Are You Over Inflation? Me Too

Stop ordering takeout. Make your lattes at home. Buy only essentials. Pick up a side hustle to boost your income.

We’ve all heard the same advice for dealing with rising costs countless times. Heck, I’ve even written some of it myself.

If you’re feeling burnout from constantly scrimping and saving, making tradeoffs and generally getting less for your money, you’re probably experiencing “inflation fatigue.” It might make you want to stop trying.

Adjusting our habits can only go so far, especially when there’s no clear end in sight.

“Higher and higher gas and food prices impact households in a dramatic way — these are things we can’t easily cut out of our budgets, or even reduce,” says Elizabeth Renter, NerdWallet senior economist.

“This is especially true in households already operating on slim margins. When you follow a strict budget, there isn’t much room for adjustments.”

And the weariness you’re feeling could stick around. The annual inflation rate hit 4.2% in May, a three-year high.

So how do you keep inflation fatigue from wearing you — and your finances — down?

Give yourself grace. You’re human. It’s OK to feel exhausted. As the expression goes, don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. If trying to optimize every dollar is too much of a burden, prioritize just one or two spending categories to focus on instead.

Automate what you can. Putting recurring tasks on autopilot can help you spend less, save more and pay down debt (without doing the hard work yourself). Set up automatic bill payments or contributions to a high-yield savings account. Use apps and browser extensions to track down and apply coupons to your purchases.

Make room for joy. A budget that cuts out every want is gonna be tough to stick with. A spending plan that includes the things that make you happy can help your mental health and keep you motivated. Set aside a small amount for treats, hobbies or experiences you enjoy. (I’m keeping my occasional coffee shop chai latte, thank you very much.) We could all use something to look forward to.

About the author

Lauren Schwahn is a writer at NerdWallet who covers credit scoring, debt, budgeting and money-saving strategies. She contributed to the “Millennial Money” column for The Associated Press and managed a team of writers producing content for the series. Her work has also been featured by USA Today, MSN, The Washington Post and more. Lauren has a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She is based in San Francisco.

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