Money Saving Tips

1: Take lunch to work. Even though corporate lunches are great for networking, buying lunch at work everyday will seriously damage your budget. So avoid it.

2: You’ve heard this before but it’s really important. MAKE A SHOPPING LIST! And stick to it. Go shopping when you are in a hurry. It sounds silly but if you have somewhere to be, you are less likely to buy stuff that’s not on your list.

3: Buy in bulk wherever possible and try to buy “no name brands”. Certain things like cold drinks and instant coffee that tastes yucky is fine to buy the brand name but try and buy stuff like foil and toilet paper in the generic varieties.

4: Watch your banking fees. Banks are charging exorbitant fees so avoid withdrawing from other banks’ ATMs whenever possible.

5: Avoid buying a new car. And never lease one! Look for something that has a low mileage and full service history. You can save a lot of money like that. On that note, remember to keep your car serviced in good shape. This will ensure that your car last for many years. And that means that you might get more money for it when you decide to sell it.

6: Avoid impulse buying. Things tend to seem less important if you wait a day or two before you buy. This also affords you the time to do some comparative shopping.

7: Bottle your own water. Bottled water is very expensive so buy a bottle and take your own to work or the gym. If you don’t like tap water, invest in a water filter system.

8: Price check EVERYTHING! Especially electronics. Compare prices online and shop around for a good deal. Not only will it save some money but chances are that the latest gadget might have bugs in the software so never buy version 1.0 of anything.

9: Watch your electricity consumption. Especially in SA, we really need to switch off appliances and the lights/TV when we aren’t watching or we leave a room. Eskom is raising the cost of electricity by 53% so you need to watch it!

10: Finally, avoid lavish, high-roller friends. Friends that buy new cars all the time and have all the latest TV’s, eat out at expensive restaurants all the time and live beyond their means are not good for your esteem. Chances are you will feel unhappy and discontent in your own life and that will derail your quest to overcome debt.