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Ten ways to cut your grocery bill at the till
Groceries take a big bite out of most salaries. Write a list before you leave home and stick to it. Eat before you shop, because hungry shoppers spend more at the till.
Compare the price per kilogram, not the sticker. House brands are often cheaper and just as good. Use loyalty cards, buy staples in bulk when they are on special, and plan three dinners around what is already in the cupboard.
5. Review Your Debit Orders Monthly
Fuel and electricity prices change every few months, so build a buffer into your budget. Look at what you spent last year and add ten percent. Put that amount aside each month so an increase does not catch you out.
A small buffer today is worth far more than a big surprise at the petrol pump.
Cut your geyser time, switch off standby appliances and share lifts where you can. These small habits add up to a few hundred rand a month.
Store cards and clothing accounts charge high interest, so pay them off in a clear order. List each balance and its rate. Pay the minimum on all of them, then put every spare rand onto the account with the highest rate until it is gone. Then move to the next one.
4. Track Every Rand Spent
December arrives every year, yet it still surprises us. Work out what you spent last December on gifts, travel and food. Divide that total by the months left and save that amount each payday.
Open a separate savings pot in the app and name it December. Seeing the balance grow makes it easier to leave it alone. By the time the holidays arrive, you can pay cash and start January calm.
An emergency fund is money you do not touch for fun. Aim for one month of expenses first, then build towards three. Even R200 a month adds up faster than you think.
Store cards and clothing accounts charge high interest, so pay them off in a clear order. List each balance and its rate. Pay the minimum on all of them, then put every spare rand onto the account with the highest rate until it is gone. Then move to the next one.
3. Save Before Spending
Tax-free savings accounts let you earn interest and growth without paying tax on it. You can put in up to R36,000 each tax year, and R500,000 over your lifetime.
Go over the limit and SARS charges a penalty on the excess, so keep track of your deposits.
Withdrawals do not reset your limit, so think of it as a long term home for your money. Many banks and providers offer them, so compare fees before you open one.
Store cards and clothing accounts charge high interest, so pay them off in a clear order. List each balance and its rate. Pay the minimum on all of them, then put every spare rand onto the account with the highest rate until it is gone. Then move to the next one.
2. Keep a Separate Account for Tax
Freelancers and side hustlers have uneven months, so budget on your lowest income, not your best. Pay yourself a set salary from a business pot each month. Save a share of every invoice for tax and keep receipts in one folder from day one. That saves a lot of stress when the return is due.
An emergency fund is money you do not touch for fun. Aim for one month of expenses first, then build towards three. Even R200 a month adds up faster than you think.
Good habits start small. Set one rule this week, like saving R50 every Friday, and stick to it. Next month, add another rule and keep going until it feels normal.
Store cards and clothing accounts charge high interest, so pay them off in a clear order. List each balance and its rate. Pay the minimum on all of them, then put every spare rand onto the account with the highest rate until it is gone. Then move to the next one.
1. Know Your Monthly Income
Ubuntuly started in a small office on Sir Lowry Road in Woodstock. The idea was simple: make money tools that suit South African lives, with stokvels, school fees, load shedding costs and all.
Money is easier to manage when you can see it and share it with the people you trust.
Today thousands of people use the app to set goals, track spending and save together. Every feature is tested with real households in Cape Town, Joburg and Durban before it goes live.
