Prices continue in one direction: go up! Today's rising cost of living threatens to wipe out the small savings that some have managed to reap. Individuals with a fixed income are particularly affected.
Is there anything I can do to counteract the effects of the price increase? Think of approaches to the problem that some find helpful.
You must have this
When you are thinking of buying something, it helps to ask, "Do I really need this?" For example, does the use of a car exceed the purchase cost, insurance payment, electricity and car condition, not to mention depreciation? If you really need a car, can you reduce its use by scheduling your tasks in advance or using public transport occasionally? How about the walk, not only for men who are going to work but also for friends who agree to go to the market or participate in other activities?
Can you get the clothes you need for less money? Once, when a housewife from Santiago de Chile realized that her coat was worn, she was confused and could not buy a new one. She explains: “One day I commented on a friend's coat. "Oh," replied my friend, "it's just my old winter jacket upside down." I tried the same thing and it was not difficult to take off a coat and sew it up again. Just sticking to the old seams and minor changes to the collar and pockets made my coat look brand new.
When this cheap housewife finds her elbows in nice sweaters, she changes her sleeves and reveals a new material area for the wearer's elbow. Can similar procedures save money?
You can buy cheaper
Even if you really need something new, you can track sales with less money. In some countries, there is an annual sales model. By becoming familiar with the model, you can achieve significant savings.
Although the best stores have better sales, many try to move their sales quickly. You can sponsor one or two days of sales at significantly reduced prices. A word about quality: Better quality products, especially for heavy, durable clothing such as swimwear, will be cheaper in the long run than cheaper, lower quality clothing.
Save extra clothes by buying "incomplete" clothes and repairing them at home, or by buying used items, generally of better quality than new ones at higher prices.
Have you tried to get a cheaper price? Do you live in an area where you can buy things via a mail order catalog? This can lead to deep discounts on goods or items from last season that did not move well.
In many municipalities, "business cards" are distributed free of charge to families. These documents contain a variety of things that locals want to sell or buy, sometimes at great savings.
Homemade preserves
Food costs are particularly high today. Can you save money by storing groceries? Being at home is a cheap way to do this. The process destroys yeast, fungi and bacteria and also prevents chemical effects that lead to food spoilage.
Most homemade preserves use glass jars. A rubber ring on the forehead acts as a "seal". The metal casing is screwed in and creates a seal that prevents air and bacteria from entering the contents. In some countries, people can buy special household equipment for preservation, including pots, airtight lids and other utensils. But if you live in an area where these things are not commercially available, you can improvise your own equipment.
Storing low-acid foods like meats, poultry, fish, and common vegetables requires special equipment to maintain vapor pressure. Foods high in acid, including almost all fruits and most (but not all) tomatoes, can be prepared simply with boiling water.
The first step is to wash all containers, rubber rings and lids in hot, soapy water. Rinse and boil these utensils and let them dry in a draft-free place.
Make sure the foods you choose are in top condition, spotless, and not overripe. Firmly place the bottles about half an inch from the top and cover them with the boiling liquid, while leaving about half an inch of space on top. The liquid can be fruit juice or plain water, or contain a small amount of salt or sugar for seasoning. It is not necessary to add liquid when storing tomatoes. Wrap them tightly until they are coated with their own juice.
Make sure the sealing surfaces are free of food debris that could prevent a tight seal. Then tighten the lids firmly until they relieve the pressure created by cooking. The filled jars are then placed in a pot of boiling water deep enough to leave an inch or two above the glass and an inch or two above the water level to allow a vigorous boil. Pans should be on a rack that lifts them slightly above the bottom of the kettle so that boiling water can flow underneath.
Cover the kettle and bring the contents to a boil. Cooking time varies depending on the type of food. Ten minutes is enough for the tomatoes.
When removing boiling water bottles, place them upright on a towel or shelf to cool them. After the pans have cooled, check if the center of the lid sags and makes it concave. In this case, and handle the glasses with care, eating will take several months. Otherwise, eat right away because you won't be able to store it without refrigeration.
Can a freezer help you save money?
Besides preservation, freezing is one of the most common methods of preserving food. Can a freezer help you manage less?
It depends on several factors. On average, a freezer costs between $ 60 and $ 100 per year. To save money, you need to save more than the specials you might take advantage of since you had the freezer to store food or grow food that you can freeze.
Buying everything you put in the freezer at retail is unlikely to save you money. However, if you grow your own grocery store, buy wholesale, or take advantage of special seasonal sales, you can save money.
Preserve food by drying it
Much of the world's population preserves food by drying it. and does not require any equipment. Almost anything can be placed or hung on a clean surface, perhaps covered with a fine cloth, to control flies. The air and the sun will do the rest.
Since some juice batches are made, you don't even need an oven to dry the food. One box can be used to make a dryer for apples, peaches, beans, pumpkin, zucchini, meat and game, fruit bowls, raisins, plums and tomatoes. If you are in a hurry, dry the seeds and herbs. How is it possible? Food strips can be hung on sticks that run through the box from end to end. The heat of drying comes from a lamp attached to one end of the box. Easy?
Saving money when prices go up is definitely a challenge. But when you're ready to trade comfort for hard work, you can do less.