How to Keep Inflation from Limiting Your Life
- Author: Jean Bergnaum II
- Posted: 2024-03-25
Inflationary pressures continue to rise. If your grocery bill, your insurance rates and your rent have all gone up in recent months, the tips below can help you find ways to keep more of your hard-earned money.
Go Old-School
Even if you don't live near an older relative who remembers the depression, you can find information on frugality from several different sources. Visit your local library and look for cookbooks that focus on breakfast. Eggs are a cheap source of protein. A cookbook that features potato recipes can also increase your food options without breaking the budget.
Check out community gardens as well. Local churches and even schools may offer community gardens where a couple of hours of work can allow you to leave with a bag of produce. Even better, you may meet up with older gardeners that are willing to share information (and veggies) for some help.
Join with Like-Minded People
You're probably not the only person in your circle of friends and acquaintances that is struggling. If you're looking for a temporary roommate to take the pressure off your rent bill, a fellow frugal person might be the ideal choice.
If you go this route, remember that space and tempers may grow tight. Keep your monetary goals front and center to keep yourself from giving up on the experiment. If you need to cross off days on a calendar, do so.
Make New Friends
Look for people that know how to have fun without money. Find that frugal person at your work who never goes out for lunch. People who are hard-core brown-baggers likely have other frugal skills.
Consider bartering skills with other folks. If you have a friend who needs help around their home and they have a washer/dryer, offer to clean their place while you do your laundry. You can save on laundromat fees, help a friend and hopefully get some time to relax together.
Find people who know how to meal plan. Talk to people who batch cook on the weekends. Invite a fellow struggling person on a picnic at a local park. Being lonely and struggling stinks, whether you've got money or not. There is no reason to struggle in solitude if you can connect with others in the same situation.
Be Diligent About Your Existing Resources
A tank full of gas can disappear quickly if you're not careful. Take time on your days off to plan your travels over the next week. If funds are extremely tight, don't drive anywhere unless you're going to make money.
Now that you've made the decision, look for what's in walking distance from your home. Is there a thrift store nearby? Could you swing by there a couple of times a week to look for items you can resale or upscale? Find out what day their stock changes out and study the existing market on Poshmark, Mercari and other reselling platforms.
Find Free Fun
Review free offerings in your city every week. Does your local library offer lectures during the week? Attend one and learn something on a topic you've never thought about. Does the local zoo or the art museum offer free days during the month? Get there when they open, beat the crowds, and enjoy a free treat.
Study events at local parks. Maybe there's a naturalist who's going to lead a hike and look at edible plants. Bring a hat, sunscreen, bug spray and a bag. You may leave with berries that you can make into syrup. Tomorrow you can make pancakes for your household.
Embrace Frugality
Frugality isn't about stinginess, miserliness or hoarding. It's about gaining full value from what's around you. If you've become disconnected from your community, or if you've recently moved into the area, you may struggle to connect with neighbors and co-workers. Worry about money may leave you feeling even more isolated.
Bottom Line
Beating inflation isn't possible, but you can work around it with the right skills. Use all the free events and community features that you can find to bring joy back into your life. Make friends with frugal skills. Barter labor for services like access to laundry. Increase your skillset to turn poverty and lack into frugality and fun.
