Inflation and Your Money with Fexingo: Protecting Purchasing Power and Beating Inflation

Episode 128 of Inflation and Your Money with Fexingo examines an overlooked inflation blind spot: Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities. Lucas and Luna use today's data—CPI at 332.6, the 10-year breakeven at 2.26%, and gold at $4,133—to show how taxes on phantom income, low real yields after fees, and the steep opportunity cost versus equities make TIPS a far weaker inflation hedge than most investors assume. They walk through a concrete example: a $10,000 TIPS ladder bought five years ago versus a simple low-cost equity ETF, net of taxes. The takeaway: TIPS have a narrow, tactical use case and are not a set-it-and-forget-it solution. The episode also includes a warm, organic listener-support moment (buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo) and closes with a forward-looking question about whether inflation expectations are correctly priced.

#TIPS #Inflation #Bonds #Treasury #RealYield #PhantomIncome #CPI #BreakevenRate #Fed #Gold #PurchasingPower #PersonalFinance #Investing #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #InflationAndYourMoney #Finance #Podcast

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In Episode 127 of Inflation and Your Money with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna dig into an overlooked inflation casualty: the homeowners insurance deductible. As construction costs have soared over the past five years, the fixed-dollar deductible on a typical policy has shrunk in real terms, leaving policyholders with a much larger out-of-pocket burden when they file a claim. Lucas explains how a $1,000 deductible in 2021 is now effectively worth around $850 in 2021 dollars, and why most homeowners don't realize their coverage has eroded until it's too late. The conversation touches on how insurers have responded by pushing higher deductibles and percentage-based deductibles, especially in catastrophe-prone states. With the latest CPI data showing shelter costs still elevated and the Fed funds rate holding at 3.63 percent, the hosts discuss practical steps listeners can take to check their policy and avoid a nasty surprise. A must-listen for anyone who owns a home and hasn't looked at their insurance paperwork in the last year.

#Inflation #HomeownersInsurance #Deductibles #PurchasingPower #CPI #ShelterCosts #InsuranceClaims #ConstructionCosts #PersonalFinance #FinancialPlanning #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #LucasAndLuna #Podcast #InflationAndYourMoney #InsuranceTips #Homeownership #RealEstate

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Episode 126 of Inflation and Your Money with Fexingo explores an overlooked threat: inflation's effect on Roth IRA accounts. Hosts Lucas and Luna break down why a 3% annual inflation rate can slash the future purchasing power of your tax-free withdrawals by nearly half over 30 years. Using real data—including the latest CPI reading of 332.6 and core PCE at 130.1—they explain how inflation erodes the real return of your contributions even when the account grows nominally. Lucas shares a concrete example: someone maxing out their Roth IRA for 30 years could end up with tax-free income worth significantly less in today's dollars. The episode also discusses strategies like investing in equities with pricing power, Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities, and adjusting contribution timing. A must-listen for anyone relying on Roth accounts for retirement.

#Inflation #RothIRA #Retirement #PurchasingPower #CPI #PCE #TIPS #Equities #TaxFree #FIRE #PersonalFinance #Investing #CompoundInterest #InflationHedge #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance #WealthManagement

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In this episode of 'Inflation and Your Money with Fexingo', Lucas and Luna break down the latest CPI data showing headline inflation easing to a 332.6 index reading in June 2026, but they dive into a surprising cost that's climbing faster than the official numbers: streaming service subscriptions. With core services inflation running hot—especially in categories like media subscriptions—they examine the typical household's streaming bill, which now averages $65 per month across four services, up 18% from two years ago. They discuss the concept of 'subscription creep', the difference between headline CPI and the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index (which hit 131.5 in May), and why the Federal Reserve's focus on supercore services inflation matters for your wallet. Lucas shares a strategy for auditing and rotating subscriptions to avoid paying for what you don't watch, and Luna offers a practical tip on using a dedicated debit card for streaming to track spending. They also touch on the Fed's interest rate outlook, with the Fed Funds rate at 3.63% and Dallas Fed President Logan recently calling for modestly higher rates. Plus, a brief mention of how listener support via Buy Me a Coffee keeps the show ad-free.

#Inflation #StreamingServices #CPI #PCE #FedRate #SubscriptionEconomy #PersonalFinance #PurchasingPower #CoreInflation #Netflix #DisneyPlus #AmazonPrime #HBO #Budgeting #ConsumerSpending #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance

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In this episode, Lucas and Luna examine how inflation quietly erodes the real value of prediction market winnings, even as platforms like Kalshi boom. With the CPI still elevated and breakeven inflation rising, they calculate the hidden tax on your betting profits using real data from July 2026. Lucas explains why a 3.5% nominal gain might be a 1% real loss, and Luna asks whether the inflation-adjusted payout is worth the risk. A sharp, practical look at the silent cost of playing the prediction game.

