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How you can beat the budget blues

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Innovative Fin24 users are not short of ideas on how to save money. In response to an article which decries the debt denial syndrome, savings hero Ronald Bartholomew writes:

Nice and all true. But pussyfooting around the key issue, which is keeping down expenditure of all kinds to a minimum. Cut the expenditure budget.

I am always surprised at people I meet who claim financial stress, but are spending their income on an incomplete or ill-considered budget that makes little sense, and/or are over limit before they start.

Review your expenditure budget.

* Smoking is a huge expense and is quite unnecessary. Cut.

* Take out/take away/pre-cooked meals are WAY too expensive, and may not be very healthy or balanced in the way home cooked, planned meals should be. Make the effort to cook in decent quantities at home and freeze portions for another week.

* Even if you work all day, take time to make breakfast and lunch for you and your family to take along. HUGE saving right there, no tax or VAT on savings!

* The prices of boys' (and most men’s) haircuts are crazy. Buy a hair clipper set @ R50 and start saving right there.

* Try to buy clothing from top department stores only when on seasonal promotions.

* Turning your car key costs about R1 per start when considering modern battery life. Most cars use around R1 per km fuel in mixed use. Travelling around without a plan is a serious waste of money. Whether it be a taxi fare, or your car, it's expensive to duplicate trips when not essential.

* Buying snacks when driving/travelling is off the budget; take along an apple, banana, cheese and rye biscuits… mix some squash if you must drink something.

* Sliced or grated cheeses are about double the price per kg of a wedge. Potatoes in 7kg and 10kg packs are about half the price per kg of 2kg and 4kg ones, pockets of naartjies, oranges, etc score big bought this way.

* Look for bargain buys at supermarkets, fresh and frozen meat packs, tinned fish. Most house brand items really seem like genuine savings. However, check labels on shelves carefully; they reveal the price per kg, litre, of each item.

* Eggs seem to have broken the R1 each barrier, but sometimes buying a pack of 18 or 30 will get you in under R1 each. Cooking oil is usually way cheaper bought per 5 litres, rather than small packs. Ditto house brand bleach, washing machine and dishwasher soaps. Don’t use more because it's there.

* Watch these, and all groceries to ensure “shrinkage” and staff use is reasonable.

* Through the week, really try to save bones from meat and chicken; boil these every Sunday afternoon/evening, and then add leftover vegetables, a stock cube, soup packet and/or some bacon for an economical, nutritious soup.

* Affordable and tasty homemade butternut soup, made with orange juice, a touch of curry powder, then topped with Greek or Bulgarian yoghurt (bought in 1 litre packs) instead of cream, is truly mouthwatering.

* Tuna and green salad, with rice, will save and use up leftover rice. Add yoghurt rather than mayonnaise for economy and health.

* Pasta, combined with leftovers and yoghurt can become family favourites.

* Make scones, crumpets and omelettes for more healthy savings. Syrup is half the price of honey at present.

* Cook on gas where possible for further savings.

* If roasting in your oven, try to use the hot oven to bake something else to save electricity.

* Braai charcoal and meats are expensive; cut back/out on this form of entertaining.

* Cut fizzy drinks out of the budget, squash (and water) will be fine. Squeeze fresh juice from a bargain pocket of fruit for a special occasion. Home brew ginger beer! Also cut alcohol out of the budget to lose weight, gain health and save money.

* Plan all expenditure, avoid duplicating expenses wherever possible.

* If you have TV at home, going to the movies is another expense which can be cut. Homemade popcorn and a rented DVD can entertain the family and buddies for around R20.

* Don't bath, shower in off-peak times and save. Share a bath if you must and can.

* Gradually replace old filament-type globes with energy savers, especially lights that are usually on several hours a night.

* Shop from your list. NEVER buy anything not on that list.

 - Fin24

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