4 EVERYDAY SAVING TIPS
My end-of-the-month saving tips have been really popular and so once again I’m happy to share this month’s list with you. There are only four this time around but they will save you a ton of money if you want to follow them.
The first two focus on spending a little more up front in order to save in the long-run whilst the second two are practical things that you can do right now.
If you want to increase your income and enjoy more expendable cash, then you need to re-assess how and where you’re spending your money. Check out these 4 fresh saving tips and see how you can start to implement them in your life today.
1. INSTALL CFL (COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHTS) BULBS
These bulbs might cost more initially, but they both have a longer life than normal incandescent bulbs and they use significantly less electricity. CFLs tend to use about 25% of the electricity of an incandescent and LEDs use about 2%. CFLs are cheaper than LEDs right now and produce better light, but not quite as good as incandescent bulbs.
My policy? Put LEDs in closets and out of the way places, use CFLs for hall and some room lighting, and use incandescent bulbs (until the other bulbs get better) where you read and do other eye-intensive activities. This will trim a nice chunk from your Eskom bill!
2. BUY APPLIANCES BASED ON RELIABILITY
It’s worth the time to do a bit of research when you buy a new appliance. A reliable, energy efficient washer and dryer might cost you quite a bit now, but if it continually saves you energy and lasts for fifteen years, you’ll save significant money in the long run. When you need to buy an appliance, research it – start with your Facebook friends!
3. CLEAN YOUR CAR’S AIR FILTER
A clean air filter can improve your fuel consumption by up to 7%. Plus, cleaning your air filter is easy to do in just a few minutes – just follow the instructions in your car’s manual and you’re good to go.
4. DON’T KEEP YOUR CREDIT CARDS IN YOUR WALLET
Take your credit cards and put them in a safe place in your home, not in your wallet where it’s easy to spend them. If you argue that you need it for “emergencies,” just be sure to keep a small amount of cash hidden in your wallet for these emergencies. Don’t keep plastic on you until you have the willpower to not use it – even when you’re sorely tempted!
That’s the freshest five saving tips for June!