4 Non-Traditional Ways To Protect Your Money Against Inflation

UPDATED for 2026

One thing is for sure, and that’s that economic conditions are always subject to change. That’s why business owners need to know how to adjust as they go. This is particularly true about one economic condition over which we have little (if any) control. That’s inflation.

So, what can you do to protect your money from inflation? First, let’s talk about what inflation actually IS.

Inflation is basically a rise in prices, which can be translated as the decline of purchasing power over time (per Investopedia).

With inflation, prices go up, and the purchasing power (or value) of money goes down.

The bad news is that we do not have a control over how and when inflation hits. But the GOOD news is that you can do something to protect yourself against it.

I have 4 non-traditional steps you can take to protect your money against inflation that aren’t just about where you put your money. Let’s talk about those right here…

Now, before you do anything else, take a moment to look at both your budget and your investment strategy. Then adjust both of them as inflation rises and the velocity of money (that is, how often money exchanges hands or is in circulation) slows down.

A decrease in the velocity of money ultimately decreases the value of a dollar. So, you can see how making adjustments to both your budget and investment strategies are key in times of high inflation.

Now, let’s get into those non-traditional steps to get ahead of this, so you can protect yourself and your assets during high inflation times.

My Top 4 “Non-Traditional” Tips To Get Ahead Of Inflation

1. Up-Cycle Your Purchases

Basically, “up-cycling” means buying something that already exists versus buying new. With the cost of manufacturing and materials rising, up-cycling can save you a lot of money. One way to do it is to buy second-hand items instead of new ones. Another way is selling items you no longer need. This provides an opportunity for someone else to up-cycle themselves (Ebay, anyone?).

2. Evaluate Your Savings (and adjust if necessary)

Is your savings account doing its best job, or is it just sitting there losing money? Most banks offer 0.02% interest on savings accounts. So when inflation rises above 5%, you’re basically chipping away at your emergency fund savings each year. One option to change this is to look into credit unions as opposed to banks. For example, my local credit union offers 6% on savings. So look to your local credit union if your savings isn’t up to par in your bank.

3. Give Yourself A Raise

Be sure to adjust your budget to get ahead of costs going up in the future. As a business owner, consider giving yourself a raise. If you’re an employee and you aren’t sure if you have built in cost of living (COL) adjustments in your contracts, now would be a good time to review this.

4. Start Your Own Garden

Now, this one might sound irrelevant at first, but consider this: What better way to control your food supply than to create it yourself?

AND, the good news is there are many ways to start growing your own food. You can do this even if you don’t have a lot of space or don’t have a “green thumb.”

For example, you can buy produce at the grocery store, then plant the seeds that are left. I buy scallions and ginger from the store, and I plant them, too. I also harvest seeds from peppers, tomatoes, and other produce items to plant again. This multiplies the value from a one-time purchase (not to mention that gardening is a lot of fun!).

Remember, you might not always have a say in what happens, but you DO have a say in how you respond. Use these tips and tricks to stay ahead of the game.

Now, how about you? Which one of these tips seems resonates the most with you? Leave me a comment and let me know how you intent to get ahead of inflation and protect your money!

Until next time,

Love, Light, and MONEY, Honey…

Kaylee