Times are hard and only a few families could cope with present economic difficulties and still keep something aside for savings. Debt like malaria therefore has become a common problem that many families would have to contend with to move on.
Experts from “Financial Tips” believe there are a lot of steps you can take to not only cut down expenses, but also avoid more cost, and yet achieve set targets.
Below are some of the tips:
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1. Keep your car as long as possible: When possible, try to keep your car as long as possible. Find the balance between the money spent on repairs versus the monthly instalment on another vehicle and choose to run your old car as long as the repair costs are low.
2. Plan vacations ahead of time. By booking early would save you time and money. Most vacation can put a strain on family finance.
3.This is especially true of your entertainment centre and your computer equipment. A power surge can damage these electronics very easily, so spend the money for a basic surge protector and keep your equipment plugged into such a device.
4.Go for a walk or a jog each evening, and practice stretching and some light muscle exercise at home. These exercises can be done at home for very little, meaning you’ve got an activity without a lot of costs, and the health benefits are enormous. Just set aside sometime each day to get some exercise, and your body and wallet will thank you.
5.Use a basket. Use a basket instead of a cart if you know you need just a few items. It’ll keep you from tossing in more than you need (plus, you’ll get a mini arm workout while you shop).
6.For the nutritional value, meat is very expensive, especially as compared to vegetables and fruits. Simply change around your regular meal proportions to include more fruits and vegetables and less meats – eat a smaller steak and a bigger helping of green beans, for example. Not only is this a healthier way to eat (saving on health costs), it’s also less expensive.
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7.Hang some stuff up to dry. Dryers not only expend energy, but they also damage clothes and decrease their lifespan. The actual cost of running a dryer isn’t all that steep, but the more immediate effect is maintaining the integrity of each item of clothing.
8.This is an especially powerful tip if you find yourself “automatically” stopping for something on the way into work or the way home. Get rid of that constant drain by selecting a different route that doesn’t go by the temptation, even if the new route is a bit longer. You’ll still be time ahead (because you’re not stopping) and you’ll definitely be money ahead.
9.Turn off the water while scrubbing dishes. Spray a little water on all the dishes in the sink, then turn it off while scrubbing. Turn the water back on when it’s time to rinse. Hand washing dishes (versus a dishwasher) just once daily—and not leaving the water running while scrubbing—can save 200-500 gallons of hot water per month. That’s not just good for the environment; it’s good for your wallet…
