Surviving on a shoe-string budget

IT is no secret that the world has financial problems. Life is not a piece of cake and some prudent measures have to be made if people are to survive. However, in recent times some people have failed to attain some financial discipline and it has gotten them deep into debt. Here are tips on how to save some money. Accommodation It might not be the wisest of decisions but it comes in handy especially if you don’t earn much. Why would you rent a house the size of a school’s main hall? Unless you have a soccer team of children, find some friends who are interested in sharing and split the costs. Entertainment Go to bars/pubs that play music the whole night and are relatively cheap or if you must go to a club, look out for weekdays which usually have free entry or a worthwhile discount on the cover charge. Look out for happy hours when it comes to pubs. Most pubs offer discounts early in the evening. Catch up with friends over the weekend. It gives you time to unwind after a long week, and also lets you catch up on lost time. If you are thirsty and broke, stay at home and clean your room or get water from the tap. You have no reason being thirsty even when you are broke. Transport It is not a must to jump on a motorcycle or get a cab every time you need to move from point A to point B. If you are not in a hurry get on a KBC bus and enjoy a cheap ride. If you have your own car, it is not a must to drive it even when you are going to buy airtime at your local shop. If you are going to move a small distance, leave the car at home. Save on fuel costs and do some exercise while you’re at it. Gadgets Unless you live on another planet, there’s no excuse to own every gadget that is churned out of the scrapes of Silicon Valley, especially if there’s nothing important that you want to use it for. If you have some gadgets that you already bought on impulse, start by selling them off - you might not recover all the money but it is a good start at controlling your habits. A simple laptop/iPad and a smart phone should be enough. Eating out In a world where we still have millions of people living on less than $1 per day, it doesn’t make sense for someone to spend Rwf 7000 per day on food. Learn to cook or better still hire a part-time maid who can cook and leave your favourite meal in the food flask. Besides, that saves you from over eating junk food which eventually gives your body a round shape. Go to the market or kiosk You don’t have to shop from the supermarket to look up-town. Last week I realised that an item I have always bought from the supermarket at Rwf 1000 costs Rwf 700 at the shop just next to my gate. Most of the things we require in our homes can be got from local markets and neighbourhood kiosks. Attend auctions This is the most cost effective way of buying household materials especially from people leaving the country that want to sell off stuff that is still valuable. Stay away from hotels Unless it is a special occasion, think beyond hotels. If you wish to stay in a hotel, explore nice but not expensive accommodation options and always inquire about discounts or special rates. Some include breakfast, but many may not. The best way of saving money on accommodation is considering alternatives. Renting an apartment or private hostel room can save you considerably. Relax without spending money Go to the library or other places of attraction that are free. In a country where you get a full version of your favourite series even as the cast is still on set, it shouldn’t be hard to have a movie night at home. Better still, why not take out some of your favourite movies that you own and watch them at home? You can pop some popcorn and have an all night movie marathon. Airtime bills I know how people complain about MTN’s “bad habits” but they offer some pretty interesting options however limited they might be. Invest in Supapacks and buy bundles instead of using airtime for all calls or internet. If you are in a place that has wireless internet connection, then switch to it and save on the bundles.