Tips and tricks to deal with inflation but maintain your lifestyle

When it seemed that the world was just barely beginning to recover from the consequences of the pandemic, the war in Ukraine began and new economic challenges arose. Russia's actions in Ukraine have disrupted people's lives around the world with higher gas and electric prices, and causing even everyday basics such as flour or oil to become much more expensive.

Supply restrictions have caused prices to rise by more than 10% in less than a year in some countries. Inflation is affecting all Western economies and reducing the purchasing power of households, and at the moment there doesn't appear to be an end in sight.

While all prices are rising inexorably, the retaliatory measures adopted by the Russian regime against Westerners are sharply increasing electric bills and reducing the amount of electricity and gas available. Electricity and gas prices have skyrocketed, and there is a race against time to find alternative energy sources to Russian gas imports.

When many global value chains are destabilized, shortages also affect certain food products. The French experienced a shortage of mustard this summer, a consequence of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict but also of developments in agriculture in Canada.

Is there anything we can do? Inflation will permanently affect all wallets and we must find practical solutions to deal with a loss of purchasing power and product shortages.
Click on to discover how to not only stay warm this winter but also how to maintain your standard of living in these trying times.

Put your computer in standby mode, unplug your devices and your internet box… All of this is advice that has been repeated a lot in recent months but which remains relevant to reduce your energy consumption without cutting back on your habits. Also remember to equip yourself with products such as intelligent and programmable power strips, which have been specially designed to optimize energy consumption.

Heating water accounts for an average of 20% of household electricity bills. Be careful to control your consumption to mitigate the increase in your electricity costs: watch for leaks and consider replacing your shower head with a more efficient model that can reduce consumption by 30 to 40%. And use cold water as often as possible!

To optimize your electricity consumption, there are many other techniques. A few important tips include: use the eco mode on appliances (dishwasher and washing machine), do not raise the thermostat above 18 degrees, cover pots when you boil water...

Fueled by rising commodity prices, gasoline prices have skyrocketed in recent months. Limiting your trips is an important lever for saving money. Also consider carpooling!

If you really can't live without your car, there are several techniques to reduce your fuel consumption: go to the pump early in the morning and fill up when the tank is half full to reduce costs, drive smoothly and at a moderate speed, and maintain high tire pressure…

Rising prices force us to take a look at how we spend our money. Prioritize the purchases you have planned: between those that are urgent and necessary, those that you can postpone and those that you can simply forego for the time being.

For the purchases that you intend to make in any case, you can save by buying the same product but made by a less expensive brand. As for clothes or household items, also consider second-hand and garage sales where great savings can be found.

Apps like 'Too Good To Go' allow you to collect unsold items from restaurants, shops or supermarkets for unbeatable prices. Ideal for reconciling purchasing power and quality!

Instead of paying full price, pay attention to sales directly in store or in the form of promotional codes for online purchases. Don't forget cashback either, which has developed a lot in recent years and allows you to directly recover part of the amount spent on a purchase.

Review all your contracts (bank, insurance, telephone, energy, etc.): switch to a less expensive service provider or renegotiate certain contracts to reduce your costs.

Instead of buying household products, you can use white vinegar or castile soap as a stain remover or degreaser. You can even make your own cosmetics, such as moisturizers or shampoo.

The rise in prices is also an opportunity to get back to the basics and good old fashioned homemade food. Cooking with fresh produce takes more time but is often much cheaper than consuming ready meals. Plus, it's better for your health!

The advantage of seasonal and local products is that the transport costs passed on to the customer are very low, reducing the purchase price accordingly. A winning solution for your wallet and the planet!

Leisure is often sacrificed to basic necessities when purchasing power declines. But you can also go out with family or get together with friends at a lower cost: go on nature walks, do activities at home, try free events organized by municipalities or on social networks... there are plenty of opportunities!