We all want that spare cash in times of a rainy day. But it’s easier said than done. When it comes to saving, the first thing you need to do is START.

Here are some practical tips on how to save money:

1. Start putting a percentage of your money away
Take a look at your current income or pocket money. If for example you get R200 a week, put R20 away in a nice box or jar and you can use it when you need it. Save every week a R20 for that month and you’ll at least have R80 left. If you work and earn for example, R4000 a month, put R200 away. t will help you later on in the month if you run short.

2. Bring lunch to school/work
Instead of spending money on lunch or junk food rather pack your own fresh lunch from home. Make sure you have enough to pack in, that way you won’t spend money on hot chip rolls!

3. Stay away from expensive name brands
In this day and age, it’s so tempting to want to wear the latest clothing brands or even have the latest cell phone gadgets. But there are many decent clothing outlets that sell good quality clothes that don’t cost you an arm and a leg. Look out for good quality bargains rather than spending hundreds or thousands on a branded t-shirt or pair of shoes.

4. Avoid credit and store cards
Credit cards and store cards seem to be the easy way out. We need good credit if we want to purchase a house one day, but we don’t need to use our credit card for food or clothing. This creates unnecessary debit as you have to not only pay the original price but also the interest on that too. So, instead of buying clothing on credit, make use of lay-byes. This way you pay off a certain amount until you can get your clothing but you generally don’t pay any interest. This might cause you to wait longer for the piece of clothing you want, but at least you’ll be debt free!

5. Be realistic when spending
It’s easy to swipe our cards on pay day, forgetting we have the whole month to go through. Use your money wisely by making a shopping list beforehand and sticking to it. Keep tabs on your spending too so that you know what you spend your money on. This helps you to become more disciplined.

6. Quit smoking
Yes, this may or may not be helpful to you, but the truth is you would end up saving so much money just buy avoiding cigarettes. Every R2 counts.

7. Buy in food in bulk
Buying food in bulks saves a lot of money it also makes sure you don’t run out.
These are just a few of the many ways in which we can save money. It all starts with wanting to save. It takes a lot of self-discipline and self-control, but it is manageable!

Tell us: Do you have any more tips on saving money?