserve dilemma or controlling the larger economy might not be an option, but the ability to make strategic changes to how you shop, drive, cook, and live your daily life still exists. The seven inflation-fighting tips listed above may help make the most of those shrinking dollars.

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