Newsletter 2025 V1 Article - Ask a Money Guide

Q: "What can I do when prices continue to be high from inflation?"

A: “While price increases are beyond your personal control, that doesn’t mean you can’t work on keeping your money safe and stretching its reach. 

1. Keep money you are saving for the future in an interest-bearing account. If you have savings you don’t need to access right away, a Term Deposit account can be a great option with a great return in a relatively short amount of time. 
2. Prioritize paying down high-interest, variable-rate debts (like your credit cards). Not all debt needs to be paid off in a rush, but variable-rate debt may be piling on the interest in times of increased inflation. 
3. Take more time to make plans when it comes to spending, whether for your weekly food shopping or vacations. When prices are so much higher than you have been used to, you can really save money when you evaluate your options by comparison shopping, stocking up on sales, making cost-effective food swaps, and sticking with a planned budget for your purchases. 
4. Finally, the new year is a great time to do an audit on your budget, or create one if you don’t have one currently. Working through a budget helps you ensure that your current expenses and spending still reflect your ultimate goals, especially when we’ve seen so many prices fluctuate over time. Inflation-related spending increases make it more important for all of us to prioritize what we’re working towards and what we might be able to change to get there.

If you are struggling to work through these tips, make a free appointment with a UMassFive Money Guide to give you a hand! 

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