On this week’s episode of Making Cents of Money, our hosts discuss the cost of living and how many factors influence our everyday expenses—from housing and groceries, to utilities and transportation.
Cost of Living Calculators
- Bankrate: https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/cost-of-living-calculator/
- Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/advisor/mortgages/real-estate/cost-of-living-calculator/
- NerdWallet: https://www.nerdwallet.com/cost-of-living-calculator
- Numbeo: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/comparison.jsp
- SmartAsset: https://smartasset.com/mortgage/cost-of-living-calculator
Other sources for considering cost of living
- FAQ: Is the Consumer Price Index (CPI) a cost-of-living index? (U.S. Department of Labor): https://webapps.dol.gov/dolfaq/go-dol-faq.asp?faqid=93&topicid=6&subtopicid=116
- Consumer Price Index, Midwest Region – August 2024 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics): https://www.bls.gov/regions/mountain-plains/news-release/consumerpriceindex_midwest.htm
- Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes Explorer (U.S. Census): https://lehd.ces.census.gov/applications/pseo/?type=earnings&compare=postgrad&specificity=2&state=08&institution=08°reelevel=05&gradcohort=0000-3&filter=50&program=52,45
- Recorded Webinar – Inflation: When Prices Rise: https://youtu.be/JeGD22v19xI?feature=shared
Budgeting resources
- Budgeting: How to create a budget and stick with it (CFPB): https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/budgeting-how-to-create-a-budget-and-stick-with-it/
- SMMC’s Budgeting Web Page: https://www.studentmoney.uillinois.edu/learn/budgeting
Other relevant podcast episodes:
- Budgeting (ep. 20) - https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/804394514
- Wealth Building as a Balancing Act (ep. 55) - https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/1517205319
- Investing to Reach Financial Goals (ep. 57)- https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/1002945600
- Conscious Consumerism (ep. 59) - https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/1273369699
- Understanding Your Paycheck (ep. 69) - https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/1213480115
