Inflation: Are Your Financial Tires Losing Air?
Image of Mobil Gas Station with High Price per gallon
Have you ever felt like your paycheck doesn’t stretch as far as it used to? Like you’re pedaling uphill with flat tires? That’s inflation at work. When I was a kid riding my bike, I didn’t think much about the words "inflate" or "deflate." But I knew one thing—if my tires were flat, I couldn’t go anywhere. Simple as that. I carried an air pump and learned how to patch a flat because if I wanted to keep moving, I had to act.
I didn’t realize it back then, but that simple lesson shaped how I think about money today. Just like a bike can’t run on flat tires, your money can’t keep pace without adjusting for inflation.
The first time I really felt the effects of inflation wasn’t while reading financial reports as a bank CEO—it was at the gas pump, staring at the grocery bill, and wondering why my rent in North St. Louis County (in Missouri) had increased so much. It wasn’t just numbers on a screen; it was real, tangible. I actually ended up moving to a cheaper, less nice apartment just to stretch my dollar farther.
Years later, during my time in fundraising, I started noticing how the stock market—and the overall economy—influenced people’s moods. When the market was up, people felt richer and gave more during campaigns. That was different from the reality I lived in. The market didn’t seem to touch me—or so I thought. Inflation, however, was a constant presence. Everyday things like the cost of my haircut would rise (a few bucks mattered), and I’d feel the pinch. I realized I didn’t have the financial cushion or “market offset” that some of the donors I worked with had. I wasn’t richer when the market went up—but it did get me thinking. How could I protect myself better over the long term when everything else became more expensive?
In my 30s, I had another lightbulb moment. I realized that money sitting in my savings account wasn’t keeping up with rising costs. Inflation quietly chipped away at its value. I wasn’t sophisticated about investing, but I knew enough to take a small step. I started contributing a little of that savings to a 403(b)-retirement account. At first, it felt strange to put money away for what I was told would be decades. But after rethinking it as “future money” instead of “my money right now,” I trusted the process. I automated small contributions and resisted the temptation to second-guess myself every time the market dipped. Over time, I saw that just like keeping air in my bike tires kept me moving, investing—even in small amounts—kept my money moving forward.
Inflation might sound abstract, but if you’ve ever filled your gas tank or bought groceries and thought, "Wow, that’s expensive," you’ve experienced it firsthand. It’s not just an economic term—it’s the price of eggs, the cost of housing, the cost of childcare (particularly when there’s a shortage of qualified help—are you tracking?), and everything in between.
But here’s the good news: You can respond. Just like patching a flat tire isn’t glamorous but gets you moving, small financial actions today can keep you ahead of inflation tomorrow.
So, what’s one small step you can take today to invest in your future?
Start now—your future self will thank you.
About Me:
Hi, I’m Orvin Kimbrough—volunteer, board director, and chairman & CEO of Midwest BankCentre. I help professionals scale confidence, leadership, and influence by driving mindset shifts, expanding networks, sharing knowledge, and encouraging bold action.
I share insights on leadership, resilience, and personal growth—rooted in my journey from foster care to CEO. 📖 Twice Over a Man, my recently released book, has been described as inspiring, honest, and transformative. Readers call it a leadership manual wrapped in a powerful, relatable memoir of perseverance and faith.
For more Reflections (and broader lessons learned), visit orvinkimbrough.com