Under plants in the garden. Behind the couch in the lounge. Inside the washing machine. There are countless places to hide eggs for an Easter-egg hunt. In the same way, there are dozens of places you can look for savings. Here are some ideas.
- Work your loyalty cards.
So many stores have discount cards these days that you will be foolish not to use them. You can get cash back on groceries, fuel and things you buy at the pharmacy, and earn loyalty points on just about everything you do. The secret is to make the most of these programmes. So keep your eyes open for deals for cardholders, or special discounts at specific times. Make sure you don’t let your points expire. - Find the freebies.
Sometimes, organisations give rewards to people that help them achieve their goals. For example, donating blood is a great service you can perform and often the SA National Blood Service give donors things like free movie tickets or handy household items to say thank you. In September each year, the Law Society of South Africa runs Free Wills week when you can get an attorney to draw up your will without any costs involved. - Don’t throw away what can still be used.
Use the carcass of the chicken you had for lunch to make soup. Keep the leaves of beetroot and the stalks of spinach in the freezer until you have enough to bulk out soups and stews. Cut up old shirts for cleaning cloths. Cut open tubes and bottles to get every last bit of product out of them. - Join forces with friends.
Pool money with a few friends so you can afford to buy in bulk and use up fresh fruit and vegetables before they go off. Share bulk cooking so that you all can save energy costs and time. - Plan ahead.
A little bit of planning can often deliver a lot of savings. Plan to do as many of your errands as possible in one trip to save time and transport costs. Plan meals ahead so you know what groceries to buy (remember to check what’s in your cupboard and fridge when drawing up your shopping list).
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