We all agree, these are tough financial times for all of us whether in business or employment. This is a scenario played out not just here in Kenya but across the globe. The US dollar for instance is estimated to have lost over 90% of its value over the last century leaving the average consumer to contend with sky-rocketing cost of living.
Kuza Biashara team has been tracking the increasing cost of living and its implication to the ordinary business person in Kenya. Here now are several money saving tips that we would like to recommend to everyone who is overwhelmed with the burden of costs.
- Save on Electricity Bill
To save energy, you just need to be a bit more attentive, bit more sensible and bit more careful. From today onwards, we recommend you upgrade your office with the latest energy efficient appliances. We would also advise you to make sure all appliances are switched off when not in use.
Before leaving the office in the evening, the best idea would be to switch off the main supply, safe for security lights. Other quick tips:
(1)Encourage everyone to plug off laptop and mobile phone charges when
not in use
(2)Keep windows open to make good use of natural light
(3)Consider switching to solar power
- Don’t Pay For Unnecessary Services
Sometimes we subscribe to services that we don’t really need. For instance, may be you have subscribed to daily internet bundles but you hardly browse the internet. Or maybe you are paying heftily for pay-TV stations that you hardly ever watch. Perhaps you have subscribed for ring-back tones that cost you Ksh5 a day.
Well, these charges may seem trivial in the short-run but if you were to sit down and do the math, you would realize that you are indeed losing a lot.
**Avoid engaging in idle chat on social media, it saves you both time and money**
- Carry Packed Food
This tip may sound a bit awkward to some, but in the real sense it is a very practical idea. At dinner time, cook enough Ugali or Mukimo for the following day’s lunch. Just the same way we pack lunch for our kids; we need to do the same for ourselves.
By doing this, we can save a lot of money and at the same time eat healthy and clean food. Another brilliant way to save on meals would be to eat fresh fruits instead of buying those expensive canned fruit products from your local supermarket.
Coins
- Save on Coins
Sometimes, it is the little things we do that help us control our cost of living. For example, have you ever thought of keeping all those coins (and tips) that you give away in a small container at home?
One of our loyal Facebook fans (Maureen Nduta) started the habit of saving change coins every time she bought or paid for something. After a month, she counted the coins only to find that she had saved a whopping Ksh5000. “Now all I do is collect coins,” says Maureen when asked about her willingness to save.
- Pay on Time
Let’s face it, bills and debts are a part of life and we need to always be prepared to deal with them. But the big question is, do you pay your bills on time? Most people tend to postpone their bills to a point that they end up paying almost double the initial amount due to accrued interest amounts or fines. To avoid losing money in the name of paying fines and accrued interest rates, we would advise you to always pay your bills and debts on time. 
**By paying your electricity bill on time, you can save yourself the hassle of having to pay a reconnection fee when your power is disconnected!**
- Save on Water Bill
Water bills take a huge chunk of most companies’ (and households’) expense list; unfortunately, not many people are aware of it. Well, there are many ways to conserve water in our day to day activities. Like for example; have you considered boiling tap water instead of using bottled water throughout?
Have you checked to see if all taps are working efficiently and that there are no leakages? What about your kitchen (office or home kitchen), are you using running water to clean your utensils? May be these are some of the reasons why you are having to part with hefty amounts of cash at the end of every month in the name of servicing water bills.
These are just but a handful of tips that we have managed to gather together for you. Do you have some more tips that you would like to share with us? Meet us on Facebook and Twitter for a candid discussion.
