Inflation's Real Casualty: Why the Penny Had to Die

Trump’s Treasury just killed the penny—but honestly? Nobody’s surprised. A coin that costs 3.69 cents to produce and can’t buy literally anything is basically financial theater at this point.

But here’s what’s actually wild: the penny didn’t die because of poor planning. It died because of inflation. Over 200+ years, rising prices quietly gutted the penny’s value until it became pointless. And that’s the real wake-up call.

The Fed targets ~2% annual inflation (healthy for growth), but when it spiked to 9.1% in 2022? That’s when everything went sideways. Your paycheck doesn’t stretch as far. Your savings quietly lose purchasing power. The nickel, dime, and quarter are all on borrowed time too—they’re just waiting their turn.

The uncomfortable truth: If your money isn’t growing faster than inflation, you’re getting poorer in real terms.

Here’s the play:

High-yield savings accounts (4-5% APY) beat inflation without risk. Stocks historically return ~7% after inflation—real wealth building. TIPS bonds hedge inflation directly. Boost your income—negotiate raises, side hustles, skill upgrades. And lock in fixed costs before they explode.

The penny’s gone. But inflation? It’s not going anywhere. The question isn’t whether prices will keep rising—they will. The question is: Will your money keep up?

Start now or watch your wealth slowly disappear, penny by penny.