Maximize Your Money

Always have a budget to keep track of your spending. You might want to group your spending into the following different categories.

Our spending can be grouped into different categories. The following is tips and tricks to maximize the value of your money:

Transport

• Live close to work/school to cut down on transport costs
• Use public transportation
• Take buses instead of taxis

Health

• Have regular checkups
• Give up alcohol, smoking and all habits that affect your health

Clothes

• Continue to wear unsoiled clothing
• Don't buy dry clean-only clothes to reduce dry clean costs
• Repair clothes that are torn
• Don’t buy branded clothes

Food

• Buy original products and in bulk
• Cook and limit eating out
• Grow a garden, if possible
• Save leftovers, if possible
• Go for fancy meals in posh restaurants only on occasions

House

• Recycle newspapers, or sell to rag and bone man
• Cut back on electricity usage by using bulbs with lower voltage
• Use air-conditioners and television that cut back on electric costs
• Turn off all appliances when not in use
• Reduce water wastage by turning off the running tap when not in use
• Don't use your dishwasher's drying cycle(reduce electricity usage, it can dry on its own)
• Take shorter showers
• Use a system that flush toilets with lesser water

Telephone Calls

• Use the phone book instead of directory assistance
• Write letters or email instead of long-distance calling
• Limit your long-distance calls
• Drop your caller ID and call waiting plans

Others

• Carry your expense tracker with you to monitor your spending
• Give time, not money, to charities
• Make gifts instead of buying them
• Pay your bills immediately
• Save change which are coins
• Never spend more than what you can