Same paycheck, pricier groceries: how to calculate your own inflation
I'm Doña Caja, and I've spent years watching prices from behind the counter. The inflation number on the news is an average; the one that really hits you is the inflation on what you buy, and today I'll show you how to work it out with your own numbers.
Doña CajaYears of counting money.
Updated
What is inflation, and why doesn't it rise the same for everyone?
Inflation measures how much the prices of a basket of goods and services rise, on average, over a period. In Colombia it's measured by DANE, the national statistics agency: in September 2026, annual inflation reached 6.29%, the highest in two years, according to La República with DANE data. That figure helps you understand the economy, but it doesn't describe your month.
The average blends thousands of prices: food, housing, transportation, education, clothing and utilities. If most of your paycheck goes to food and getting around, and those prices rose faster than the rest, your inflation is higher than the headline number. If you live with family and don't pay rent, yours may be different. That's why two people with the same salary can feel price increases very differently.
Step 1: compare this month with last month
You don't need an economist's formulas. Put this month's spending next to last month's, category by category: groceries, utilities, transportation, eating out and subscriptions. Look at where you spent more and ask yourself whether you bought more or the same things simply cost more.
For example, if your groceries cost 100 last month and 106 this month for the same list, your groceries went up 6%. Do that for your biggest categories and you'll have your own inflation rate, the one that actually weighs on your wallet. If you don't track your spending yet, start today: next month you'll have something to compare.
Step 2: adjust your budget, because the total won't stretch on its own
If groceries went up, raise their budget. But your paycheck didn't grow with them, so that money has to come from another category: less eating out, one fewer subscription or a smaller treat this month. Adjusting isn't failing; it's giving each category what it really needs.
A common mistake is leaving the budget as it is, hoping it'll work out, and covering the gap with a credit card. That turns rising prices into debt. Another is cutting exactly what protects you, like savings or good food, instead of what you can pause without trouble.
Step 3: watch what you have left until your next payday
When prices rise, checking your bank balance isn't enough, because part of it is already spoken for. What helps is knowing how much you really have left after the bills due before your next payday, and checking it every time you spend. In Oslo, every expense you log updates what you have left, so you notice price increases before the month runs out, not after.
And a few counter-tested tricks: compare prices per kilo or per unit, not per package; buy what's in season; shop with a list; and every so often review fixed costs that creep up on their own, like your phone plan or utilities.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my personal inflation rate?
Compare what you paid this month for the same things with what you paid last month. Subtract the old amount from the new one, divide by the old amount and multiply by 100. If your groceries went from 100 to 106, they rose 6%. Do it for your biggest categories, like groceries, transportation and utilities, to see which one weighs most.
Why does everything feel more expensive than the official inflation rate?
Because the official figure is an average of many goods and services, and what you buy is different. If a large share of your paycheck goes to food or transportation and those prices rose faster, your personal inflation is higher. Things you buy every week also feel more noticeable than things you buy once a year.
What should I do if my salary isn't keeping up with prices?
Reorganize before you borrow. Raise the budget for essentials and lower it for things you can pause, like eating out, subscriptions or impulse buys. Review fixed costs that creep up on their own. Avoid covering the gap with a credit card, since that turns price increases into debt with interest, and track your spending to see the real effect.
Sources (in Spanish)
This is financial education, not advice: Oslo doesn't recommend loans or investments. Decisions about your money are yours.
