Technical recessions, rolling blackouts and retrenchments are probably not high on the list of words you would use on a first date, would you? But after the initial cuddles turn into a long-term commitment, South African couples who plan together are more likely to stay together in financially turbulent times like these.
Let’s have a closer look at money-saving tips that could free up some much-needed cash in your budget.
- Plan your meals so you save on your monthly grocery bill and be ruthless about wastage.
- Cancel those gym memberships unless you are seriously committed to getting to the gym regularly.
- Now that you have your eye on the gym membership, what about all the other subscriptions you never use?
- Pack each other a work lunch and save the combined R100 per day on canteen chow.
- Don’t eat out for an entire month.
- Delete the Uber Eats app from each other’s phone.
- In fact, delete all retail shopping apps from each other’s phone.
- Pick one – Netflix or Showmax?
- Cut out mid-week drinks and save the beer and wine for the weekend.
- Take the plunge and move in together. Rather than running two places, share one.
- Don’t “tata ma chance” with a lotto ticket, rather back the “tata my save for sure” strategy.
- Sign up for free customer rewards programmes (grocery stores, banks, clothing outlets, insurance companies) and maximise your ability to earn from your usual monthly spend.
- If you are going to do date night, pick a mid-week evening and find a restaurant running a special.
- Delete any useless apps from your cell phone and rather sign up to a budgeting app like 22seven.
- Check your banking fees and see if you can save there.
- Audit your cell phone usage and make the right call about your plan type.
- If you haven’t claimed in a long while, push your car and home insurer for a discount.
- Review your medical aid plan once a year.
- Entertain family and friends at home rather than meeting out.
- Don’t do the coffee run in the morning and save yourself R600 a month.
- Try and only have one car repayment at a time.
- Plan to kill off those clothing accounts.
- Avoid impulsive shopping splurges.
- If you are visiting the GP, try and get a generic equivalent if you’ve been prescribed medicine.
- Get the high-pressure hose out the garage and give the cars a wash on the weekend.
- Travel on the cheap using Apps like Airbnb and follow websites like MTBeds.
- Cancel the golf membership and sign up to a programme like Playmore golf.
- Visit the library and don’t buy a book for a while.
- Find out if you can join your spouse’s company medical aid which is subsidized.
- Take the dog for a walk on the weekends in a beautiful park and pack a picnic basket for lunch.
- Make time to do fun activities at home with your kids rather than buying them toys and things they don’t need.
- Don’t pay for an expensive landscaper, get into the garden and make it a project you can both enjoy.
- Don’t do birthday or Christmas gifts for an entire year.
Do you have any money-saving tips you would like to share? Feel free to leave them below.
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Until next time.
The Wise About Life Team