2008 has seen the prices of goods and services rapidly go up. Oil in the world market has reached an all-time high of $126 in May from about $100 back in December so expect to see another round of increases in a number of commodities (not just fuel products) very soon. Inflation in April 2008 also hit a 3-year high of 8.3% which means the majority of Pinoys’ already tight income will be able to buy even less.

Until workers get the pay increase that can keep up with the recent price increases, the best thing that he can do now to survive these difficult times is to use his hard-earned money wisely and make every peso count. PinoySmartSavers.com shares with you 42 tips which can help you cut down expenses and thus, allow you to buy more for your money. Each tip may only lead to a saving of a few pesos but as a whole these small savings will add-up to hundreds or thousands every month.

Be sure to discuss with your spouse, children and the rest of the household any cost-cutting measures you want to implement. When the whole family is involved in creating a plan to cut down expenses, they will be more committed to follow it and make the plan succeed.

1. Housekeeping Tips

• buy items that last instead of using disposable
• make emergency repairs yourself to save on service fees; pero dapat marunong ka
• buy cleaning materials and toiletries in bigger packaging; lalabas na mas mura ito kesa maliit na packaging o tingi-tingi
• reuse plastic bags; gamitin ito sa basura imbes na bumili ng trash bag
• organize kitchen utensils & tools; para hindi magkamaling bumili ng doble
• keep an extra set of keys handy; para hindi kailangang sirain ang pintuan
• rent items that you need occasionally instead of buying

2. Saving Tips on Utilities and Appliances

• keep all warranties and manuals in one location; para hindi kailangang gumastos pag nagpaayos
• use energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) ; mas matipid ito sa kuryente nang 80% at tumatagal ng 6 na beses kumpara sa ordinaryong bumbilya
• turn-off lights when you leave the room
• turn-off appliances when not in use; huwag iwanang naka-standby dahil kumakain pa rin ito ng kuryente
• buy appliances with high energy efficiency rating (EERs); mas mataas ang EER, mas matipid sa kuryente
• try to repair faulty appliances instead of buying a new one;
• reduce use of airconditioners; sa bawat oras na ibabawas mo sa paggamit ng aircon araw-araw, makakatipid ka ng P200-500 sa bayad sa kuryente buwan-buwan
• do not change appliances often just to have the latest models; hangga’t gumagana, huwag palitan

3. Tips on Dining Out & Food Shopping

• reduce frequency of dining out; bukod sa mas mura, mas masarap ang lutong bahay
• avoid first class dining; go casual or fast food;
• don’t buy from convenience stores unless it’s an emergency; 30-50% ang taas ng presyo dito
• don’t shop when you are hungry; mapaparami ang bili mo kapag gutom ka
• don’t bring your children when shopping for food
• buy bigger packaging or in bulk if you can afford it; makakatipid ka ng 20-50% sa presyo
• buy generic groceries or store brand products; subukan mo muna kung katanggap-tanggap ang kalidad
• cook your own food instead of buying ready-to-eat food; makakatipid ka ng 50-100% sa halaga
• check your stocks before shopping; para hindi magdoble at hindi maabutan ng expiration yung naka-stock
• always shop with a list; para hindi ka lang dampot nang dampot pag namimili kahit di kailangan

4. Tips on Shopping for Clothes, Shoes & Grooming

• wait for bargains & sales when you need to buy an item;
• buy at discount clothing stores; wala sa presyo yan, nasa pagdadala ng sumusuot
• buy clothes that match your existing clothes or accessories; sa iilang damit, marami kang kumbinasyon na magagawa.
• buy classic clothing; huwag yung uso na mawawala rin kaagad
• put rubber heels & protectors on your shoes to make it last; halos doble ang itatagal ng iyong sapatos
• if you drive a car buy cheap driving shoes; madaling masira ang sapatos kapag madalas gamitin sa pagmamaneho
• keep your weight constant (but only if you are already at a healthy weight); para hindi papalit-palit ng damit kapag pumayat o tumaba
• have your hair cut in your neighborhood barber shop or parlor; 3 to 5x ang mahal ng pagpapagupit o pagpapaayos sa mamahaling parlor (lalo na yung nasa mall).

5. Fuel Saving Tips

• consider using public transportation; makakatipid ka ng 50-75% sa gastos, hindi ka pa pagod
• plan your trips to avoid heavy traffic; mas mataas nang 25-30% ang kunsumo sa gas kapag matrapik.
• choose smaller vehicles with manual transmission; mas maliit ang makina, mas tipid sa gas
• follow regular check-up & maintenance schedule to keep car running efficiently; pag inabot ka pa ng sira sa daan, magastos ang towing
• drive steadily (60-85 kph is the best speed) avoid rapid acceleration and hard braking; aksaya sa gasolina ang biglaang pag-arangkada o pagtigil.
• remove unnecessary baggage from your car; mas magaan ang karga, mas tipid sa gasolina
• inflate your tires properly to save fuel & prolong its life
• shut-off engine if the car will be idle for more than 1 minute; minsan 3-minuto ang itatagal mo sa stop sa isang major intersection, kung hindi maiinit ang panahon, patayin ang makina
• use car aircon only when necessary; kung maganda naman ang panahon at hindi nakakasakal ang polusyon, buksan na lang ang bintana