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A $20 burrito probably wasn't on anyone's list of issues that could ignite a political firestorm.

But that's exactly what happened after Andrew Kolvet, a spokesman for Turning Point USA, shared (1) a college student's blunt assessment of the economy on X: "A burrito shouldn't cost $20."

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Kolvet acknowledged that some of today's high prices are a "hangover" from the inflation surge that followed the pandemic, but argued that for ordinary Americans, "the lived experience is the same: It just feels like basic things cost too much." His post quickly drew millions of views and helped launch what he called the "great burrito debate of 2026."

And before long, some of the biggest voices in American politics and media were fighting over what that $20 burrito actually says about the economy.

Ben Shapiro essentially argued that if you're regularly spending that much on a burrito, inflation may not be your biggest problem.

"A burrito does not cost $20. If you're paying $20 for a burrito and you're not independently wealthy, you're doing life wrong," the Daily Wire co-founder wrote on X (2).

Vice President JD Vance, meanwhile, sided more closely with those warning against dismissing Americans' affordability concerns. When Washington Post columnist Marc Thiessen told the student to "cry me a river" and pointed out that college meal plans already include food, Vance fired back with a personal jab.

"If you've ever met him in person, it's quite obvious the man has never missed a burrito," Vance wrote (3).

Tucker Carlson weighed in as well. He first acknowledged that he is wealthy enough to be disconnected from everyday food prices, admitting that he doesn't go to the grocery store and therefore doesn't really know what things cost.

But that, he argued, doesn't make soaring food prices irrelevant.

"I know that it matters because you have to eat to live," Carlson said (4). "So anyone who says it doesn't matter… you're defending something indefensible and ugly."

So does a burrito actually cost $20 in America today?

According to restaurant point-of-sale platform Toast, the median burrito price at restaurants using its system was $13.67 (5) in July 2026. The final price, of course, depends on where you order and what goes inside it. Chipotle, one of the country's best-known burrito chains, said earlier this year that its average chicken burrito still costs less than $10 (6). Add extra meat or guacamole, however — not to mention delivery markups, service fees and tips — and the total can quickly creep much closer to $20.

The blunt reality is that food has become significantly more expensive in America. The food component of the U.S. consumer price index has risen about 34% (7) since the beginning of 2020.

And food is only one part of the cost-of-living squeeze. Housing costs have climbed roughly 33% (8) over the same period, while energy prices have surged about 43% (9).

Look further back and the damage inflation has done to Americans' purchasing power becomes even more striking. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis (10), $100 in 2026 has the same purchasing power as just $11.74 did in 1970.

That's right. $100 became less than $12 in value.

The good news? Throughout history, savvy investors have always found ways to shield themselves from inflation's bite.

Here's a look at three time-tested strategies.

When it comes to preserving wealth and fighting inflation, few assets have stood the test of time like gold.

Its appeal is simple: Unlike fiat currencies, the yellow metal can't be printed at will by central banks.

Gold is also considered the ultimate safe haven, as it's not tied to any one country, currency or economy and in times of economic turmoil or geopolitical uncertainty, investors often flock to it — driving prices higher.

Ray Dalio, founder of the world's largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, has repeatedly highlighted gold's role in a resilient portfolio.

"People don't have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio," Dalio told CNBC last year. "When bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier."

Over the past five years, as inflation continued to chip away at the purchasing power of the dollar, gold has climbed 145%.

Other prominent voices see further potential. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon has said that in this environment, gold can "easily" rise to $10,000 an ounce.

One way to invest in gold that can also provide significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Goldco.

Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, combining the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold. This makes gold a compelling potential option for those wanting to ensure their retirement funds are diversified during rough economic times.

Goldco even offers free shipping and access to a library of retirement resources. Plus, the company will match up to 10% of qualified purchases in free silver.

If you're curious whether this is the right investment to diversify your portfolio, you can download your free gold and silver information guide today. Just remember — gold is usually best used as one part of your portfolio.

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Gold isn't the only asset investors turn to during inflationary times. Real estate has also proven to be a powerful hedge.

That's because when inflation rises, property values often increase as well, reflecting the higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to go up, providing landlords with a revenue stream that adjusts for inflation.

