How to combat inflation on a tight budget

Inflation is a nightmare for many people already forced to stretch their money to cover basic needs. What happens when that money loses value?

Their choice is probably not about whether to cut streaming services or opt for store-brand groceries. Instead, they may have to choose between buying enough food and paying rent.

The families hit hardest by inflation typically have little in savings and other resources. You may have to scrape together cash to support not just yourself, but also family members.

Here’s how to combat inflation if money is already tight.

Prioritise essentials

Aim to pay for expenses that enable you to live safely: housing (mortgage or rent), utilities and food. Also try to cover costs that help you to work, such as transport, cell phone and child care.

Next-level priorities are those that trigger major consequences if you do not pay, such as child support. For credit cards, aim to pay your minimum at least.

Negotiate with service providers

You may also save money by calling credit card and insurance companies, lenders, banks, cell phone providers and other businesses you pay.

With the Covid-19 pandemic affecting so many consumers, these companies “are a little more empathetic than they have been”, says Emlen Miles-Mattingly, co-founder of Onyx Advisor Network, in California, a support platform for underrepresented financial advisers.

They may pause or lower payments, for example, or forgive overdue bills. Or they could lower your interest rate.

Five tips to beat the rising costs of inflation

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But you have to ask. And often a patient phone call with customer service yields quicker, more effective results than an email or online form.

Connect with your community

To overcome financial struggles, “community is going to be major”, says Dasha Kennedy, founder of The Broke Black Girl Facebook community.

Leaning on — or supporting — your family members, friends and neighbours can take many forms.

For example, Ms Kennedy points out how temporarily living with others can lower housing expenses. Or you can pool resources by sharing a vehicle or splitting a large expense.

To connect with supportive locals you’ve yet to meet, consider libraries, religious organisations and recreation centres. Or use online platforms such as Facebook and Nextdoor.

In these in-person and online spaces, you may find free or inexpensive goods and services. Maybe someone will give away secondhand clothes or walk your dog while you work.

Or seek guidance. Your neighbours may describe what’s helped them to make their money go farther.

Profit from your skills

Of course, making more money helps, too. If you’re already working, Ms Kennedy recommends first trying to increase earnings through your employer. Consider working overtime or negotiating salary raises and role changes, she says.

Or explore side work — with caution. Plenty of online gigs could waste your time, take your money or misuse your personal information.

“It’s high time for frauds and scams,” Ms Kennedy says. Trust your gut, and read reviews.

The most effective way to make money? “Monetise skills you already have,” Ms Kennedy says.

These could include anything from cleaning and organising to writing and designing.

Assuming you start without clients, she suggests tapping your community once again.

Families hunt for bargains amid rising prices globally — in pictures

“You may not have the time to build trust and reputation, so you’re going to have to rely on personal relationships,” she says.

Ask friends, neighbours and family members to promote and vouch for you.

Mind your mental health

Money struggles are exhausting. So regularly “connect with yourself”, Mr Miles-Mattingly says.

Identify what makes you feel better, whether it’s walking outside, calling a friend, meditating or reading.

If time is tight, make your activity quick, and consider Mr Miles-Mattingly’s point: “People, when stressed, don’t have the best decision-making abilities.”

And hard times mean hard decisions. It pays to feel centred before negotiating a lower bill or agreeing to a side job.

To avoid feeling overwhelmed during times of financial stress, Ms Kennedy tries not to overthink the unpredictable future. Instead, she suggests “focusing on getting through the day”.

Associated Press

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Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

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The Energy Research Centre

Founded 50 years ago as a nuclear research institute, scientists at the centre believed nuclear would be the “solution for everything”.
Although they still do, they discovered in 1955 that the Netherlands had a lot of natural gas. “We still had the idea that, by 2000, it would all be nuclear,” said Harm Jeeninga, director of business and programme development at the centre.
"In the 1990s, we found out about global warming so we focused on energy savings and tackling the greenhouse gas effect.”
The energy centre’s research focuses on biomass, energy efficiency, the environment, wind and solar, as well as energy engineering and socio-economic research.

Barings Bank

Barings, one of Britain’s oldest investment banks, was
founded in 1762 and operated for 233 years before it went bust after a trading
scandal.

