MONEY
18
ways to help
you save
I BY CHANDREA SEREBRO
1
MAKE A LIST
– AND STICK TO IT!
2
BETTER YET
– SHOP ONLINE!
One of my wonderfully stylish
friends, who also happens to be a queen
of shopping, gave me this suggestion,
and believe me, she knows! Most of us
don’t have time to trawl the vast Internet for arbitrary things that will strike
our fancy the way we do a shopping
mall. Shop for what you need, or are
looking for, and buy it. It’s like a credit
card ad – leave all the rest behind.
3
LET THE SUN SHINE
Go solar. The famous South African
sun can do more for you than just
improve your temperament – it can help
your bottom line as well. Solar geysers,
heat pumps, and even powering your entire household energy sources will save you
untold fortunes in the long run, especially
with rising electricity costs and load-shedding. Get off the grid as soon as you can!
4
TURN THE LIGHTS
DOWN LOW
Install LED lighting wherever you
can. Although these bulbs might cost more
44 JEWISH LIFE ■ ISSUE 83
initially, they have a longer life than normal
incandescent bulbs and they chow far less
electricity. And be religious about switching
lights off when they are not in use!
5
GO GREEN
Plant a herb garden, and grow
your own produce. We are blessed
with fantastic land and a wonderful climate in South Africa to ensure top-quality
greens. You’ll save a bundle and reduce
your carbon footprint at the same time.
It’s as easy as (home-grown vegetable) pie.
6
PAY IT FORWARD
Go prepaid. Cell phones, electricity, Internet. It’s so easy to top up
that you won’t be caught in the dark, but
you’ll add to your savings as well as your
awareness.
7
SHOP THE SALES
Even though South Africa has
much to learn about how to properly run a sale (I’m thinking black Friday in
the US), you can still get a good bargain, or
shop for next year when the sales start.
8
LOCAL IS LEKKER
Holidays are pricey at the best of
times, but with the shocking state
of the rand/dollar, it’s probably best to
put off that overseas trip for a while.
9
TAKE A ROAD TRIP
Meandering along South Africa’s
beautiful and scenic routes like
the Garden Route or the Midlands Meander can offer some real time
out, with affordable accommodation along
the way. So ditch the tourist traps that
charge you a hefty premium, air travel that
costs an arm and a leg, and discover more
of your beloved