We were introduced to the nouns “Lockdown” and “Level 4” on the 23^rd of March 2020 and with them came a mighty shift in the way we lived. The term “business as usual” became irrelevant and entire industries had to re-invent their operations just to stay in business. Most however could not stand the tide and had to shut their doors. With those shut doors came the tide of unemployment and slim finances.

2 years and multiple upgrades and downgrades later, we are now living in the era of post COVID recovery. Many sectors of the economy are now open again and we are experiencing some semblance of the life we once knew. In order not to be lulled into a false sense of security, it is vital that we replenish the depleted purse by saving at each available opportunity. Here are some tips that may help to put some Rands in the piggy bank.

Now that those of us who were fortunate enough to have survived the employment blood bath are able to return to the office, it may be beneficial to adjust a few behaviours. Chief among them would be to bring your own lunch to work rather than buying food from your favourite fast food outlet. This option gives you the flexibility to play around with our daily lunch meals and apart from saving you a wad of cash now, you can make healthy meals which will save you on hospital bills later.

2.   DIY your cleaning supplies rather than buying them.

It may surprise you to know that items like baking soda and vinegar are effective all-purpose detergents and cost next to nothing. So instead of dashing over to your local store the next time you need to vanquish a dirt monster, consider creating your own brand of DIY cleaners instead. Thanks to the internet and YouTube videos, there is a wealth of recipes and methods that will not only take you a few minutes out of your day. From mixing white vinegar, water, rosemary and lemon rind to make scented all-purpose cleaner to mixing Borax powder and lemon to make heavy duty scrub and mixing warm water and baking soda to make kitchen cleaner, you can save a tidy sum of money rather than buying the store version. PLEASE DO THOROUGH RESEARCH AND BE MINDFUL OF THE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WITH REGARDS TO THESE DIY RECIPES.

3.  Turn into Mr/Mrs/Ms Fix-it.

Instead of hiring someone to fix an item or replacing it, you should consider fixing it yourself. You can find online tutorials and videos that show you how to fix almost anything under the sun. You can take advantage of these free videos and turn yourself into a home improvement guru in the process. Gain a new skill and save you some money all in one go.

4.  #BrandLoyaltyMustFall .

Rather than leaving it to muscle memory and just picking up your favourite brand of detergent, baked beans or fresh milk, try out the store brand or generic version of the item. From Pick n Pay’s “No Name Brand”, Shoprite’s Ritebrand, Checkers’ Housebrand and Spar’s Own Brand You may discover that the store brand is just as good as the name brand. Today, retailers’ in-house brands compete fairly with brand names in terms of quality and perception so why pay more for a brand name? Once embrace the generic brand lifestyle, you’ll find your regular grocery bill getting smaller and smaller.

5.  Use price-comparison apps

Do your homework before making a major purchase and compare prices. Take time to do some research in order to get the best deal if you are the sort to buy something at the first store from which you see it. To get a detailed price analysis, use price-comparison software like PriceCheck.

Analysing prices and identifying the retail cycle is critical. Usually, you pay full price for new products at the time they are introduced. The item will most likely be available on discount in around 30 days’ time since retailers don't want to carry old inventory. It's best to wait until it's on sale if an item is not an urgent or emergency requirement for you. However, if you need anything urgently, shop around and check the costs before committing.

6.  Repair, repurpose and adopt the minimalist lifestyle with regards to clothing.

Next time you go shopping for new attire, buy clothes that mix and match well and you won’t need as many clothes. With a little bit of inspiration you can come up with different combinations from 5 shirts and 5 pants that go together. You can easily reduce your clothing purchases by mixing and combining different pieces.

When your wardrobe items finally start to shed their “newness”, don’t toss out a shirt because of a broken button or a pair of pants because of a hole in them – put in a patch of some sort and save them for times when you’re working around the house. With a little bit of practice, you can learn and sharpen your sewing skills to save money and extend your clothes’ life.

It takes a lot of discipline to save money, but it start with a single commitment. Hopefully these tips will get off to a good start.