By Psirmoi Daniel
My Editor, Karani Kelvin, in a recent article (click here to read it) on this blog has pointed out that these are hard
economic times. I agree. These times are especially hard for the unemployed and
those not gainfully employed. Uchumi ni mbaya!
One of the things he mentioned we should be
careful about is our spending habits. Today I want to share with you more on
spending.
Given that the shilling has become elusive, is
not counterintuitive to blow your money on non-essentials?
It important to watch your spending habits and cut down on purchasing non-essential items because small amounts of money spent over time unconsciously can add up to quite a substantial amount.
Below are tips on how to cut on spending on common expenditures;
SHOPPING
How do you shop? This is how you should. Have a list of the things you need before going to the nearest supermarket. Notice the price difference on similar commodities? Go for the cheapest! Sugar is sugar, trust me on that! And when it comes to foodstuffs, try sourcing them from farmers themselves. It’s much cheaper.
AIRTIME
Kenyans, Michael Joseph said, have got peculiar
calling habits. That we pedantically are forever on our phones and burn away
money as if it grows on trees, is a fact! Here look for the best deals. Pay
close attention to tarriffs and call plans that suit you and subscribe to them.
Utilize offers and bundles because they are pocket friendly.
FOOD
Young people, especially bachelors prefer eating out. Ladies love chips, smokies et al sold at fast foods joints and cafeterias. They erroneously think it's cost effective and saves time and labour-which actually is not! Doubting? Get a calculator, do the math of the amount you spend daily. It’s advisable that you cook your own food. You can even carry take-aways from your house to your place of work. Try merging meals-you can choose to have a hefty breakfast, at say 11am.Ditch expensive stuff like bread, cakes and mandazis in the name of breakfast and go traditional-sweet potatoes are the best alternatives. Your tummy will be full the whole day!
RENT
This yet another area, where people extravagantly waste their meager resources on. Security, accessibility, sanitation should be the guiding factors before choosing to move into a new house. Comfort comes later.
Probable cost cutting options here include sharing a rented house with a friend or relative, in the case where you have an extra-disused room or staying in a hostel. Save electricity and water whose bills normally add up the rent.
TRANSPORT
Transport costs have lately been pushed to the north by the prevailing high prices of fuel. The best way out to go around the exorbitant transport costs is to travel during off-peak hours-if you are in the city. It’s cheaper to commute to one point to another very early in the morning and late in the evening before the endemic traditional traffic jams that are common in our towns and cities set in. Walking or riding to work are other alternatives.
Opt for train transport if you near a railway line, and board buses because often at most times they are relatively cheaper.
FOOD
Young people, especially bachelors prefer eating out. Ladies love chips, smokies et al sold at fast foods joints and cafeterias. They erroneously think it's cost effective and saves time and labour-which actually is not! Doubting? Get a calculator, do the math of the amount you spend daily. It’s advisable that you cook your own food. You can even carry take-aways from your house to your place of work. Try merging meals-you can choose to have a hefty breakfast, at say 11am.Ditch expensive stuff like bread, cakes and mandazis in the name of breakfast and go traditional-sweet potatoes are the best alternatives. Your tummy will be full the whole day!
RENT
This yet another area, where people extravagantly waste their meager resources on. Security, accessibility, sanitation should be the guiding factors before choosing to move into a new house. Comfort comes later.
Probable cost cutting options here include sharing a rented house with a friend or relative, in the case where you have an extra-disused room or staying in a hostel. Save electricity and water whose bills normally add up the rent.
TRANSPORT
Transport costs have lately been pushed to the north by the prevailing high prices of fuel. The best way out to go around the exorbitant transport costs is to travel during off-peak hours-if you are in the city. It’s cheaper to commute to one point to another very early in the morning and late in the evening before the endemic traditional traffic jams that are common in our towns and cities set in. Walking or riding to work are other alternatives.
Opt for train transport if you near a railway line, and board buses because often at most times they are relatively cheaper.
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