Over the past ten years, the S&P Cotality Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index has jumped by 88% (11), reflecting strong demand and limited housing supply.

Of course, high home prices can make buying a home more challenging, especially with mortgage rates still elevated. And being a landlord isn't exactly hands-off work — managing tenants, maintenance and repairs can quickly eat into your time (and returns).

The good news? You don't need to buy a property outright — or deal with leaky faucets — to invest in real estate today. Mogul, for instance, is a crowdfunding platform that offers an easier way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class.

As a real estate investment option offering fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties, it gives investors monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and tax benefits — without the need for a hefty down payment or late-night tenant calls.

Founded by former Goldman Sachs real estate investors, the team handpicks the top 1% of single-family rental homes nationwide for you. In other words, you gain access to institutional-quality offerings for a fraction of the usual cost.

Each property undergoes a rigorous vetting process, requiring a minimum 12% return even in downside scenarios. Across the board, the platform features an average annual IRR of 18.8%. Their cash-on-cash yields, meanwhile, average between 10% and 12% annually. Offerings often sell out in under three hours, with investments typically ranging between $15,000 and $40,000 per property.

Sign up for an account and browse available properties here to start investing today.

Another option is Arrived, which allows everyday investors to tap into America's real estate market without buying an entire property themselves.

Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of rental homes with as little as $100 — all without the hassle of mowing lawns, fixing leaky faucets or handling difficult tenants. No midnight maintenance calls over burst pipes here.

The process is simple: Browse a curated selection of homes that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, select the number of shares you'd like to purchase and then sit back as you start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment.

For a limited time, when you open an account and add $1,000 or more, Arrived will credit your account with a 1% match.

Investing legend Warren Buffett knows a thing or two about navigating inflation, having managed Berkshire Hathaway's stock portfolio through the double-digit inflation of the 1970s and developed plenty of insight into the types of businesses that can hold up when consumer prices surge.

In his 1981 letter to shareholders (12), Buffett pointed to two characteristics that can make a business especially resilient in an inflationary environment: The ability to increase prices easily and the ability to handle more business without requiring large amounts of new capital.

In other words, companies with strong pricing power and relatively modest capital needs can be better positioned to protect their profitability as costs rise.

That helps explain why the right stocks can serve as a long-term hedge against inflation. But Buffett has also made clear that you don't need to be an expert stock picker to participate in the market's growth.

"In my view, for most people, the best thing to do is own the S&P 500 index fund," Buffett has famously stated (13). This approach gives investors exposure to 500 of America's largest companies across a wide range of industries, providing instant diversification without the need for constant monitoring or active trading.

The beauty of this approach is its accessibility — anyone, regardless of wealth, can take advantage of it. Even small amounts can grow over time with tools like Acorns, a popular app that automatically invests your spare change.

Signing up for Acorns takes just minutes: Link your cards and Acorns will round up each purchase to the nearest dollar, investing the difference — your spare change — into a diversified portfolio.

With Acorns, you can invest in an S&P 500 ETF with as little as $5 — and, if you sign up today with a recurring investment, Acorns will add a $20 bonus to help you begin your investment journey.

If you prefer a hands-off, tech-forward approach to building wealth, Vanguard's Digital Advisor puts the investing expertise of one of the world's largest asset managers right at your fingertips.

It takes the guesswork out of investing by building a personalized portfolio for you using Vanguard's well-known low-cost ETFs and mutual funds — then keeps things running smoothly with automatic rebalancing.

The platform also offers guidance on saving for retirement and lets you set additional goals as your life evolves.

It can even help you think through debt repayment strategies, potentially freeing up more cash to invest toward your long-term plans.

With a minimum investment of just $100, it's an easy way to get started with professionally guided investing.

For every $10,000 in an all-index portfolio, you'll pay approximately $15 to $16 per year.*

You can even test-drive the Vanguard experience with no advisory fees for the first 90 days.

*All investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest.

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X (1), (2), (3); YouTube (4); Toast (5); MarketWatch (6); Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (7), (8), (9); Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis (10); S&P Global (11); Berkshire Hathaway (12); CNBC (13)

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