Inflation has only been averaging about 2% the past few years, but it’s important to not let that number deceive you. Prices on some items are rising well faster than the inflation rate.

It’s important to make sure we do our best to keep ahead of inflation. However, we oftentimes think that doing so is best done in the stock market. But there are ways to beat it in our daily financial habits as well.

Here are three tools you can use to start:

  1. Smart Shopping. Buying in bulk, buying used, and using coupons are all tools you can use to pay less on things you buy every day, making your money have a greater impact than it otherwise would.
  2. Tracking Your Expenses. There are many free apps and software (as well as paid options) that show you where your money is going. This enables you to plug spending leaks and shows you where you spend too much.
  3. Putting Your Money in the Right Places. Putting your money into real estate can definitely help offset inflation. So too can putting your hard-earned money in the stock market.

It’s not always about earning more (although that helps). It’s about stretching each dollar as far as you can, whether it be through spending efficiently, or wise investing.