Inflation vs your savings

Yellow piggy bank sitting on colorful Australian banknotes, symbolizing savings or money management in Australia.

Inflation is a slow force working against your financial goals. It can quietly erode the purchasing power of your money over time. While it’s tempting to see cash as a safe haven, failing to factor in inflation could mean your savings are worth less when you need them most.

So, let’s dive into the showdown between inflation and your savings and explore strategies to fight back.

Inflation’s erosion of cash returns

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) defines inflation as “an increase in the level of prices of the goods and services that households typically buy”.

When inflation goes up, the value of each dollar you own decreases, meaning you can buy less with the same amount of money. This becomes a real concern for investors who rely on cash or low risk investments like term deposits, where returns may not keep up with inflation.

For instance, if you’ve placed your money in a term deposit earning 5% interest but inflation is running at 6%, you’re effectively losing 1% of purchasing power. This is what’s known as the real return – the return on your investment after adjusting for inflation. A return of 5% may look good on paper but in real terms it means you’re going backwards.

Long-term investment strategies

So, how can you prevent inflation from chipping away at your savings? One effective approach is to adopt a diversified investment strategy. Diversification involves spreading your investments across various asset classes such as shares, property, bonds and international assets, rather than keeping all your money in cash or low risk products.

Equities, for example, have historically outpaced inflation over the long term. While shares can be volatile in the short run, their potential for higher returns helps them beat inflation over time. Property investments also have a history of delivering inflation beating returns, as the value of real estate typically rises along with inflation. Exchange Traded Funds (ETF) may be a useful way to diversify your investments that are both simple and low cost.

A well diversified portfolio ensures that you’re not overexposed to any one asset class. Instead, you benefit from the potential growth of various sectors, reducing your overall risk and improving your chances of keeping pace with or even outpacing inflation.

Practical advice for investors

Investing during inflationary times can feel overwhelming but there are several steps you can take to safeguard your wealth:

Stay informed: Keep an eye on inflation rates and the broader economic environment. This may help you understand how inflation is impacting the real value of your investments.
Consider inflation protected assets: such as inflation protected bonds, resource shares and commodities.
Review your cash holdings: While cash can serve as a safety net, holding too much in low interest savings accounts can hurt you in the long run. Consider maintaining an emergency fund but limit excess cash holdings in favour of higher return investments.
Embrace diversification: A balanced portfolio with a mix of assets can help you spread risk while still allowing for growth that beats inflation.
Seek professional advice: A financial adviser can provide tailored advice based on your risk tolerance, financial goals and the current economic environment.

The bottom line

Inflation can have a serious impact on the value of your savings, particularly if you rely on cash or low risk investments. Over time, even a modest inflation rate can significantly reduce your purchasing power.

By diversifying your investments, staying informed and seeking professional advice, you can set yourself up to win in the showdown between inflation and your money.

Source: Financial Writers Australia