The Rachel Cruze Show - 4 Essential Expenses to Prioritize Despite Inflation

Starting point is 00:00:01 Well, it seems like there's a new headline about inflation every single day. And don't get me wrong, we all feel the pain in the grocery store like when we go in. We know it is happening and we know that people are really, really struggling with this. But we only have control over so much when it comes to our life. And sadly, the percentage of inflation, like, we don't have control over that. But today I do want to talk about how to afford four essential expenses, is what we call our four walls that are non-negotiables even during inflation. Now, before we jump in, make sure to subscribe and show this episode with a friend. All right, first, let's clarify the four expenses that are non-negotiables for everyone.

Starting point is 00:00:42 That is food, housing, utilities, and transportation. So let's go through each of these categories and find ways that we can beat inflation because, let's be honest, we have to do all four of these. All right. Now, let's go over some ways to beat inflation when it comes to food. So number one, shop around for deals. That may mean you hit multiple grocery stores, but you guys, deals are great. when it comes to coupons or bogo deals

Starting point is 00:01:06 and finding what you actually need and shop around those deals is so helpful. And just know what grocery store you walk into will determine how much money you pay. It's amazing. So find those budget-friendly grocery stores and when they have deals running, you're golden. Next is to buy food that has more bang for your buck.

Starting point is 00:01:24 So think about this. Like apples and bananas are going to be relatively cheap in the produce section. And you don't always have to buy meat for every single meal, right? You can find ways to kind of cut back on that because meat's going to be very expensive. Canned foods, it's going to last for months, won't go to waste. But think about, you know, dry foods like pastas or rice. Those are also some great foods to buy that will have a long shelf life because there's so much waste that happens when we grocery shop. So eliminating that is really key. Now, for a more detailed idea of meal ideas and tips, I will put my meal planning guide for you down below. So make sure to check that out.

Starting point is 00:01:58 Next is to cut out non-essential wants at the grocery store. So, you know, those specialty popsicles that are like $12 with four of them in a box, like to say no to that stuff, right? There are so many things that we add on that we just don't need. And if you're looking for ways with food to save specifically at the grocery store, this is a great thing to think about. Now, I do want to take a minute and talk about one of our sponsors, Christian Healthcare Ministries. You guys, when you go against what society thinks is, quote, normal, like avoiding debt,

Starting point is 00:02:27 for example, it might feel weird at first, and that is totally okay. We want you to be weird if that means you're doing things intentionally, including how you spend your health care dollars. And one way to be intentional is with Christian health care ministries. CHM isn't health insurance. They're a health cost-sharing ministry that's helped hundreds of thousands of families like yours take care of health care costs without sacrificing their freedom. Programs start as low as $98 a month. So find out more and join at chmistries.org. slash budgets. That's chministries.org slash budgets. All right, let's look at housing. Oh, this is a tough one, because sometimes it's like you're fixed, right? You're in a house and you got a mortgage. But there's

Starting point is 00:03:09 some ways to get creative. Now, if you are single, a great way to do this is to get a roommate. So if you're renting and there's another bedroom, I know it's not fun. If you're living on your own and you enjoy it, you're like, oh my gosh, but listen, that could cut your housing in half. You know, possibly even when it looks like living with family, people are doing this a lot. They're back home. But, you know, when you do this, I would say to have an end date, because I think being out on your own is really important when it comes just to being an adult overall. But if there's some ways to save money in this for a period of time, you could look into that. Number two is to sign a longer lease. So if you're renting, some landlords will lower the monthly payment if they

Starting point is 00:03:48 know that you're going to be there for the long term. Number three is to move to a more affordable area. This is a big way to save money. Everyone, you know, usually when you get closer to a city, more expensive things are, but the further out you can be, you'll probably save some money. Also, for a season, number four, is to temporarily downsize. And again, not always fun if you're used to living in a certain square footage, but if you're really struggling with rent, find something smaller. And again, it's going to help you. My sister, they were doing this for a season because they were doing some work on their

Starting point is 00:04:19 house, and they moved, you know, to a significantly smaller area. And she was like, you know, it's really encouraging to know, like, you can do it. do this. So if you're in a position that you're like, yes, we have to move to something smaller for a period of time, for whatever reason, it's always good to know. You're going to be okay. You're going to be okay. Next is utilities. So number one on this one is don't run appliances until they're full. So think about your dishwasher or doing a load of laundry that will save water and energy. Number two is adjust the thermostat when you're away. We do this all the time. When we leave to go out of town, we'll like, you know, have the air not on as much, you know, during the summer or the

Starting point is 00:04:57 with the winter. Remember to turn it back on as soon as you get home because it may not be very comfortable when you get home, but again, it's going to save you money. Number three is to turn off lights. Don't leave your water running unnecessarily. It's like these small little habits. Turn off the light when you leave a room. It will save you money. All right, let's look at transportation. Number one is to join gas reward programs. So Kroger Plus, Costco gas is usually cheaper than other places around. But these reward programs are great because you will get a better deal when it comes to gas. Number two is just go around the corner for cheaper gas. I'm terrible at this. Winston's good at it. He looks at gas prices, and I don't. But it is amazing. When you go to a more

Starting point is 00:05:37 affluent area of a city, it's going to be more expensive. So maybe you drive a little ways down the interstate and half a mile even, and that can save you $5 to $10 when you're filling up your tank. Number three is to carpool or use public transportation. This is a great way to minimize the transportation costs out there. If you're able to do it, it's great. Number four is share a car with your spouse. One car family can be difficult. I know, especially if you're in an area that you have to be driving, but a lot of families do this for a season, especially if you're trying to get out of debt and you're selling a car because it has a crazy payment on it.

Starting point is 00:06:11 People do this all the time, and they survive. Eventually we'll go back to a two-car family, but for a season, this could be a great option. All right. For more tips on how to spend your money the right way, make sure to check out my episode on home upgrades that are and aren't worth your money. you can click here or if you're listening on podcasts, click the link in the description. All right, you guys, remember to take control of your money and create a life you love.

The Rachel Cruze Show - 4 Essential Expenses to Prioritize Despite Inflation

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