#Inflation #PredictionMarkets #Kalshi #PurchasingPower #RealReturns #CPI #BreakevenInflation #Finance #PersonalFinance #Investing #Wealth #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #InflationAndYourMoney #LucasAndLuna #HiddenCosts #Betting #Economics

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In this episode of Inflation and Your Money with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna examine how inflation is quietly eating your car insurance premium. They break down the specific drivers behind rising rates, from double-digit increases in auto repair costs to higher medical bills for accident claims, and explain why the official CPI for motor vehicle insurance — up 18.5% year-over-year as of June 2026 — actually understates the pain most drivers feel. Lucas cites data showing average premiums have surged past $2,400 annually in some states, while Luna notes how insurers are using telematics to price risk more granularly. They discuss whether shopping around every six months, raising deductibles, or usage-based policies are effective hedges. Tune in for a concrete look at how a necessary expense is quietly inflating and what you can do about it.

#Inflation #CarInsurance #AutoInsurance #InsurancePremiums #CPI #ConsumerPrices #PersonalFinance #InflationProtection #Insurance #AutoRepair #MedicalCosts #Telematics #UsageBasedInsurance #Deductible #ShoppingAround #Finance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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In this episode of Inflation and Your Money with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna explore how even 'safe' fixed annuity payouts are losing ground to inflation in mid-2026. With the CPI at 332.6 and the 10-year breakeven inflation rate rising to 2.24%, a fixed annuity yielding 3.5% is barely providing any real return after inflation. The hosts walk through a concrete example: a $200,000 annuity purchased five years ago now has the purchasing power of roughly $176,000. They discuss whether inflation-adjusted or variable annuities might be better alternatives, and how to think about annuity ladders to preserve future income. If you're relying on fixed annuity income in retirement, this episode offers a clear-eyed look at the hidden erosion and what you can do about it.

#Inflation #FixedAnnuities #RetirementIncome #PurchasingPower #CPI #BreakevenInflationRate #RealReturn #AnnuityLadder #VariableAnnuity #InflationAdjustedAnnuity #RetirementPlanning #PersonalFinance #Finance #Investing #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #InflationAndYourMoney #FinancialLiteracy

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Home warranties promise peace of mind, but inflation is quietly shrinking the real value of those service contracts. In this episode, Lucas and Luna examine how a typical $500–$600 annual home warranty premium buys less coverage than it did just a few years ago, thanks to rising labor costs and parts prices. They break down the numbers: with service fees climbing 15–20% since 2022 and claim payout caps failing to keep pace, homeowners are increasingly on the hook for repairs they thought were covered. Lucas cites data from the latest CPI report (down to 332.6 in June 2026) and the 10-year breakeven inflation rate of 2.24% to show why home warranty companies are tightening terms. The hosts offer practical advice: compare the fine print on coverage limits and consider setting aside a dedicated home repair fund instead. A must-listen for anyone relying on a warranty to protect their biggest asset.

#HomeWarranty #Inflation #PurchasingPower #HomeRepairCosts #CPI #ConsumerPrices #Finance #PersonalFinance #Homeownership #WarrantyCoverage #ServiceContract #LaborCosts #PartsInflation #BreakevenInflation #RealEstate #HomeMaintenance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the often-overlooked world of renters insurance and how inflation is slowly eroding its value. With CPI data showing a slight dip to 332.6 in June 2026, but rent costs continuing to climb, they explore why your policy's replacement cost coverage might not be keeping pace. Lucas breaks down how the typical $30,000 personal property coverage from 2020 now buys about $24,700 in real goods, using an example of a stolen laptop. Luna questions whether the low monthly premium ($15-20) gives a false sense of security. They also discuss the 'coinsurance clause' trap many renters miss and offer tips: get replacement cost coverage, do a home inventory with receipts, and check for inflation guard endorsements. A must-listen for anyone renting an apartment or house.

#Inflation #RentersInsurance #PersonalFinance #PurchasingPower #CPI #ReplacementCost #Coinsurance #HomeInventory #InsuranceClaims #Renting #ApartmentLife #FinancialLiteracy #MoneyTips #ConsumerProtection #InflationProtection #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance

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Episode 119 of Inflation and Your Money with Fexingo. Lucas and Luna examine why a 4.2% high-yield savings account may be quietly losing you money after inflation and taxes. With the latest CPI data at 332.6 (down slightly from June) and the Fed funds rate holding at 3.63%, they break down the real after-tax, after-inflation return on cash. They explain the concept of 'negative real yield' for savers, discuss why banks have already started trimming rates ahead of potential Fed cuts, and offer a concrete strategy: switching to a short-term Treasury ETF like SGOV or a TIPS fund to preserve purchasing power. Lucas also shares a cautionary tale about the 'rate-chaser trap' and how one listener's $50,000 in a savings account lost $850 in real value over the past year. No hype, just the numbers.

#Inflation #HighYieldSavings #RealReturn #NegativeYield #CashIsNotRiskFree #CPI #FedFundsRate #SGOV #TIPS #PurchasingPower #PersonalFinance #Savers #RateChaser #OpportunityCost #TreasuryETF #AfterTaxReturn #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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