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Rising inflation in the United States is changing the rules for savings, as the majority of the things you buy every day increase. Food prices have risen over 10% in many cases, hospital costs are up 8%, gas is up 33%, and overall prices have climbed some 4% so far this year. It's no wonder that inflation was recently ranked as the #1 financial worry about CNN.com readers.

The first thing that many consumers don't realize is that you can lose money by saving. A one-year CD now pays a measly 2% a year on average, which means you are losing 2% per year at 4% inflation. The best way to solve this problem is to search for the top rates and keep bond and CD maturities short in case things go bad.

The second thing to remember is that inflation makes tangible items worth more than paper assets. So, those gold necklaces, silver coins, collectible stamps, gems and other goods are going to appreciate far more quickly than stocks or bonds. The reason is because these items typically have an intrinsic worth that doesn't vary so much.

The third thing to remember is that fixed-rate debt is a good thing. The simple reason is because you are paying a fix number of ever-cheaper dollars as repayment for the loan. Meanwhile, adjustable rate mortgages and credit cards tend to increase and force you to pay more during these times.

In the end, these are the three main things to remember about inflationary times. It may be awhile before the United States recovers, so these practical measures should be put into place to ensure that your money is safe and does't dwindle away behind your back.

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