The Penny's Dead—But Your Wallet Is Bleeding Faster

The U.S. Mint just minted its last penny on Nov. 12. Each one cost 3.69 cents to produce, so yeah, it made zero sense to keep going. But here’s the real story: the penny didn’t die from old age. It got murdered by inflation.

For 200+ years, pennies were pocket change. Now? They’re worthless. And that’s the warning sign nobody’s talking about—the same force that killed the penny is silently eroding the value of every dollar in your account.

The Inflation Math That Should Scare You

Inflation hit 9.1% in 2022. The Fed wants 2% annually. Your paycheck? Probably didn’t double. Your savings sitting in a 0.01% checking account? Getting obliterated.

If your money isn’t growing at least as fast as inflation, you’re literally getting poorer every year. That’s not pessimism—that’s math.

How to Actually Fight Back

High-yield savings accounts are pulling 4-5% right now. Your regular bank account? Might as well stuff it under a mattress.

Stocks historically return ~7% after inflation. Index funds, real estate, anything that appreciates. Even $50 starts counting.

TIPS (Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities) literally adjust their value when inflation spikes. Low risk, designed for this exact scenario.

Refinance debt, negotiate bills, kill fixed costs. Inflation makes everything more expensive—lock in better rates NOW before they climb.

Boost income. Raise, new skills, side hustle. If wages aren’t keeping up with prices, you gotta bridge that gap yourself.

Bottom Line

Prices aren’t stopping. The penny is gone. Your paycheck is next if you don’t move. The question isn’t whether inflation happens—it’s whether your money works hard enough to survive it.