South Africa’s rising cost of living is getting to everyone, young and old.
But while youngsters can look for better jobs and take on second or even third jobs, pensioners have limited options.
Rather than find ways to make more money, pensioners should try to save as much as possible.
These methods allow every rand to go further.
Simple Ways you can save money as a pensioner
After months of rising costs, South African pensioners have no other choice but to get creative about how they save money.
Buy electricity in small batches
Next year the price of electricity will rise again.
If you want to spend less on electricity, buy enough for one or two weeks. Then, top up with as much as you need when you run out.
Buying all your electricity at once forces you into a higher price group.
Buying small batches keeps the cost per kilowatt-hour lower for longer.
If you see you’re using your electricity quickly, use the techniques Eskom encouraged during loadshedding:
You could save up to 30% with these simple options.
Use low-wattage appliances
Low-wattage appliances also help you save electricity.
With a stove-top kettle, you boil water once or twice a day and have warm water throughout the day, unlike electric kettles. You can keep water warm for longer by knitting a cover for the stove-top kettle.
Then use a slow cooker to cook your meat and stews.
Slow cookers use less than half the electricity of stoves and ovens.
Add legumes to meals
If you want a meaty flavour, without a meaty price, use legumes. Whole brown and black lentils have the most wholesome meaty flavour and sell for R25 per 500-gram bag.
They also cook in 45 minutes, unlike beans.
You can use lentils to complement your sides or in classic dishes like briyani.
Even dishes like cottage pie, where you won’t notice the flavour and texture of lentils as much.
If you can use mince in a dish, you can replace some mince with lentils.
Use free and discounted services
Wherever possible, use freebies and discounts. Plan your outings and day trips around these discounts.
Shopping centres and certain shops have pensioner days and deals; become familiar with these and choose to shop on these days.
If you want free transport to city centres, reach out to a local church or organisation and ask about whether they have transport assistance for pensioners.
Sometimes there may be options to travel long distances at a discount.
Also join forces with your fellow pensioners and travel to city centres in a group, splitting the petrol cost among multiple shoppers.
Shop at supermarkets in your suburb
But if you can’t get affordable transport, don’t drive or travel long distances until petrol costs come down enough to make these trips worthwhile.
Instead, focus on the shops within 5 kilometres of your home. Then, use free community papers to find the specials they’re offering.
Create or join a price comparison group chat
Join or create a WhatsApp group where your friends, family and neighbours can share promotions or offer to split combo deals.
For example, if Food Lovers Market is offering a combo deal on their pocket of oranges that’s value for money, ask someone on the group if they’re willing to split the combo and the cost.
As more shops offer combo deals, you can save hundreds of rands by dividing combos this way.
You’ll also be surprised how many people (young and old) want to join.
