The high prices of this period put pressure on the budget of each of us. Rising bank rates, ever-increasing utility bills, increasingly expensive food make us think twice before buying something new.

We’ve put together some recommendations to help you keep your hands off your wallet and save as much as possible. Of course, these recommendations won’t work for every lifestyle, as we all experience rising prices in our own way.

Apply the 30 day or 15 minute rule

Before you buy something, stop and think if you really need it. For spontaneous purchases, set aside 15 minutes and walk around the store before paying for the product. See if after 15 minutes the temptation to buy it is just as great.

For larger purchases, it will take 30 days to make sure you really need the purchase.

Calculate your hourly wage

If the 30-day or 10-minute rule doesn’t work to avoid impulse purchases, then you should try something else: calculate how much you earn per hour of work.

In this way, you will know how much an hour of your working time is worth, and you will quickly see how much time you need to work on a certain product.

This calculation usually makes many things appear in a different light.

Repair your clothes instead of throwing them away

Previously, clothes were repaired much more often. Today, they are often thrown away and replaced with new and clearly more expensive ones. The bottom line is that we often see new items of clothing that are designed to look worn (fashionable, well…)

But why not mend a torn garment yourself or make a “new” coat out of two old items? Try it! You can save a lot of money in no time and with a little skill and creativity, you can create an outfit that will be the envy of your friends.

Organize clothes swap parties with friends

Almost everyone knows that a coat gets boring to wear for I don’t know how long, although it looks great and is just as beautiful.

You can “fix” this problem by having a clothing swap party. You and a few friends get together one night and share the clothes you’re tired of, then pick out the ones you like. It can be fun.

Don’t go shopping without a list

I know, this is old advice that everyone gives. But that doesn’t make it any less true. Make a shopping list and don’t deviate from it if you don’t see something in the store that you forgot to put on the list at home.

Plan your meals based on your supermarket’s offers

If the supermarket you shop at has special weekly magazines, use them to make a meal plan. What products are on sale? What dishes can be prepared with them?

You can quickly save 10 to 20% on products.

Check regularly whether your supermarket is really the cheapest in the area

About twice a year you should check whether your supermarket is really the best choice. Make a list of 20 products you buy regularly and see in person or online what the prices are at supermarkets near you.

If you find a cheaper one, it might not hurt to re-evaluate where you’re getting from. Repeat the test after 6 months.

Check your expenses from time to time to see if there is room to cut back

Take a statement from your account every now and then and see where your money is going and if there is any room for cuts. Do you need all the subscriptions to magazines/streaming channels etc.? Maybe you’ll find a thing or two that you can ditch and save money that way.

Maybe now is the time…

Do what you wanted to do before: give up cigarettes or alcohol. With a little willpower and the support of friends and family, you’ll not only be healthier, but you’ll be saving a lot of money in no time.

Install LED lamps

LED lamps cost more, but are much more efficient and pay for themselves in a short time with low electricity consumption.

In addition, the service life of LED lamps is many times longer than the service life of ordinary incandescent lamps or energy-saving lamps.

Buy quality equipment

Refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, washing machines and other appliances can often be very cheap. But it is important to consider the costs throughout the service life.

A device that costs 100 lei more, but lasts two years longer and consumes 20 percent less electricity, can save much more than that hundred lei.

Buy private labels, not well-known brands

Many supermarket chains have their own brands, which are usually 10 to 30 percent cheaper and produced in the same factories and with the same ingredients as the branded products.

The main thing: take care of your health!

Being sick is not only inconvenient, but also very expensive. Starting from doctors’ fees and ending with medicines or even loss of income in the case of sick leave.

So take care of your health even in favorable times. Spend time and effort on healthy eating and regular exercise. Not only will your body thank you in the long run, but so will your wallet!