The rate of inflation has a big impact on your financial situation, affecting mortgage payments, savings and the cost of your weekly shopping.
How the price of goods and services we regularly spend money on changes over time is used by governments and businesses to take the temperature of a nation's economy. It’s generally accepted that low, predictable growth is best for everyone. The global inflation rate is currently around 3.6%, according to the International Monetary Fund.
But if inflation is too high or if it moves around a lot, it’s difficult for businesses to set the right prices and for consumers to plan their spending, says the Bank of England. If prices go up drastically in a short time you can’t buy as much with the same amount and it can be hard to work out how much your money is worth. And some countries that are hobbled by political and economic instability - Venezuela, Zimbabwe and South Sudan chief among them - are facing cripplingly high inflation rates, according to data compiled from Trading Economics.
Around 4 million people have fled Venezuela amid political and economic uncertainty, according to the UN Refugee Agency. The economy is less than half the size it was in 2013, as plummeting oil production, hyperinflation and political uncertainty combined to create a vicious cycle that’s proving hard to break. Second, on the list, Zimbabwe currently has an inflation rate just under 176%, stoking concern that the nation is returning to the hyperinflation it suffered a decade ago.
My new favorite hotel here, The Alexander, is quite possibly the best five-star hotel I’ve stayed at in the last year. Service here is excellent, from the surprisingly authentic Mexican restaurant to the surprisingly present shops selling Ferragamo scarves.
What Yerevan also has is a diaspora that demands high-quality products and services. Armenians live in Los Angeles, Paris, and all around the world, then return home to impose what they’re learned overseas. One thing those other countries don’t have, though: among the world’s highest bank interest rates. I’ve spent a lot of time in this part of the world over the years, buying multiple properties in Georgia and opening bank accounts across the region. Now, I’m turning my sights to a newly reform-minded Armenia, which is also one of the best places to hire remote workers.
While depositing money in US dollars, euros, or British pounds in developed world banks can seem safe and should likely comprise a good chunk of your cash portfolio, there are other options. While I wouldn’t rush to open a Turkish lira term deposit given recent events, there are other currencies that I expect to appreciate or at least remain flat against my benchmark US dollar. That means that holding other currencies that return far higher interest rates can be beneficial to me.
Opening an offshore account is complex, but not difficult. Popular spots include Belize, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, and Singapore, according to the blog The Expat Money Show. Hot spots for offshore accounts usually have a low tax liability, a lot of ease and privacy around banking practices, and do business in English. You’ll probably fund your offshore account through wire transfers, but depending on your bank, you may be able to use a debit card to withdraw money. Once you’re all set up, all you have to worry about is doing all your U.S. tax forms! Everyone loves forms. Click here to find out more how to open a foreign bank account online