PLEASE accept our sincere apologies for the non-production of last week’s column due to reasons beyond our control. It is never our wish to deprive our readers the weekly dosage of the thought-provoking and mind-stimulating non-conventional column, which could ignite mental emancipation then ignite financial freedom in our communities.
A home as we know it has many forms of money, and for the home to be financially hygienic one has to make more money or save money. Food is money, so is water and electricity, fuel in the car, so is some of the little things we do or do not do. So, balancing between the income and expenses becomes key for the home. Let us look at some of saving money tendencies in a home set up.
Utility bills
Let us cut these to the bare minimum especially water and electricity. Use appliances that are energy savers. Be mathematical, read and understand the gadgets and their uses. Lawns and flowers are okay with recycled water especially waste water and laundry water. The bath and toilet could run on borehole water. Water harvesting for the garden after mulching the garden is wiser. For semi-commercial homes make use of drip irrigation system.
Unnecessary phone bills are a stupid agenda especially when it is all from unproductive social media use.
Food, lunch bill
Shop around and get bargains on food. You might want to bulk purchase to enjoy discounts from major wholesalers like the ‘women’s clubs’ phenomena.
Use your food wisely and cook adequate food only. Leftovers should be preserved for future use. Prepare and carry your own lunch pack not only is it healthy eating, it is cost effective too. What did you see how much food is costing out here? We don’t all earn forex and change it at a premium. In addition you eat the food you want and prepared your way that is a mental emotional booster under these conditions.
Gardens, home medical remedies
Work on that garden, grow your own fresh organic veggies via recycled/borehole water. You will be amazed how much space your house has. Join community gardens if space is a challenge in your respective coordinates. Investigate the use of honey, salt, sugar, ginger, cinnamon, garlic, dettol and others for basic disease prevention and remedies. Employ proven African traditional remedies to counter some infections or just cleansing the system. Sickness makes you lose money not to mention your earning power especially if self employed. Your health is your wealth, guard it jealously.
Cleaning materials, lifestyle change
Do laundry in bulk at a one given time and avoid doing it willy-nilly. Maybe once a week manage your cleaning habits. Avoid running water, avoid hose car washing. Make use of dish or sink basin for your basic dish cleaning. It goes without saying that you have to think like a business even from a home perspective and be guided by the rules of money. Remember money does not grow on trees; even if it did trees are tall you know.
We need to save money in order to maintain our quality of life without being considered “thingy” by the home, not other people. Money saving is a lifestyle that is a 24/7 chore that has to be followed and if ignored can be detrimental to one’s financial health and you will never know economic freedom.
Transportation, energy savers
Use of one vehicle for family members makes more financial common sense than having a road show with an entourage. It is recommended especially at times of fuel challenges and rising oil prices. Use energy savers to the maximum. If your rooms are not in use turn off the lights and at night just leave security lights on. If you can afford make use of motion sensor lighting. Geysers need close monitoring. Alternative energy, preferably green energy is the way to go. Use of gas, biogas or use of solar goes a long way to curb high expenditure. Firewood if harvested the right way is a money saver though there are risks of pollution.
Avoid impulse buying, share information
Fight the urge to have nonsensical purchases without proper planning and with little thought to it. Fight the urge to just buy because you have the money.
You are being wasteful especially when things bought are not needed. Let us discuss these among family members and make it lifestyle for the whole home and get buy in from all family members. We need to move in tandem to achieve the intended purpose of savings. It is the small little things like being frugal with our money that keeps the home under maximum financial tranquillity with no gnashing of teeth.
Being frugal with your resources (financial and otherwise) is an art that needs religious mastering. With the few examples above it is my hope that homes will continue to be a financial haven forever and ever. After you have saved then deploy those savings wisely like a holiday, shower yourselves with new assets or deposits for a new home et al. Best wishes in your home savings culture.