Financial Tips
There are a million ways you can save money and make your money work harder everyday. These little things you can do may seem like common sense, but you would be amazed at how many people just don’t follow a few simple steps to assure their financial freedom. The best part is, these little things you can do will hardly impact on your quality of life at all. And at the end of the day, you will have extra Rands to spoil a loved one with, go on a holiday with, or have available for a rainy day.
Taking care of your finances is as easy when investing well and saving on day to day expenses. If you think about it, do you really need that chocolate bar or coffee from the shop. You can wait five minutes to get to office and have a cup of coffee or tea there. Not having the daily will not only save your pocket a few Rands, which add up very quickly over a month, it will also help you lose the few kilo’s you’ve been trying to shed.
Electricity: Since the recent load shedding South Africans have experienced, we have all become more aware of our power usage…or have we? The fact is, saving power not only saves us from having to suffer blackouts, it can also save you a lot of money. Eskom is the only company in the world that places ads on TV that ask you to NOT use their product! Due to this, they are raising tariffs to cover their expenses. This makes it even more important to watch your energy consumption.
- Switch off the geyser when going on holiday.
- Switch off the lights in rooms that are not in use.
- Switch the TV off at the front panel rather than putting it on standby. The little red light that shines on your telly is called the "vampire drain". That is because even thought the TV is off, it still uses electricity.
- Only wash your dishes when the sink is full. This saves power, because you are using less hot water, but it also saves water which is a finite resource.
"Weather seal" the doors and windows in your home. Use ceiling insulation if you can afford it. In the summer your cooling costs will drop and likewise, your heating cost will drop dramatically in winter. Besides all that, your home will have a more steady and comfortable temperature all year round.
Buy food in bulk, freeze it and cook your own meals throughout the month. Not only is it a bonding experience for the family, it will also save you hundreds, if not thousands. The added benefit is that going out for a lunch or romantic dinner with your spouse will be so much more special. On top of that, you can also pack the leftovers for lunch the next day. I know sometimes the idea of coming home after a long day’s work and having to "slave" over a stove seems intimidating. Fact is, modern food takes minutes, not hours, to prepare. It can be healthier and you know for a fact where your food has been. And eating together at the family table also allows for family bonding and healthy family interaction without costing you an arm and a leg.