By Gordon Chavez
Have you noticed how everything seems to be getting more expensive? How many times have you heard that and said it yourself? Well, it’s true. If we look at the inflation rate for the last 5 years, here is what we find: 2019, 2.30%; 2020, 1.40%; 2021, 7.00%; 2022, 6.50%; and 2023, 3.40%. It shows how much value the dollar has lost each year. All of this is important information, but what does it mean for us at home?
Inflation means that the cost of living is going up. Sometimes we can make cuts or stop spending on certain things like going out to eat or cutting unneeded subscriptions. Online subscriptions are not so expensive alone but add up quickly.
There are things we can’t live without though, like food. We need to buy groceries, but what do we do when they keep getting more and more expensive? The first thing that comes to mind is cooking more versus going out to eat. Meal prepping can be a good way to save. When you cook, you can always prepare meals from the leftovers to take to work instead of buying food.
Using coupons can also be valuable. Being flexible with the food you eat can help since the items on coupons or sale change from week to week. Be mindful of how many stores you go to as well; you don’t want to waste gas going to too many stores just for the coupons. When you go to the store, have a list of what you need and go on a full stomach. Never shop for groceries when you are hungry so that you don’t buy more than you need.
Sometimes things get really tough, and unexpected challenges pile up such as different types of accidents, medical expenses, or layoffs. When things get challenging, there are nonprofit organizations and government programs that can be very helpful.
Check out the Community Service page for contact information of food programs in your area.
