1. Cook more, buy less (save up to R3 000 month)
We all need to eat, but convenience foods can add up and become costly. So, instead of grabbing ready-made meals, ordering in or eating out, spend a little more time planning your (simple and easy) meals and then cooking them in your kitchen. It might take 30 to 60 minutes out of your day to do, but the savings will add up (plus its healthier)! All in all, you can save up to R3000 a month.
Another great idea to pack lunch for work instead heading to the takeout spot around the corner from your office every day – where you can easily spend up to R60 a day (that’s a whopping R1200 a month)! And if you can forgo that R20 morning cappuccino, you could even more!
2. Cut back on credit (save up to R1000/month)
Credit cards and store accounts might make life easier, but they’re also a great way to spend more than you really should. If you find yourself giving into temptation and shopping for more than just the bare necessities, it might be better to close your accounts until your deposit is ready to go.
3. Ask for an insurance re-evaluation (save up to R800/month)
Your insurance premiums go up every year, but the value of many of your insured items actually goes down as they get older. If you haven’t spoken to your insurance company in a while, it’s a good idea to give them a call and ask for a premium re-evaluation based on present day replacement costs.
A lot of insurance companies will drop your rates significantly if you make it clear that you’re unhappy with your premiums – particularly for items like cars that devalue quickly as they age. Just be careful that they don’t drop your rates by increasing your excess – having a few comparative quotes on hand will help keep things in perspective.
4. Think twice before taking that cellphone upgrade (save up to R500/month)
It’s easy to be swayed by the idea of a shiny new handset when your cellphone contract expires, and to blindly sign on the dotted line for a contract that could well be more than you actually need to pay.
Luckily nowadays number portability is an option, which means you have a lot more options at contract renewal time. So shop around to find the best deals and to save money: take a close look at your usage patterns, and decided whether you really need a new phone right away, and then find the most affordable contract that suits your needs from whichever service provider has the best offer.
5. Cancel that wasted gym membership (save up to R800/month)
If you’re not actively engaged in a gym routine and have a gym membership, you’re probably just throwing hundreds of rand a month down the drain – yes, our good intentions can be costly!
Even if you gym once or twice a week, opting for the road over a treadmill can save plenty of Rands that can go towards your deposit. There are all kinds of fitness routines available online or apps that won’t cost a cent.
If you follow these five tips, you can easily save up to R 6 100 a month – this will add up and give you 10% on a R1-million home in just over a year. If you can cut back on more unnecessary expenses, that time could be reduced even further.
And remember that saving up isn’t a quick process, but it often shows us just how much money we waste on unnecessary things.
#househuntza thanks Rawson Property Group for these top 5 tips to save for a deposit.
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