When To Spend And When To Save
Money’s tight for almost everyone these days, but looking after yourself is not just about money – it’s also about giving your body what it needs, And while there are some things you should buy, no matter the cost, it’s okay for you to skimp on others, Not sure what belongs in each category? Read on and find out:
Things You Shouldn't Skimp On:
Insurance. Firstly, medical aid or a hospital plan is a non-negotiable. In terms of insurance cover, what you need is comprehensive insurance on your home contents and car; combine the two if you can. You only really need life insurance if you have dependents.
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.
Fruit And Veg. An apple a day keeps the doctor away – that’s no joke. Fresh fruit and vegetables are not expensive and eating a few of these every day will lower your chances of picking up viral infections. It will also aid your digestive system.
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.
Things You Can Definitely Skimp On:
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 content as the expensive drugs.
Clothing Brand Names. Why pay five times as much for something just because it has the right label? If you’re 14 one can understand it, but once you have your own driver’s licence, it’s time to grow up.
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 a healthy diet.
