A new survey from Clever Real Estate found that the majority of Americans are worried about rising prices, and they’re expecting things to get even worse later this year. Of those surveyed, 95% said they’re concerned about rising costs in 2025, and 74% believe inflation will continue to get worse.
But the good news is that there are still ways to stretch your dollars and save money, even when it feels like everything’s getting more expensive.
Check Out: 6 Popular SUVs That Aren’t Worth the Cost — and 6 Affordable Alternatives
Be Aware: 4 Surprising Things That Could Impact Your Wallet If a Recession Hits
Here’s a quick breakdown of what people are most stressed about and what you can do to protect your finances.
According to the survey, here’s what most Americans are most worried about when it comes to price increases:
-
Grocery and food prices: 84%
-
Gasoline and energy costs: 69%
-
Car prices: 65%
-
Household good costs: 63%
-
Restaurant and dining costs: 63%
-
Healthcare and medical expenses: 60%.
Read Next: 5 Grocery Items To Buy Now Before Tariffs Raise Prices This Spring
Though you can’t necessarily control inflation or what Congress does next, you can take these steps to keep your finances under control.
Having a budget can help you understand exactly where your money is going and where you can make some adjustments. So if you haven’t already, start by listing your monthly income and categorizing your expenses.
To make your life easier, consider using a budgeting app, like YNAB and EveryDollar, or spreadsheets to track your spending in real time.
Once you have a budget in place, it’ll much easier to identify unnecessary expenses and redirect funds toward savings or debt repayment.
Cooking your own meals at home is the most straightforward way to cut down on food-related expenses. Even replacing a few takeout meals a week with home-cooked alternatives can help you save a good chunk of change, considering how expensive food delivery services can be.
And if you’re worried about spending too much on groceries, try buying store-brand items whenever possible or buying in bulk.
Recurring monthly charges, like Spotify and Netflix subscriptions, can quickly drain your wallet if you aren’t careful.
Take time to review your bank or credit card statements to identify subscriptions you no longer use or need. Even cutting a few subscriptions can free up $50 or more each month for higher-priority expenses.
Add Comment