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Psalm 20:6-8 (ESV) –

“Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright.”

As Christians, we shouldn’t put our hopes in people that make policy, or in government, in a falling (or rising) stock market, in energy sources that are plentiful and cheap, or inflation or lack thereof. With the ping-pong game that pervades the hearts and minds of many, the question that is before us is this…what have we been called to do? 

The answer is this: We are to faithfully love the Lord our God, and serve our neighbors in the name and grace of our Lord. However, choosing to serve others in difficult times will cause some stress on the pocket book.

 

BUT, what if the rise of the cost of living is so intense that it is more than what one can tangibly afford?   Listen to these great words from David in Ps. 37.

Psalm 37: 25-26 (ESV) – 

“I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.”

From what we just heard from Psalm 37:25-26, we know that God DOES take care of His people. We can drop the trust issues with all that is swirling around us and have full trust and assurance that God WILL provide. And as we have shared in previous episodes, he provides both physically and also spiritually.  

Remember, according to the Word of God, you and I are MORE important than what? The sparrow! If He cares for them, how much more will He care for us! You and I have the promise that God will ALWAYS provide for His people. He has given us a secure salvation. 

But truth be known, God’s provision does not mean that all of our financial caution goes out the window. There are things we can do to relieve some of the personal financial burden and pressure of daily living in difficult and inflationary times.  Some of these actionable things can cause us to move closer to living within our means and by doing so with greater creativity.  So, we have some key categories to help one survive the rising cost of living in today’s inflationary times. 

 

Budgeting & Investing

  • Live on a Budget
    • First, if you do not have one, START A BUDGET! This allows you to know your expenses.
    • Eliminate or reduce unnecessary expenses. Reduce or cut out your entertainment or ‘eating out’ portions of the budget. If you have control of your expenses, you have more options to address rising costs.
    • Debt reduction is one key to surviving inflation. This may not be particularly helpful if (since) inflation has already become a problem. However, debt reduction is key to surviving inflation. Instead of a bank owning your income, you own your income.
    • Don’t stop giving to your church. Continue your generosity to your local congregation and watch God provide for you in the days/months to come!

Mal. 3:10 – Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. (Mal. 3:10)

Prov. 11:24 – One gives freely, yet grows all the richer – another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

  • Move your Short Term Savings to a High-Yield Savings Account
    • National Average APY for Savings Account = 0.06%
      • Chase Bank: 0.01% APY
      • Wells Fargo: 0.01% APY
    • Consider a High Yield Savings from an online bank
      • Capital One – 0.4% APY (As of Apr 2022)
      •  Ally Bank – 0.5% APY (As of Apr 2022)
    • Rising costs now are just going to impact the price of goods and services down the road (think in retirement).
    • We need to keep funding retirement savings. Yes, you may need to pull some back, but don’t pull it all back! Always have some weekly/monthly contributions to your investments! Remember, when the stock market is down, you can purchase shares of stock at a “sale” rate…so keep investing!

 

Making the Most of Your Shopping

  • Shop for deals
    • Use circulars to plan your grocery menu. Purchase what is on sale, and shop to fill your menu, not the pantry.
    • Review prices of items at different stores. It takes a little more time, but you could have a slight to substantial savings by just shopping around (online that is).
    • Seek out substitutes and avoid the name brands. There are cheaper alternatives that could help you keep your budget on track.
  • Stretch your meals
    • There are plenty of foods that will keep you feeling full for a longer period of time. Therefore, you don’t need to purchase as much food. 
      • Get foods that are high in proteins & healthy fats (Peanut Butter, Beans, chicken, eggs, sausage). Vegetables are also a great source of vitamins that will keep you feeling fuller longer. Avoid foods that are high in salt and carbs. (e.g. Chinese food, tastycakes). These kinds of food are always good to enjoy, but will leave you feeling hungry even a short time after.
      • Example: If you have 2 eggs and sausage for breakfast, that’s loaded with protein. You may feel full all the way until lunch time! But if you have sugary cereal for breakfast, you may feel hungry by mid-morning, resulting in the need to snack on something else. You could eliminate that $20 weekly Snack Expense just by eating a little differently.
    • More bang for your buck…Stretch these meals by keeping leftovers. You can use the same meal for dinner and a lunch later in the week. 
  • Use Coupons
    • There’s no shame in using coupons… You can save a lot of money over time.
  • Maximize Loyalty & Reward Programs
    • Credit cards – If your credit card reward points have built up over time, you may need to release some of those funds to supplement costs. It’s not a long-term solution, but it’s a bandaid in a time of emergency!
    • Grocery stores – Shop at grocery stores that give you points that you can later redeem to relieve the pressure on your grocery bill. Some offer gasoline points, which can be a good savings! Some offer points to discounted foods around holiday times (Easter/Christmas turkey’s/hams etc…)
  • Split costs (go halfsies on a cow or pig)
    • If you purchase meat directly from a farmer or a produce sharing program, you can many times get more meat for a cheaper rate. Just make sure you have a freezer big enough for all the meat.
  • Buy in bulk
    • Not all bulk purchases are bargains.  Check the prices before buying in bulk!
    • Split your bulk purchase with a friend or family member (item and cost) if a bulk purchase is too much for you and your household.

