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During a speech on Feb. 19, President Donald Trump declared victory on the cost-of-living front amid cooling inflation.

“What word have you not heard over the last two weeks? Affordability,” Trump said during a public appearance at the Coosa Steel plant in Rome, Ga. (1). “Because I’ve won. I’ve won affordability.”

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Although it’s true there had been a recent cooling off in the Consumer Price Index at the time of Trump’s speech — as annual increases fell from 2.7% in December 2025 to 2.4% in January and February 2026 — it has since risen steeply to 3.3% for the 12-month period ending in March 2026 (2).

Americans have also reported feeling more pain over the last year, and the prospect of a prolonged war in Iran adds an element of uncertainty, too.

A survey from Resume Now, a resume-building platform, found the ability to afford the basics worsened for nearly 4 in 10 (39%) Americans in 2025 (3). A further 35% say it stayed the same, while 26% reported an improvement.

What’s driving affordability concerns? According to the Resume Now survey, the cost of everyday necessities was the most common source of stress, cited by 65% of respondents, followed by housing costs at 42%, retirement savings at 38% and health care costs at 37%.

In terms of essentials, 40% reported cutting back on groceries, while 21% did the same when it came to health care visits and prescriptions. Nearly everyone (92%) cut back on spending overall in 2025.

Only 12% of survey respondents say their pay kept up with rising costs. Furthermore, 49% dipped into their savings to survive, while 42% delayed major purchases, 24% took on debt and 22% borrowed from family or friends.

Some of these figures signal “a broader affordability crisis,” according to the report. “The gap between income and cost of living is now impacting both short-term survival and long-term financial stability.”

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While higher inflation often leads to higher prices, it’s important to remember that lower inflation doesn’t necessarily translate into lower prices. Rather, it means that prices are rising more slowly.

But until wage growth matches rising costs, or more, many Americans could still feel squeezed. This is especially true when it comes to the price of gas and groceries, with both having been impacted by the war in Iran.

If you’re looking to shore up your finances in the face of rising costs, there are a few strategies you could try.

Inflation has made just about everything more expensive, but a lot of households are also leaking cash in quieter ways — through recurring bills that rarely get a second look.

Subscriptions, insurance premiums and auto-renewing services tend to creep up over time, often without much notice. In fact, according to a 2025 survey by CNET, the average American spends about $1,080 on subscriptions each year — and nearly $200 of that is on unused services (4).

That’s why it’s worth taking a fresh look at your fixed monthly expenses. Are there any areas where you could cut back? Even small trims here and there can add up faster than you’d expect.

While there are many ways of doing this, one popular method is through budgeting apps and banking-integrated online platforms. For example, you can create a custom budget and track where your money is going at all times with Monarch Money.

All you have to do is link your accounts, and you’ll be able to view every transaction through one clean, searchable list. This way, you can spot any unexpected charges, such as unwanted subscriptions, quickly and seamlessly.

Monarch Money also helps you forecast your spending beyond just one month, as well as save for big goals along the way.

They also offer a seven day free trial so you can explore the app and see how it might be able to help you build a better budget. Even better, if you like what you see, you can get 50% off your subscription for the first year when you sign up using the code WISE50.

Once your budget is in better shape, the next move is typically tackling debt.

High-interest credit card debt can quietly snowball. If you’re using a card for everyday purchases like groceries and only making minimum payments, for instance, those basics can end up costing far more over time thanks to interest.

The average American carries about $6,715 in credit card debt as of the fourth quarter of 2025 (5), and as of February 2026, interest rates on balances carrying interest are at an average of 21.52% (6). At those levels, carrying a balance can get expensive fast — a chunk of what you owe may be going straight to interest rather than the actual purchase.

For this reason, credit card debt and other high-interest loans are often the first thing people tackle — especially since the payments can become more difficult to manage if the economy slows or income becomes less stable.

If you’re managing several balances at once, debt consolidation through a personal loan can help streamline payments. It may also reduce interest costs and turn multiple bills into one fixed monthly payment.

But finding the right lender can be difficult and time-consuming.

Lending marketplaces like Upstart can match you with a personal loan offer in minutes.

Instead of relying solely on credit scores, Upstart’s AI-powered platform looks at various factors — including income, education and employment — to give you offers that may be better suited for your individual situation.

Applying is fast and simple. Just submit a few personal and financial details and get an instant decision from Upstart’s AI-powered platform. Once approved, your loan is funded by a trusted bank or credit union partner, often as soon as the next business day.

If you don’t have an emergency fund or had to dip into it over the past year, it’s often a good idea to focus on building or rebuilding your savings to buffer ongoing cost volatility. The rule of thumb is to aim to save at least three to six months’ worth of expenses.

A high-yield account like a Wealthfront Cash Account can be a great place to grow your uninvested cash, offering both competitive interest rates and easy access to your money when you need it.

A Wealthfront Cash Account currently offers a base APY of 3.30% through program banks, and new clients can get an extra 0.75% boost during their first three months on up to $150,000 for a total variable APY of 4.05%.

That’s ten times the national deposit savings rate, according to the FDIC’s March report.

Additionally, Wealthfront is offering new clients who enable direct deposit ($1,000/mo minimum) to their Cash Account and open and fund a new investment account an additional 0.25% APY increase with no expiration date or balance limit, meaning your APY could be as high as 4.30%.

With no minimum balances or account fees, as well as 24/7 withdrawals and free domestic wire transfers, your funds remain accessible at all times. Plus, you get access to up to $8M FDIC Insurance eligibility through program banks.

Ultimately, building wealth is about building good habits.

However, with the affordability crunch deepening amid ongoing geopolitical tensions — gas prices alone have climbed roughly 49% in the U.S. since the beginning of 2026 (7) — many households feel there’s little left to save after essentials.

But building wealth doesn’t always come down to making big contributions. Even small, steady investments can grow significantly over time, thanks to compounding interest. For instance, investing $20 each week for 30 years can help you save over $179,000, assuming it compounds at 10% annually (8).

And perhaps the easiest way to stay consistent is to invest automatically, so you don’t even have to think about it.

That’s where platforms like Acorns come in, allowing you to turn your spare change from everyday purchases into an investment opportunity.

The process is simple: Once you link all your cards, Acorns will automatically round up all your expenses to the nearest dollar and set aside the difference, which is then invested in a smart investment portfolio.

So, when you buy your morning coffee for say $4.25, Acorns deducts $5 from your account and invests the difference in a diversified portfolio of ETFs managed by experts at leading investment firms like Vanguard and BlackRock. Then, once you’re comfortable with round-ups, you can set up a recurring monthly investment to boost your savings.

The best part? Sign up today with a regular monthly contribution, and you can get get a $20 bonus investment.

— With files from Vawn Himmelsbach

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We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

@ntdtv (1); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2); Resume Now (3); CNET (4); Forbes (5); Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (6); CNBC (7); Acorns (8)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.