During uncertain times, it is important to have a plan on how to navigate. In the art of war, the great San Tzu says “Plan for what is difficult while it is easy.” In other words, you need to take an action before things get bad. But, this article is not about war tactics. It’s about implementing a strategy to go through economic turmoil safely with minimum losses.
Certainly, inflation isn’t good news for many. But there are simple strategies that you could implement to help you cope during these trying times.
If you need to take a step back to understand what inflation is, check out this article. Ready? Let’s dive right in.
Find cheaper alternatives
Who wouldn’t want to buy the same t-shirt for a lower price? Finding cheaper alternatives will help you reduce your expenses and increase your saving without drastically changing your quality of life. And it’ll eventually add up, helping you in cutting costs and keeping you afloat during challenging times.
How? Here are a few things to try:
- Compare prices at different stores or online retailers before you buy anything. You can do that with ease through this link
- Use promo codes whenever possible. They’ll save you a ton of money.
- Forget the fancy window displays, you can buy the same product from outlets and discount stores at a cheaper price.
- If you’re okay with slightly compromising the quality, you might look for used or refurbished options.
- Look for locally-produced options, they’re usually less cheaper.
Budgeting
This tip goes without saying. The first step to making good use of your money is to know where your money is going, and it is greatly needed during times when the value of your money is decreasing. Budgeting will empower you to put your money into the things that matter the most to you. and avoid overspending.
Planning your spending doesn’t mean restricting yourself. It can be fun too! You can budget to save up for a trip to Europe or a new phone or a streaming subscription.
How? Check out our budgeting tool. It‘ll help you track your spending with ease.
Hedging
Hedging is a strategy that aims to protect one’s money from market changes and high inflation rates. It’s like a safety net that can offset potential losses, protect the value of your money, and potentially make gains during difficult market conditions.
You can hedge your money against inflation by investing in gold. Gold is known to hold its value and even increase during periods of inflation. Another way to hedge your money against currency devaluation is to invest in companies that bring revenues in foreign currencies. Here you’ll find all you need to know about investing in companies with partial FX revenues on Thndr.
Avoid installments & debts
In the finance lingo, paying by installments means breaking down a big payment into smaller, regular payments over time. While it might be a convenient option for some, yet it has many drawbacks that can leave you in debt, including high-interest rates and the risk of overspending.
Hence, it’s smart to cut off debt options from your dictionary, especially in times of economic turmoil. Who would want to be in debt?
Don’t worry, it’s never too late. If you want to get out of debt, check out this piece.
Increasing your income
This tip seems obvious, but you can work on increasing your income to match the current inflation rates.
Here are some ideas:
- Freelancing in a skill that you already have, like programming, writing, or graphic design
- Selling your unwanted stuff online
- Renting out a property
- Participating in paid online surveys/focus groups
- Starting a YouTube channel and maybe you can monetize it
The wrap-up
Making little tweaks to your financial practices can go a long way. One of the best habits that you can build for yourself is to live within your means, especially in times of currency devaluation and high inflation rates. Be your own money superhero!
