Fidelity Life: 4 Ways to Deal with Rising Inflation

Gas prices are high, and groceries and household items are getting more expensive. All these costs can put a dent in one’s budget and cause financial stress. However, inflation doesn’t mean people have to get caught in financial turmoil. There are plenty of ways to keep pace or get ahead of it. It may take some work, but preserving wealth is well worth it. With that in mind, this article will detail four quick ways people can deal with inflation and stay on track with their financial goals.

1. Stick to a budget

People can combat rising costs by sticking to a budget. This will help them stay disciplined in their spending to ensure they live within their means. Additionally, it’s smart for people to look for expenses they can reduce or cut entirely. For example, people can cut out unused streaming subscriptions and buy cheaper brands at the grocery store to help keep inflation at bay.

2. Get a life insurance inflation rider

Life insurance inflation riders increase a policyholder’s death benefit by a percentage — usually 3% to 5% — which can help beat the effects of inflation and provide beneficiaries with a larger death benefit. These cost more in premiums, but the death benefit increase is often worth it. For instance, a policy with a $500,000 death benefit and a 3% rider will increase the death benefit to $515,000 the following year. Policyholders can add inflation riders to term life insurance and permanent life insurance policies.

3. Find more income streams

Finding ways to earn more income can help people stay on pace with or ahead of rising prices.  Employed people can start by negotiating raises at work or looking for a higher-paying job if that’s possible. Beyond that, people can start a side hustle. Some side hustle ideas include:

• Renting out a room in their home
• Renting out their car
• Ridesharing services
• Delivery services
• Freelancing online
• Selling items online

4. Continue investing

Pulling money away from investing can be tempting as things get more expensive. However, people should consider continuing to invest since the market can potentially offer faster growth than the inflation rate. For example, the S&P 500 historical average annual return is around 8.5%. That is on par with today’s inflation if it continues to average this number. That said, people should consult a financial professional to choose the investments most likely to help them reach their goals.

Keep inflation at bay

Inflation may be disconcerting, but there are steps people can take to get ahead of it. By creating and sticking to a budget, people can live within their means and find expenses to cut to free up cash.

From there, people can look for ways to increase and diversify their income streams and continue investing. People with life insurance can also protect their death benefits by investing in inflation riders. With a little work and discipline, many can protect their money and stay ahead of high inflation.