Keep The Utilities Low

The only utility bill that we as trinbagonians can control really is electricity. I like TTEC’s slogan, “Electricity, a cost you can control”. From bill to bill, you can actually see the difference in usage and cost.

My family recently started using a clothes drier at our house and our electricity bill rose from $110 to around $200. Sometimes avoiding its usage can be quite challenging because of the hours that we have available for doing laundry so it becomes a necessity. But as long as you can curtail its usage, it can be a big help in reducing this bill. There are other measures that can be taken to keep the "light bill" down though.

Turn off the lights when you’re not using them. Turn off the television when no one is watching. Unplug the phone chargers when they’re not in use. People don't believe that empty chargers don't use electricity but they do and leaving them plugged in makes a difference. Plus, it is dangerous.

All of these contribute significantly to the electricity bill so do whatever you can to keep it down. Give us your ideas on what can be done to keep the utility bills down.

Get Those Baking Utensils Out

Baking bread can be a game changer and Sunday evenings just feel like a good evening for baking. It can even be made into a family affair where everyone who is able gets involved in the mixing and laying out, not to mention tasting.

We’re talking about sweetbread, cake, cookies, coconut drops and then there are coconut bake, hops and oven bake. These are items that will last for at least the week once stored properly. They can be used for breakfasts, lunches, dinners and as snacks so you won’t need to worry so much about meals. They are healthier, more satisfying and making them costs way less than buying them or buying anything else for your meals.

Give it a try and let us know how it works out. Share some of your latest baked creations with us. For sides to go with your breads and bakes check out my post on breakfast.

Squeeze to Save

Like any typical trini, I love a good, ice-cold glass of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice on one of those scorching days here in trinbago. Not too sweet and just strong enough that I can taste the slight acidity of the grapefruit. Aaaaah!

We grew up drinking a variety of natural juices like orange, lime and lemon, passionfruit, even cashew. These were made at home without the use of any of the sophisticated equipment that we have nowadays.

These days we choose to buy Trinidad Fresh, Orchard, Fruta, Minute Maid, Barefruit. We have developed artificial tastes for artificial products that, "contains real juice".

We live in the tropics, the Caribbean, where fruits are endless and at any time of the year there are at least one or two fruits in season, yet, we choose to drink juices that came from a lab with yellow #5 colouring and this additive or that preservative.

The fruit juice industry is a thriving business, the number of different brands popping up is evidence of that. We, the consumers, are making this business as profitable as it is by turning away from what we grew up doing, what we were used to. And it is costing us financially. Besides being healthier, natural juices can save you a lot of money. Plant a few miniature fruit trees in the yard. What about a cane "patch"?

Local fruits that can be used to make juice include; mango, cashew, barbadine, soursop, tamarind, sorrel, water melon, pommecythere and all the citrus fruits.

When last have you had a glass of natural, unprocessed home-made juice? Don't be afraid to add to my list by commenting below.

Small change can mean Big money

I’ve recently started making an effort to save money through a conventional yet somewhat forgotten method, the Piggy Bank or as we trinis call it, Cash Pan.

As a child I kept a cash pan which would securely keep 25 cent pieces collected over the period of a year. At Christmas time each year I was allowed to 'bust' that pan open and purchase any toy that I could afford. This was my parents' way of teaching me to save while also giving me an appreciation for the rewards of saving. I remember being so excited to find out just how much money was accumulated over the time.

The dynamics of using the cash pan haven’t changed. Coins that are neglected in the household cannot be of benefit unless they are collected and put to use. I searched throughout the house, every cupboard and draw, the car, my wallet and not to mention my wife’s many handbags. The quantity of coins recovered was overwhelming. Since then, I have assigned special pans for coins at home and my family and I have made a conscious effort to use them.

Here's a pic of my homemade cash pans

In the period of one month, we’ve collected over $30 in 1 cent pieces alone which would normally have been disregarded. That is $30 cold, hard cash.

 I challenge you to start collecting your coins. In the post, Are you throwing your money away?, Alicemhalls commented that she has a mini suitcase full of coins.

Tell us how you intend to save your coins. Share a photo of your stash.

Are you throwing your money away?

I went to the supermarket and the bill came up to $68.98. I paid with $100 and was given $30.00 change. With 5 customers in line behind me, I politely protested to the cashier, “This change isn’t correct”. 

He turned to me with a most confused look.

I then continued, “You have two cents for me still”.

He shook his head with a grin and delivered the balance of my change. Yes there were smirks and mumbling in the line but should that hinder me from requesting two cents of MY money?

How many times have you left without full change? Leaving 2, 3, 5 even 10 or 25 cents on the counter adds up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars over time. Even if the change is given, a lot of us just leave it behind.

“Give me a dinner mint with the change nah”, a famous request at the cashier’s counter.

Cents add up and can make a tremendous difference in the long run, even 1 and 5 cent pieces. When battling difficult economic times, every little counts. Make an effort to ask for your correct change and if you are uncomfortable doing that, then only buy where exact change is given. There are businesses that deliver exact change, choose them once possible.

Don’t underestimate the power of coins. Don’t squander them. My dad had a saying, “drop by drop does full the bucket”. Keep that in mind.

How much money have you thrown away over the years?

Sense for Dollars

What does it really mean to have sense when it comes to your hard earned money?

Disposable income has increased over the years, luxury items are too numerous to name and wonton wastage of money prevails. Whether you are strapped for cash or you are one of the fortunate few that swim in the stuff, being sensible with your money is not such a bad idea. I’m not saying that you have to be a miser or be “lower than the white line on the road” but saving the pennies where possible makes spending on other things possible.

This blog is all about doing just that. The ideas and suggestions posted here are not intended to be used by anyone all the time, even though it is possible. 

However, they are presented so that at least some of the times they can be put into the mix of our lives and if necessary can make all the difference that may be needed at the time.

So I invite you to visit my blog, add to your knowledge and whenever possible, share whatever knowledge you may have when it comes to, Sense for Dollars.