Barings Bank collapsed in February 1995 following colossal
losses caused by rogue trader Nick Lesson.

Leeson gambled more than $1 billion in speculative trades,
wiping out the venerable merchant bank’s cash reserves.

Brief scores:

Arsenal 4

Xhaka 25', Lacazette 55', Ramsey 79', Aubameyang 83'

Fulham 1

Kamara 69'

RESULTS

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Key facilities

Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills

Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

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Pad Man

Dir: R Balki

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte

Three-and-a-half stars

Where to buy and try:

Nutritional yeast

DesertCart

Organic Foods & Café

Bulletproof coffee

Amasake

Charcoal drinks and dishes

Various juice bars, including Comptoir 102

Bridgewater Tavern

3 Fils

Jackfruit

Supermarkets across the UAE

Know before you go

Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.

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BEST FILM

1917 - Pippa Harris, Callum McDougall, Sam Mendes, Jayne-Ann Tenggren
THE IRISHMAN - Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, Martin Scorsese, Emma Tillinger Koskoff
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PARASITE - Bong Joon-ho, Kwak Sin-ae

DIRECTOR

1917 - Sam Mendes
THE IRISHMAN - Martin Scorsese
JOKER - Todd Phillips
ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD - Quentin Tarantino
PARASITE - Bong Joon-ho

OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM

1917 - Sam Mendes, Pippa Harris, Callum McDougall, Jayne-Ann Tenggren, Krysty Wilson-Cairns
BAIT - Mark Jenkin, Kate Byers, Linn Waite
FOR SAMA - Waad al-Kateab, Edward Watts
ROCKETMAN - Dexter Fletcher, Adam Bohling, David Furnish, David Reid, Matthew Vaughn, Lee Hall
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FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

THE FAREWELL - Lulu Wang, Daniele Melia
FOR SAMA - Waad al-Kateab, Edward Watts
PAIN AND GLORY - Pedro Almodóvar, Agustín Almodóvar
PARASITE - Bong Joon-ho
PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE - Céline Sciamma, Bénédicte Couvreur

LEADING ACTRESS

JESSIE BUCKLEY - Wild Rose
SCARLETT JOHANSSON - Marriage Story
SAOIRSE RONAN - Little Women
CHARLIZE THERON - Bombshell
RENÉE ZELLWEGER - Judy

LEADING ACTOR

LEONARDO DICAPRIO - Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood
ADAM DRIVER - Marriage Story
TARON EGERTON - Rocketman
JOAQUIN PHOENIX - Joker
JONATHAN PRYCE - The Two Popes

SUPPORTING ACTOR

TOM HANKS - A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
ANTHONY HOPKINS - The Two Popes
AL PACINO - The Irishman
JOE PESCI - The Irishman
BRAD PITT - Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

LAURA DERN - Marriage Story
SCARLETT JOHANSSON - Jojo Rabbit
FLORENCE PUGH - Little Women
MARGOT ROBBIE - Bombshell
MARGOT ROBBIE - Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

THE IRISHMAN - Steven Zaillian
JOJO RABBIT - Taika Waititi
JOKER - Todd Phillips, Scott Silver
LITTLE WOMEN - Greta Gerwig
THE TWO POPES - Anthony McCarten

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

BOOKSMART - Susanna Fogel, Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Katie Silberman
KNIVES OUT - Rian Johnson
MARRIAGE STORY - Noah Baumbach
ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD - Quentin Tarantino
PARASITE - Han Jin Won, Bong Joon ho

DOCUMENTARY

AMERICAN FACTORY - Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert
APOLLO 11 - Todd Douglas Miller
DIEGO MARADONA - Asif Kapadia
FOR SAMA - Waad al-Kateab, Edward Watts
THE GREAT HACK - Karim Amer, Jehane Noujaime

OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER

BAIT - Mark Jenkin (Writer/Director), Kate Byers, Linn Waite (Producers)
FOR SAMA - Waad al-Kateab (Director/Producer), Edward Watts (Director)
MAIDEN - Alex Holmes (Director)
ONLY YOU - Harry Wootliff (Writer/Director)
RETABLO - Álvaro Delgado-Aparicio (Writer/Director)

