I know that the majority of people are curious about the best ways to beat inflation, therefore you’ve come to the right place.
Currently, most people’s main concerns are related to inflation. With petrol costs up almost 50% and grocery prices up 12%, basic needs are getting more and more out of reach.
Our wallets are feeling the effects of rising prices, and credit card debt is rising at its fastest rate in more than a decade.
Such significant increases in inflation add to market turbulence and economic instability, which are disruptive to the traditional stock market.
In response, investors look for fresh investment possibilities that will enable them to protect themselves from the hazards associated with growing inflation. Therefore, without further ado, why don’t we get to the point on ways to beat inflation?
Inflation: What is it? Definition
It would be best if you understood what inflation meant before we discussed the best ways to beat inflation. A measure of an economy’s rate of rising prices for goods and services is called inflation.
If inflation raises the cost of essentials like food, it may have a detrimental effect on society. Inflation affects almost all goods and services, including wants-based expenditures like jewelry, cosmetics, and cars as well as necessities like housing, food, healthcare, and utilities.
When inflation becomes pervasive in an economy, both consumers and companies start to worry greatly about the possibility of future inflation.
Because inflation devalues the value of money saved today, it might be a reason for worry. Consumers’ purchasing power is diminished by inflation, which can even make it challenging to retire.
What are the Ways To Beat Inflation
One of the best ways to beat inflation is to invest in assets with returns higher than the rate of inflation. Instead of keeping cash on hand, experts often advise investing in diversified index funds based on broad market indices like the S&P 500.
This strategy lowers your risk of experiencing inflation-related losses while allowing you to diversify and expand your portfolio. The earlier you invest and the longer you stay invested, regardless of where the market may be when you start, the better.
This is because compounding returns—when you reinvest your gains in order to earn even more—allow you to make more money over time.
One of the best methods to combat inflation is wise, long-term investing in particular assets, despite the fact that no one can accurately forecast future market patterns. The following resources are the best ways to beat inflation and some excellent options to take into account.
1. To beat inflation, invest in stocks:
A great way to beat inflation is to invest in a diversified portfolio of companies. The S&P 500, a significant benchmark for American stocks, generated an average annualized return of about 11% from July 2012 through July 2022. (with dividends reinvested). You’re still looking at average yearly returns of roughly 8.3% after adjusting for inflation.
You would still have soundly defeated price increases despite the massive price increases of today: The annualized rate of inflation increased from July 2012 to July 2022 at about 2.9%.
To profit from this kind of historic development, there is really no need to turn to pick specific stocks, which can be extremely risky and need extensive investigation. Start by selecting an S&P 500 index fund or S&P 500 ETF, which mirrors the performance of the index while maintaining extremely low fees.
They offer straightforward, inexpensive diversification because they have a large number of stocks, which lowers risk and eases portfolio management difficulties.
Keep in mind that stock investing never comes without risk. Short-term losses are possible, and stock index funds don’t let you pick the firms the fund invests in.
If you’re concerned about keeping your money out of businesses you don’t support morally, consider investing in an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) fund.
2. Invest in Gold to Beat Inflation:
Gold is the oldest hedge against inflation. Over the 20 years between September 2001 and September 2021, the price of yellow metal increased by an average of 9.48% per year. Inflation averaged 2.4% over that time, giving investors a 7.08% return.
However, before you start investing your entire life’s worth of savings in gold, there are a few more things you should know before investing in gold
When you invest in physical gold, you must pay additional fees for storing and insuring coins and bullion, which reduces your returns. Investing in gold-focused equity funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can significantly reduce these costs, but keep in mind that the price of gold is extremely volatile, especially in the short term.
You’ll also need to know whether your preferred fund seeks to track the price of gold or gold mining companies. Both can be good ways to invest in the gold market, and yet their returns can differ significantly.
3. Use Real Estate to beat Inflation:
Real estate is a popular choice among inflation-averse investors for hedging holdings, but it can be challenging to draw broad conclusions about this particular asset class due to the market’s size and volatility.
According to a study conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), retail property has proven to be the best category of real estate for outperforming inflation, while apartment buildings and industrial properties performed somewhat less well. The MIT study attempted to account for inflation, maintenance costs, and appreciation when determining which types of real estate performed best over time.
Depending on the state of the local housing market, owning a single-family home can act as a hedge against inflation. According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, since 1991, the average yearly growth rate for property values in the United States has been 4%. This data, however, does not include any maintenance or other costs.
The following are the problems with buying real estate: Large buy-ins are required, and financing and maintenance come with a number of costs.
4. TIPS Are Made to Beat Inflation:
Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities, or TIPS, are designed to shield your investment from price increases. The US Treasury updates the par value of TIPS every year to reflect inflation. This increases your interest payments and may result in some additional appreciation due to inflation adjustments.
TIPS are an enticing method for preserving the purchasing power of your money because they hedge against inflation, but they don’t provide much in the way of growth. Over the last decade, the iShares TIPS Bond ETF, which tracks a TIPS index, has delivered average annual returns of slightly more than 3%.
TIPS investors must also keep an eye out for deflation. Though you will never obtain lower than the initial par value of a TIPS once it matures, its value may fall while you are receiving interest payments.
5. I Bonds Can Help You Beat Inflation:
Another asset issued by the government with the goal of outpacing inflation is the Series I savings bond, also referred to as an “I bond.”
Like TIPS, they maintain the buying power of your money by making periodic interest adjustments based on the rate of inflation in effect. They don’t alter the par value of your bond like TIPS do; instead, they adjust the interest rate every six months in line with inflation.
These days, that might go pretty well for you. Until at least October 2022, interest rates are 9.62%. However, I bond interest rates might go to zero and fluctuate frequently. This implies that even if you are assured not to lose your initial investment if interest rates fall, it could still be eroded over time by inflation.
Additionally, I bonds have rather lengthy lock-in dates. Similar to a certificate of deposit, you can’t cash out an I bond until at least a year after purchasing it, and for the next four years, you’ll be penalized with three months of interest (CD).
6. Consider your budget carefully:
To make sure you are spending your hard-earned money on the things that provide the greatest value to your life, you must be aware of where your money is going. Instead of limiting your spending, think of budgeting as a means to take control of your finances.
“Now that you’ve considered the ingredients you currently have on hand, it’s time to prepare your meals. Reviewing your budget now will help you find areas where you may cut costs without feeling deprived.
All of that surplus cash can either be put toward the costs for the following month or used as leverage for investments.
7. Review your approach
Expect to be impacted by inflation in some way. Your budget will be affected by the price increase, therefore it’s up to you to decide how you want to handle the adjustment.
“The first place where inflation is likely to have an impact is on your budget. Your expenses will climb, leaving you only two choices: reduce spending or boost revenue. By revising your budget plan and cutting back on some spending, you can counteract this rise.
Summary
Okay, we’ve covered the majority of effective ways to beat inflation, and I hope it will help you make the best decision for you in the long term.
