It's a matter of days till the Easter weekend.
And for many families, this means spending a lot of money. Whether that requires you to travel, stock up on groceries or buy Easter treats, it gets expensive pretty quickly.
But with the recent repo rate increase by 50 basis points to 7,75%, "it’s important not to get carried away and forget the savings goals you set for yourself at the start of the year”, cautions Rapule Mahlangu, Metropolitan’s head of associations and affinity groups.
He shares four tips to help you manage your spending effectively this Easter season.
- Conserve fuel if you're travelling
Managing your fuel consumption is a good place to start especially if you’re travelling this weekend. While the roads over the Easter weekend can be extremely congested and frustrating for drivers, reckless driving and excessive speed only serve to increase your consumption and deplete your wallet.
Maintain a steady speed, accelerate gently, reduce unnecessary weight in your vehicle and, if you can, switch off your air conditioning. Don‘t forget to obey the speed limits - they not only help you save fuel but keep you safe.
- Have fun on a budget
With four days of holidays and possibly children home from school, you may be tempted to indulge in a series of excursions and treats to keep everyone entertained. But if you have budget constraints, find out what’s going on in your community, neighbourhood or city over the upcoming weekend. You may find some fun and free activities that will keep everyone entertained.
“It’s not always necessary to rack up big bills on eating out or going on expensive excursions. Some of the most memorable times are simply lazy days spent on the beach or the park or around the pool with friends and family,” says Rapule.
- Family gatherings on a budget
If you’re hosting your family’s Easter celebrations, host a bring-and-braai, or divide and conquer and ask everyone to bring a dish and their own refreshments to lighten your load. Most retailers have great Easter specials and discounts, so this is a great time to take advantage of some bulk buying.
- Get the most out of Easter deals
You are no doubt being overwhelmed with Easter deals and offers from your favourite retailers and ecommerce platforms. Before heading to the shops or clicking your mouse, make a list of what you want to buy in order of importance.
“While it feels good to pay less, it’s not a good deal if you don’t need it. When being bombarded by discounts and bargains, it’s important to stick to your budget and priorities,” warns Rapule.
If you have rewards points, he adds, now is a good time to redeem them and save even more on Easter specials without dipping into your budget.