ANIMATED FILM

FROZEN 2 - Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee, Peter Del Vecho
KLAUS - Sergio Pablos, Jinko Gotoh
A SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE: FARMAGEDDON - Will Becher, Richard Phelan, Paul Kewley
TOY STORY 4 - Josh Cooley, Mark Nielsen

CASTING

JOKER - Shayna Markowitz
MARRIAGE STORY - Douglas Aibel, Francine Maisler
ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD - Victoria Thomas
THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD - Sarah Crowe
THE TWO POPES - Nina Gold

EE RISING STAR AWARD (voted for by the public)

AWKWAFINA
JACK LOWDEN
KAITLYN DEVER
KELVIN HARRISON JR.
MICHEAL WARD

CINEMATOGRAPHY

1917 - Roger Deakins
THE IRISHMAN - Rodrigo Prieto
JOKER - Lawrence Sher
LE MANS ’66 - Phedon Papamichael
THE LIGHTHOUSE - Jarin Blaschke

EDITING

THE IRISHMAN - Thelma Schoonmaker
JOJO RABBIT - Tom Eagles
JOKER - Jeff Groth
LE MANS ’66 - Andrew Buckland, Michael McCusker
ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD - Fred Raskin

COSTUME DESIGN

THE IRISHMAN - Christopher Peterson, Sandy Powell
JOJO RABBIT - Mayes C. Rubeo
JUDY - Jany Temime
LITTLE WOMEN - Jacqueline Durran
ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD - Arianne Phillips

PRODUCTION DESIGN

1917 - Dennis Gassner, Lee Sandales
THE IRISHMAN - Bob Shaw, Regina Graves
JOJO RABBIT - Ra Vincent, Nora Sopková
JOKER - Mark Friedberg, Kris Moran
ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD - Barbara Ling, Nancy Haigh

SOUND

1917 - Scott Millan, Oliver Tarney, Rachael Tate, Mark Taylor, Stuart Wilson
JOKER - Tod Maitland, Alan Robert Murray, Tom Ozanich, Dean Zupancic
LE MANS ’66 - David Giammarco, Paul Massey, Steven A. Morrow, Donald Sylvester
ROCKETMAN - Matthew Collinge, John Hayes, Mike Prestwood Smith, Danny Sheehan
STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - David Acord, Andy Nelson, Christopher Scarabosio, Stuart Wilson, Matthew Wood

ORIGINAL SCORE

1917 - Thomas Newman
JOJO RABBIT - Michael Giacchino
JOKER - Hildur Guđnadóttir
LITTLE WOMEN - Alexandre Desplat
STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - John Williams

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS

1917 - Greg Butler, Guillaume Rocheron, Dominic Tuohy
AVENGERS: ENDGAME - Dan Deleeuw, Dan Sudick
THE IRISHMAN - Leandro Estebecorena, Stephane Grabli, Pablo Helman
THE LION KING - Andrew R. Jones, Robert Legato, Elliot Newman, Adam Valdez
STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - Roger Guyett, Paul Kavanagh, Neal Scanlan, Dominic Tuohy

MAKE UP & HAIR

1917 - Naomi Donne
BOMBSHELL - Vivian Baker, Kazu Hiro, Anne Morgan
JOKER - Kay Georgiou, Nicki Ledermann
JUDY - Jeremy Woodhead
ROCKETMAN - Lizzie Yianni Georgiou

BRITISH SHORT FILM

AZAAR - Myriam Raja, Nathanael Baring
GOLDFISH - Hector Dockrill, Harri Kamalanathan, Benedict Turnbull, Laura Dockrill
KAMALI - Sasha Rainbow, Rosalind Croad
LEARNING TO SKATEBOARD IN A WARZONE (IF YOU’RE A GIRL) - Carol Dysinger, Elena Andreicheva
THE TRAP - Lena Headey, Anthony Fitzgerald

BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION

GRANDAD WAS A ROMANTIC - Maryam Mohajer
IN HER BOOTS - Kathrin Steinbacher
THE MAGIC BOAT - Naaman Azh

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Tonight's Chat on The National

Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.

Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.

Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.

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Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)

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