A short-term effect of inflation on savers is that their money loses purchasing power, meaning that even though they may have more pesos in their bank account, they can buy less with it compared to before.For example, let’s say you saved ₱1,000 in a piggy bank. You plan to use it to buy a new pair of rubber shoes in a few months. However, due to inflation, the shoes that used to cost ₱1,000 now cost ₱1,100. Even if you didn’t spend your savings, it’s now worth less because prices went up. Your money didn't shrink in number, but its value did.In the Philippines, this situation is common for many working families who keep cash at home instead of investing it. When prices rise and savings don’t grow at the same pace, they have to spend more just to buy the same groceries, medicines, or school supplies. This can be especially harmful to retirees or senior citizens who live on a fixed pension and can’t easily increase their income.That’s why banks often offer higher interest accounts or investment options to protect savings from inflation. The government also encourages people to use tools like retail treasury bonds (RTBs), which can grow over time and help protect the value of money.Understanding how inflation affects savers teaches us the importance of not just saving—but also thinking about where and how we save to keep up with rising prices.
A short-term effect of inflation on savers is a decrease in the real value of savings. This means that even if the amount of money in a savings account stays the same or earns some interest, rising prices reduce what that money can actually buy. In the short term, savers lose purchasing power if the interest earned is less than the inflation rate.