Is your personal budget about to be declared a disaster area? Or is it only your bank manager who feels that way? Check which things you should definitely skimp on - and which you shouldn't.
Money's tight for almost everyone. Ask anyone who has been to the supermarket in the last six months whether salary increases have kept up with inflation – chances are you'll get a tub of yoghurt on your face. The no-name brand version that is.
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But looking after yourself is not just about money - it's also about giving your body what it needs.
So what are the things you shouldn't skimp on?
Contraception. Most medical schemes don't pay for the Pill, but you can get most types of contraception free at government clinics, and often at a minimal fee from gynaecologists. Even if you have to pay for it yourself, it is still much cheaper than a baby. Same goes for condoms.
Brakes and tyres. You don't need the latest and greatest imported tyres, but think twice before you buy retreads from a dodgy dealer – it could cost you your life. Have your brakes checked regularly. New brakepads cost much less than your insurance excess or facial reconstruction.
A decent bed. You spend a third of your life on it. A sagging mattress will give you back problems in the long run, and this will cost much more than it would have cost to buy a decent mattress in the first place.
Insurance. Don't overkill here – you could be taken for a ride big time. What you need is comprehensive insurance on your home contents and car –combine the two if you can. If you have a bond, you will have structural home insurance. Remember that they will pay if a wall caves in or your gate blows down. You only really need life insurance if you have dependants. Medical aid or a hospital plan is a non-negotiable.
A decent toothbrush. Proper regular brushing will save you a fortune at the dentist. And don't wait until the bristles of the toothbrush have flattened out and frayed before replacing it.
Fruit and veg. An apple a day keeps the doctor away – and it's no joke. Fresh fruit and vegetables are not expensive and eating these every day will lower your chances of picking up viral infections doing the rounds. It will also aid your digestive system.
Enough sleep. Getting your regular seven or eight hours may take some planning, but sleep is a commodity without which your body cannot function properly. Building up a sleep debt is detrimental to your health and could lower your resistance to diseases.
Time out. Relaxing time is a non-negotiable. If you are constantly on the run and never get time to chill out, your body has a way of forcing you to rest. This is called flu.
Bathing/showering. Being dirty is depressing – not only to yourself, but also to those around you with whom you have to share space. Regular bathing or showering is good for your health and your blood circulation. And your social life.
Regular exercise. Even nine minutes a day of brisk walking cuts your heart attack risk by 50 percent. Your body needs exercise. Walk to the shop, use your gym membership, join a walking group – do whatever it takes.
Things you can definitely skimp on
Expensive makeup. Heavens, imported makeup costing hundreds of rands – a bit silly, isn't it? Surely there are locally produced equivalents at a quarter of the price? Why should you be footing the bill for all that import tax?
Cigarettes. A packet of cigarettes could cost more than R20. It's expensive, and eventually half of all smokers will die from smoking-related diseases. So smoking is a bit like paying lots of money so that you can become ill and miserable.
Medication. Whenever you get prescribed medication, ask about generic equivalents. These often cost much less and mostly have the same contents as the expensive drugs.
New cars. New cars are great, but they lose much of their value the minute you drive them out of the showroom. You can save thousands by buying a year-old model from a reputable dealer.
Clothing brand names. If you need brand-name clothing to make you feel better about yourself, you should be buying clothing at a chain store and spending the rest of the money on therapy. Why pay five times as much for something just because it has the right label? If you're 14 one can still understand it, but once you have your own driver's licence, it's time to grow up.
Hire purchase/cash loans. Sometimes one doesn't have a choice – very few people have the ready cash to buy things like cars and homes. But once you start running up huge amounts on credit for clothing, household goods and electrical appliances, red lights should start flashing.
Designer vitamins. These can cost hundreds of rands every month, and do not work as efficiently as just simply eating the food that contains those vitamins. Living on hamburgers and chips and taking a vitamin tablet is no substitute for eating a healthy diet.
Haircuts. Going to an expensive hairsalon for a regular trim could set you back hundreds. Very often the haircut you get from the hairsalon around the corner is no different to that Jean-Pierre gives you – except you don't pay an extra R200 for imported magazines and Earl Grey tea.
New books. Books are great, but expensive. Check out your kilo bookshop, the library or join a bookclub. This will give you access to newly published books without costing you an arm and a leg.
Designer groceries. By all means go to an expensive shop to buy specific items, but paying through your nose for commodities that are identical to those found in supermarkets is downright silly. Do a shop once a month for basic household goods at the cheapest supermarket in the area. Things in packets and boxes are often identical to those found in more expensive shops - at half the price.
Is your personal budget about to be declared a disaster area? Or is it only your bank manager who feels that way? Check which things you should definitely skimp on - and which you shouldn't.
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