Save by paying attention to the small amounts (Part 4)


 Smartphones

Smartphones can be in the hands of many, but not all the users are ‘smart’ with their phones. Data costs are a major headache to some because of not paying attention to the drains which happen. App developers are always fixing bugs or enhancing their apps such that almost on a daily basis there is need to update the apps. By switching your applications to update only where there is Wi-Fi access, you are saving yourself a lot of money.

Service providers also charge exorbitant out of bundle rates i.e. R2/MB. It might be their way of forcing consumers to buy data bundles which are priced more economically. If you can’t beat them...join them- it is better to buy the bundles than to be faced with astronomical bills at the end of the month.

Most packages come with minutes which restrict you according to networks. These packages also come at times with hundreds of SMS’s which in most likelihood you will not utilise due to the presence of different instant messaging platforms. I bought a phone in 2012 and even though it was up for renewal some time ago, I decided to pay off the phone and take a data and airtime contract instead of having to pay for things I would not use.

The same main functions which I used a smart phone 5 years ago are still the same now i.e. email, browse the internet, call, take photos & videos and social networking. These are my big 5 and in accepting I can do these on pretty much any phone, it has freed me up to know I do not need to get the latest model as I would still in most probability still do the same 5. Only thing which might change is the order of importance.


Loyalty programs

A decade ago we did not have as many loyalty and rewards programs as we do now. Businesses know that by getting you to be part of their rewards program, they are ‘locking you in’ so you will continue using their service or products. There is nothing wrong with this and you can use this 'lock in' to your advantage. You are already paying for these ‘rewards’ so you might as well maximise these offerings/rewards which you potentially have access to.


There is one program I am on whereby I get discounts for flights, car hire, gym contracts, movies etc. Rather than taking on too many of these programs, stick to a few and save some money in the process.

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