Thirteen ways to save money in the new year
published: Sunday | December 28, 2003
RENT OUT your high mortgage house and move into a cheaper rented one.
Shop at Coronation or your local market for fresh foods and even goods like rice. If you are wary, go one day each week with a group of friends. Travel in the same car. Make a shopping list before you go out to buy. Eliminate snacks from your shopping list. Teach your children to snack on a finger of ripe banana, etc., instead and try making other snacks from scratch. Make small sandwiches and cover them with plastic wrap to keep moist. Keep refrigerated. Don't buy insurance you don't need, or if you have to buy, look for deductibles for non-smokers, multi-family households, etc. Cushion yourself against sudden disaster by building a savings-contingency fund. Are phone bills driving you crazy? Attach a timer to keep check on the length of your calls. Install energy-saving devices in your home, in light and other electrical fixtures. Carpool with those who live, work and go to school in the same areas that you do. Shop only when clothing go on sale. Buy gifts at this time also and hide them away until the time is right. Do not take anything on credit (fish fry, cards, perfumes, anything). If you do not have the money to pay immediately, let it pass you by instead of mortgaging your future earnings. Trim your children's hair in between cuttings. The visits to the barber will be less. Find alternate means of entertainment rather than fast food stores and the movies. We used to survive without them, you know! Try organising games, evenings with your friends, going on picnics, etc. Or, how about a good book by yourself now and again?Learn to wash and style your hair yourself at least three times each month. Cut your hairdresser visits to once each month.Shopping list
6 boxes soy milk
3 tins sardines
3 tins mackerel
tissue paper
8 lb chicken
4 lb steak
1 bottle vegetable oil
3 bath soaps
1 bottle bath jell
1 tube tooth paste
2 slice bread
etc
