While we're waiting for an economic miracle, can we make
the earnings of one day last for eight?
Part II
Not believing what it says on labels [e.g. Economy Pack is
not necessarily cheaper by weight than the regular size] goes
for clothing as well. You don't necessarily ONLY have to dry
clean fine garments; you can wash them by hand with a
delicate cleanser. You don't have to wash laundry in 60 or
100 degrees -- 40 will also get it clean and even if you need
a dryer, you can still save dryer costs by hanging some of
your wash to dry on a line [towels and flannels on
radiators], thereby cutting your dryer loads in half.
If you're going to buy an air conditioner or heating system,
investigate how cost effective they are. Cost effectiveness
is another mathematical formula that takes into account: the
item's initial cost, the cost to operate it, how long it's
likely to last, maintenance costs plus how often you're
likely to use it. Ask yourself, "What would I do without
this?" If you can answer that question easily, reconsider the
purchase.
Fridges and freezers are energy guzzlers. It's important to
make sure that they are closed at all times, "Dina, close the
fridge!' that they are hermetically sealed. If you can put a
piece of paper in the crack and pull it out easily, it isn't,
and remember -- the thermostat is not frozen in place, you
can reduce and raise the thermostat in a fridge, dependant on
how much food you have stored there and how cold you
want/need the food to be. By the way, not every appliance
that breaks down needs to be replaced. And if you need to
replace the rubber gaskets to insure insulation, get two or
three quotes first, since this operation can vary widely in
cost.
Before you buy an appliance, it's a good idea to research how
many parts the appliance has and how replaceable they are
[and which are covered by the insurance]. Of course, if
you're replacing parts every week, it may be time to get a
new appliance.
The world is developing at a frenetic pace. You buy
something, and before you've paid for it, it's obsolete. I
personally have never gotten along too well with technology
and only upgrade when I have no choice. Actually, there is
always a choice and even if your work depends on it and
especially if it doesn't, you can always wait a little longer
and buy the next model upgrade.
For example, if you have to upgrade your computer, you can do
it every two years instead of every year, but if you're
already upgrading, get the most inclusive package you can.
Don't, however, save money on things meant to save you work.
For computers, for example, always update your virus
protection. Email suppliers are always changing their prices
and terms. Don't be lured into a deal you can't afford or
don't need but do keep up to date on the best deals.
Photography bugs might find it hard to keep up with all the
advances made in digital photography. Some can save you
money. Compare prices on equipment and developing. Digital
photography might make more sense if you already own a
computer and you need dozens of copies for friends and
relatives across the globe.
Enough has been said about saving water (or perhaps, not).
One tip, though, could be to have the building checked for
water leaks (in boilers, hoses etc.) and check your water
bills for drastic changes that may indicate a leak or a
mistake. If you drink a lot of water, compare prices of
bottled water, bottled water subscriptions, filtering devices
and upkeep of a filter attached to your water supply.
[Ed. Note: In all filtering options, check if you are still
covered with fluoridation. Many filter out this chemical,
which is important for protection against tooth decay.
Fluorine can be supplemented through pills -- of course,
under supervision.]
People who have their own gas balloons and don't pay for
central gas can order them directly from the distributor and
save money.
Don't take buses to go one stop. Walking is good for you and
you'll probably get there faster than waiting for a bus. As
long as the money saved on buses is more than the money spent
on new shoes needed to walk the distance, you save money by
walking. Also on gym membership or dieting groups.
Although eating healthier is more expensive, when it comes to
health foods, eating healthier in terms of seasonal fruits,
vegetables, yogurts and water is cheaper.
Having a cell phone is no longer a luxury, especially in our
harried and troubled times. Phone companies give discounts
for multiple apparatuses and the cellphone companies are
always offering new deals and trade-ins, so keep abreast of
the market. You don't have to stay on any program with any
phone company. The competitiveness of the companies is to the
buyer's advantage.
Cars are a big expense, not a savings! You can always save
money on cars. If you have two, get rid of one; if you have a
large one, get a small one; if you want a new one, buy last
year's model that the dealer has to get rid of before the new
stock comes in. Also keep your car in good running order.
You can renegotiate your insurance policy. That goes for
other kinds of insurances, too. Your insurance needs change
as do the benefits, the rates of the companies and your
ability to pay them. Make sure they're reliable. If you own a
car, it doesn't mean you have to use it all the time. You can
carpool or take public transportation. That saves gas,
parking and often, time stuck in traffic. You can also rent
out your car to people if you don't need it for a couple of
days. I rented a car from a friend for a short trip and both
of us profited.
Keep receipts from charitable donations. These give you
reductions on income tax. Actually, many things give you
reductions on income tax. If you do your taxes yourself or
don't do taxes because you're not self-employed, talk to an
accountant about what constitutes a tax deduction. Many
people who are eligible for reductions of one sort or another
from municipal taxes (arnona), income tax, bank
charges, don't know about them because for some reason,
institutions don't like to overpublicize them. Actually, many
stores offer discounts to holders of one credit card or
another, or one social group or another. It doesn't hurt to
ask.
You can save money in many places if you're a student, senior
citizen, single parent, a parent of a large family, a
newlywed, a new immigrant, a soldier, an avreich, a
resident of the city, a frequent flyer, a frequent buyer or a
holder of any number of discount or credit cards.
Ask your bank for a list of bank charges, then see how many
you accrue each month. Every phone call to your bank,
withdrawal (whether at the teller or automatic teller
(Kaspomat), check, bank transfer, regular/monthly bank
order (hora'at keva) or shekel of overdraft costs
money. You can't do anything about bank charges until you are
aware what they are. After you realize what they are and get
over the shock, you can look for ways to reduce them.
I think religious women can write a book on how to save money
on clothes. Most already know how. One idea, though, is not
to shop when you have to. The pressure of needing something
makes one buy even if one isn't totally happy with the cost
or the product. Buy clothes before you need them. Off season,
they're cheaper and if you already buy them cheap, for
example at a bazaar, you'll be more likely to buy what you
really want.
If your kids don't like what you bought, it's likely some
other friend of yours has kids who don't like what she
bought, either. Exchange rejects and maybe everyone will be
happy. Don't force kids to wear something that offends their
esthetic tastes. That won't make them less spoiled or more
appreciative, just rebellious and unhappy.
Many people host home sales. It's a more pleasant way to shop
and sometimes you get bargains on unique merchandise. If you
host one of these sales, you also get a cut.
Speaking of pampering, keep food simple during the week. The
less additives, the cheaper, not to mention, healthier. But
so your family doesn't feel deprived, go all out for Shabbos;
after all, Hashem foots the bill. Anything your children
crave during the week, the things you would love to treat
your palate to, indulge in on Shabbos. If your family knows
that they'll get what they want on Shabbos, they're less
likely to kvetch and feel deprived, and Shabbos and you will
be richer for it.
Advertisements are on the one hand trying to get us to spend
money, and on the other, telling us how to save it by
spending it on their product. It's tempting, it's confusing,
and wherever we are on the socio-economic scale, we try to
make it to the end of the month without going over both our
budget (real or imagined) and the edge.
Caveat Emptor - Buyer Beware! Think twice, or more, before
saying `yes' to any special offer, once-in-a-lifetime deal,
or limited-time-only opportunity. [And never sign up for
something being sold by a door-to-door salesman!]
Chanuka is a time to remember that you only need a little
light to dispel the darkness. A drop of saving, of oil, can
go a long way in stretching and greasing the monthly budget
and can keep us going until... the next miracle.
