💸 Money Cheat Sheet: How Much Should You Keep in Cash?

This week’s money mood: Cash in, cash out️

ICYMI, yesterday’s monthly inflation report was … ouch. The Consumer Price Index hit another 40-year high, at 9.1%. Also, the stock markets just closed a pretty ugly first half of the year.

The combination of those two things has led to a spike in the number of people asking us: “How much money should I be keeping in cash?” It’s a good question; inflation makes cash less valuable, but at the same time, the idea of investing right now can feel intimidating.

So this week, we’ve got our money coaches’ best advice for you — plus an explainer on inflation and what to do in response. It’s all below.

Until next week (whatever that may bring),

Deedi Brown, she/her
Senior Editor

An illustration of two stacks of cash and three piles of coins.

How much of my money should I keep in cash?

It’s a smart question to ask, especially ~in this economy~. Learn how to calculate what makes the most sense for you with this quick explainer.

FIND OUT >

A line chart zig-zagging upward, with a calculator, stack of cash, and % sign floating around it. Illustration.

What do I need to know (and do) about inflation?

If the most recent inflation numbers have you reeling, we’ve got you. Take a peek at our breakdown of the latest news and tips on how to deal with it.

CLARITY NOW >

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Our 101 workshop goes over all the basics. Zoom on in for it this upcoming Monday at 6 PM ET.

$$ win of the week

“I went on a dream vacation to Iceland — on a deli worker’s wages!”

— Becky, an Elle Raiser from Indianapolis, IN

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•	This excellent New York Times feature underlines how millennials’ financial anxieties have translated across industries and life circumstances.
•	Thought about getting a new credit card to help you combat inflation? We don’t recommend it, but you’re certainly not alone — 28% more credit cards were issued in the first three months of 2022 than in the same period last year. It bumped the country’s collective credit limit by 60%(!).
•	If hours-long TSA lines have you questioning your upcoming European vacation, maybe the euro finally reaching parity with the US dollar (as predicted) will help.
•	Fortune ran a fascinating piece about the legacy of Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated last week, and his “womenomics” policy decisions.
•	We need an American Girl doll who kept investing through the 2008 financial crisis.

The world may feel chaotic, but your goals aren’t. Start investing toward them today.

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💸 Money Cheat Sheet: How Much Should You Keep in Cash?

This week’s money mood: Cash in, cash out️

How much of my money should I keep in cash?

What do I need to know (and do) about inflation?

Join us: How Investing Works

$$ win of the week

New$ you can (probably) use

The world may feel chaotic, but your goals aren’t. Start investing toward them today.

This week’s newsletter was brought to you while forgetting we’re dead stars too. Forward it to your friends who decided to survive more.

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