Tips for Saving Money in Your Daily Life to Survive the Rising Cost of Living
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Economical living to survive the rising cost of living. It's not about becoming a hermit or counting every penny with a mournful expression.
It's about waking up and deciding that money isn't going to slip through your fingers without you realizing it.
Here in the interior of São Paulo, where rent and electricity bills are already a burden like never before, these small adjustments make the difference between paying the bills while breathing and staring at the ceiling at night.
Keep reading and learn more!
Summary of Topics Covered
- What Does It Really Mean? Economics in Everyday Life to Survive the Rising Cost of Living?
- What are the tips that really move the needle in everyday life?
- How can I put this into practice without becoming bitter?
- Why Isn't This Just Another Sacrifice List in 2026?
- Stories That Show It Works
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Does It Really Mean? Economics in Everyday Life to Survive the Rising Cost of Living?
Economical living to survive the rising cost of living. It's basically turning the tables on a system that raises prices faster than wages keep pace.
In January 2026, the accumulated IPCA (Brazilian consumer price index) over 12 months hit 4,44% according to IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics), and here in Sorocaba the average cost for a person to live with some comfort is around R$ 4,800–5,200 per month.
It's not a luxury. It's about not going through hardship.
This didn't start yesterday.
The 80s taught many people how to make the most of what they didn't have, but now the enemy is more insidious: inflation that eats away at the basics (food and housing suck up about 57% from the average Brazilian budget, according to recent research by Serasa) and apps that convince you to buy what you don't even need.
There's something unsettling about all of this. We feel a tightness in our chest when we see the bill, but we keep scrolling through the feed as if nothing is happening.
The kind of economy I'm talking about is the opposite: looking at your daily life and saying, "This habit is costing me too much.".
Read also: Where to Buy School Supplies Cheaper: Wholesale, Online, or Local Stationery Store?
What are the tips that really move the needle in everyday life?
At the supermarket, stop buying on impulse. Make a list based on what you already have at home and what's actually on sale — not those "buy 3 get 2 free" deals that end up being more expensive if you didn't need three.
In Sorocaba, open-air markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays are still a lifesaver: vegetables and fruits are half the price of those in the hypermarket.
Transportation is another problem. If you travel less than 10 km per day, electric bikes or shared scooters are cheaper than cars in terms of cost per km.
If you drive, arrange regular carpools with neighbors or colleagues — in a week you'll already save R$ 150–200 on fuel just by not going alone every day.
Energy and water also leak. Turning off TVs, microwaves, chargers on standby — it seems silly, but it adds up to 8-12% on the bill at the end of the month.
Electric shower in winter? 5-minute timer becomes a religion.
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Here's a quick table with real-world impacts I'm seeing around:
| Area | Action that costs almost nothing | Estimated Monthly Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Food | List + fair + batch cooking | R$ 180–300 |
| Transport | Fixed-price carpool or bike for short trips. | R$ 150–250 |
| Energy | Turn off standby mode + LED + shower timer | R$ 60–120 |
| General purchases | Wholesale groups with neighbors | R$ 80–150 |
How can I put this into practice without becoming bitter?
Nobody can stand living counting every real as if it were their last. The trick is to turn the economy into a game.
No delivery this week? At the end of the week, enjoy some artisanal ice cream that you truly love. That keeps the pleasure alive.
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Use tools that don't charge anything: apps like Mobills or GuiaBolso show you where your money really goes — and seeing R$ 400 leaking out on coffee and snacks hurts more than any forced cut.
Then adjust slowly: swap takeout for cooking while listening to a podcast, transform the ritual.
Wouldn't it be liberating to discover that fewer impulse purchases on your credit card free up space for what really matters—a short weekend trip, an online course, or simply sleeping without that anxiety of "how am I going to pay for this?"
Think of it like pruning a plant: you cut off what's not needed, it hurts a little at first, but then it grows stronger and bears better fruit.
Why Isn't This Just Another Sacrifice List in 2026?
Because the hardship is real and it won't go away on its own.
The Selic rate is at 15% now in February 2026, which makes any debt more expensive and leaves idle money earning less than inflation eats away at it.
Indebted families have risen to levels that are worrying even the Central Bank — and those who don't take action will be left behind.
These tactics aren't about becoming a radical minimalist. They're about regaining control. While the government debates spending caps and subsidies, you can act on what you control: your daily life.
In cities like Sorocaba, where costs have risen along with the rest of the interior of São Paulo state, those who adjust now will breathe easier in the coming months.
This also becomes a network. Groups of neighbors buying in bulk, regular carpooling, exchanges of services — the individual economy becomes collective and nobody feels alone in a leaky boat.
Stories That Show It Works
Ana, 34 years old, a freelance designer here in Sorocaba: she stopped ordering from iFood three times a week and started cooking in batches on Sundays (rice, beans, grilled vegetables).
She shopped at farmers' markets and formed a group of four mothers to buy cleaning and hygiene products wholesale.
The result? He cut his monthly R$ 420 and used part of it for a course that opened doors to international clients.
João, a 41-year-old teacher in Ribeirão Preto, has arranged a regular carpool with three colleagues from school. On weekends, he has picnics with his family instead of going to restaurants.
With what was left over, he paid for a three-day trip to the interior of Minas Gerais — something that had previously seemed impossible.
These aren't cases of luck. They're repeated choices that become habits. And the best part: nobody turned into Scrooge. They just stopped letting money slip away without realizing it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions that always come up when the subject arises:
| Question | Direct Answer |
|---|---|
| How can I start without feeling like I'm depriving myself? | Start by making changes, not cutting them. Delivery becomes home-cooked dinners with good music. The pleasure remains, the cost goes down. |
| Are financial management apps really worth it? | Yes. Mobills or GuiaBolso show real data leaks in days. Free and straightforward. |
| My family resists change. What now? | Turn it into a collective challenge: "no extra pay this week" with a reward at the end. Everyone gets in on the game. |
| Does it work for people with irregular income? | Perfect for this. Create a 2-3 month buffer with what's left over during good periods. Essentials first. |
| How long until I see a difference? | 30–45 days to feel the impact on your wallet. Six months for it to become an automatic habit. |
Want to go deeper?
Take a look at Central Bank financial planning guide, in the practical tips from Serasa Consumidor, and in the updated inflation figures in IBGE website.