 

Home and Auto

    • Consolidate trips – Make the most of your gas tank. Rather than making a whole separate trip to go to the grocery store, perhaps go on your way home from work. Do what makes sense.
    • GasBuddyApp – helps you find the cheapest places to find gas in your area.
    • Carpooling – reduces fuel expenses greatly!
    • Reduce your driving speed – Increasing your highway cruising speed from 55mph to 75mph can raise fuel consumption as much as 20%. You can improve your gas mileage 10 – 15% by driving at 55mph rather than 65mph
    • Check tire air pressure and alignment!
  • Insurance:
    • Raising your deductible, which could lower your monthly premium (home and auto).
    • Negotiating a safe driving discount.
    • Reducing coverage, if appropriate (home and auto).
    • Comparing quotes and changing auto insurance companies for a better price – work with a broker, not an agent!
  • Home:
    • Wifi/Setback thermostat! Reduce heating/cooling in times where no one is home.
    • Ceiling Fans (or regular fans) can greatly reduce the heating and cooling costs.
    • Lower or raise home temperature (10 degrees can save as much as 10%).
    • Caulk / Insulate – this reaps a LONG term savings in your home.
    • Eliminate cable TV.
    • Reduce your internet speed from what is wanted to what is needed!
    • Consider reducing down to one streaming service, not the 6 or 7 that you currently have. Most people have multiple paid streaming services. The question is, do you need all of them?
    • Hang laundry out to dry (either inside or outside).  This reduces energy consumption GREATLY!
    • Run FULL dishwasher loads!
    • Shave a minute, two, or three off of shower times.
  • Renting:
    • If planning on renting for more than a year, consider shopping around for a lower cost apartment.  $100 saved per month is $1200 in a year! Do you really need the two bedroom place?  Consider a single bedroom or a studio for a season of life till the economy turns around.

 

Career/Job Moves

  • If absolutely needed, look for another career.
    • The job market has made it readily accessible to increase your pay for the work you currently do. Workers are in high demand! You may even be able to find a position that would allow you to work remotely and spend less on traveling. 
    • Or, negotiate a cost of living adjustment to your salary. Just in the first quarter of 2022, Inflation for the year so far is around 8%. Which means your purchasing power has decreased by 8% this year alone. It may be worth a discussion with your employer to try to close the gap.
  • Pick up a second (part time) job.
    • If, for a short season, you need to increase your pay, consider picking up an additional part time pay. It may help you relieve the pressure you are feeling in your budget for a season.
    • These part-time jobs can be varied:
      • Home computer work.
      • Weekend store clerk work.
      • Side jobs that connect to your profession.
    • Uber/Lyft driver (As long as it makes financial sense with how expensive gasoline is, as well as the inflated costs of used cars).

 

God

  • Prayer:
    • Don’t EVER forget to bring God into the equation!
    • Pray like you have never prayed before. Remember this one prayer?  “Give us this day our daily bread.” Remember to be in prayer seeking and trusting that the Lord will be your provider.
    • Watch God provide for you! 
    • Trust that God will be your provider in these challenging and difficult financial times. But do know that part of our trusting and praying should include wisdom in how we handle and spend the resources that God provides!
  • Trust:
    • We all have trust issues with people and things around us. We need to make a decision, do we fully trust that God will do what His Word says? That He will take care of His children in difficult times?

 

Closing/Application:

Consider starting one or more of these cost cutting ideas today…so you have more money to spend on the necessities of life like food, shelter, heating/cooling. As you make these changes, consider making this the “new normal” for you and your family!

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (ESV) –

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.”

Or in today’s situation: “Though inflation be on the rise, the government be in debt, Russia invades Ukraine, the stock market fall (insert whatever calamities you may be facing)…YET you can choose to rejoice in the LORD; you can choose to take joy in the God of your salvation.” Trust in the LORD – He provides the strength and the resources for each day.

 

Next Steps

 

 

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The topics discussed in this podcast are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations.  Investing and investment strategies involve risk including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

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