Rising Prices-Isn’t that inflation?

The economic gurus are saying, for the near future, inflation is dead.  We need to be worried, instead,  about the “deflationary spiral!”  This implies, for us average Americans, that prices are going down, not up.

But, how do you explain this article/photo spread making the rounds on the internet today-Eight Things Going Up in Price?

Now, we at the Millionaire Nurse Blog, don’t take lists like this lying down.  (Maybe with our feet propped up, but definitely  not lying down!)

I wanted to give you the list, and for no added cost-give you tips on what you can do about it!

1. Coffee-prices rising secondary to a coffee bean shortage, weather related! Drink tea-how simple is this job….If you can’t stand tea in the morning-drop your bean quality requirement-Trade Starbucks for Dunkin Doughnut, Dunkin D. for Mc D, Mc D for no-name store brand made at home.  If you go lower than this in price, just go get tea!
2. Cotton-my farmer friends will kill me for saying this-but remember this line, in The Graduate-”Buy Plastics” -in this case -cotton blends, or my friend Polly-Esther!  They need less ironing anyway!

For You Youngsters-Dustin Hoffman as a kid! The movie was scandalous for its time!




3. Health Insurance-up as much as 8%, but even if your companies’ costs aren’t up, your co-pays and employee portions  are!  Quit smoking, exercise, and other wellness activities can sometime lower your premium. High deductible plans can also help!
4. Miami Heat and other sports teams-that’s easy. Don’t go.  Honor someone else with your hard earned money!  If you need a sports fix, go outside and play ball, or go to a little league/pee wee game-and yell for the little guy!
5. Bacon-pretty soon, bringing home the bacon will have a whole new meaning, as pork belly prices have doubled. I love the smell of bacon in the morning-and as my wife says-everything with bacon in it tastes better.  But sometime you just have to do without, and your heart will love you for it.
6. Gold-With gold prices going through the roof, the price of your bling, will start to sting! I am a firm believer that less is more when it comes to jewelry.
7. Utility Bills-Electricity costs are rising in many parts of the US.  Conserve,conserve, conserve. You know you need to do those weatherization projects you have been putting off. Buy those curly cue bulbs, turn your electronics completely off with those power strips with switches.  Energy audits are more common, and more commonly free-check with your power company-they truly want you to use less energy, so they have more for the commercial customers who pay more than you do!
8. Airline tickets-As one who goes to Costa Rica as often as possible to work in The Millionaire Nurse office South-I am keenly aware of the increase in Airline tickets-doubling in the past year, and expected to increase another 50-100% over this holiday season.  How can you say “Pura Vida”? That hurts…But take advantage of your miles account on credit cards, shop online and compare prices. And for local travel, can you say fill er up, and Holiday Inn Express? Or stay home and smell the roses, (not the bacon!)

When something goes up in price, shouldn’t something else go down?

Don’t let the rising prices above get you down.  There has to be a corresponding list of things getting cheaper, or all those economists would be screaming about inflation.  I will get started trying to find where those bargains are, and will share!

Reader Questions:

What about you, what are you doing to keep drinking coffee, and buying gold bars too?

How can you  fly to Grandma’s for Christmas, and heat your home, too?

Let me know your tips!