What are you going to do to tighten your money belt?

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan presents the Budget to Parliament on Wednesday. The country faces a battle to avert a credit-rating downgrade to “junk”. And the government’s message to consumers is to tighten their belts and save. We asked you, our reader

some of whom don’t earn their keep. They are merely figureheads, not providing any value. There is absolutely no accountability or responsibility from some ministers and staff who, at times, are paid a salary for long periods while apparently under disciplinary action. Too much money and time are wasted by the government pursuing matters in court.

Reduce the “security” and blue light brigades. What are they scared of ?

Expensive advertising for projects and initiatives don’t need to be reflected in newspapers. How many ordinary folk can afford to read newspapers, especially those newspapers “supporting” breakfasts for the select few at so-called questionand-answer forums?

I have tightened my belt enough. I have retired and it is now payback time. There has been for far too long an expectation for the middle class to foot the bill for government failures and wasteful expenditure. There are many who expect others to foot the bill for electricity, rates and water. Where is the incentive to save when it is provided free?

We have had enough and our patience is wearing thin.

I think we need to cut the newspapers that are distributed to senior management services members in government, and the 3Gs that are given to every Jim, Dick and Josefa in the public service. We need to prioritise the budget for a tarred road from Giyani to Mapayeni village in Limpopo and hire at least two officials per department to monitor all this. Catering is done during senior management services members’ meetings, but not during junior employees’ meetings.

I believe what is important for me this year is the journey rather than the destination. Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least. Prioritisation is a principle of productivity and I’ll apply it accordingly, so as to increase efficiency and effectiveness to focus on vital tasks that yield the desired effect and outcome.

Priorities aren’t stagnant and always change as much of life isn’t one-dimensional.

To mention a few techniques to tighten my belt, I’ll identify daunting tasks and work through them. I’ll itemise all tasks according to their importance and weigh the consequences of not doing them. I’ll identify what is vital, focus on it and attain maximum returns. In a nutshell, my priorities will help to identify “blind spots” for when little priorities demand too much. Big problems arise and no one wants to be forced to prioritise after irreversible, inefficient policies.

I’ll put first things first. If I succeed, I’ll stop worrying about what I want to achieve and focus on the journey to my destination that translates to unfettered passion about the task to be finalised (tightening my belt).

I am going to limit buying takeaway food and cook food at home instead.

How are pensioners expected to tighten their belts? State pensioners are already on the breadline.

The country is deprived of billions of rand by the policy of tenders. Everything is overpriced. Much more can be done if we scrap the policy. Corruption is linked to tenders at all levels.

We have already installed a trip switch for our geyser. It comes on two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening. We do not, nor can we, eat a big dinner every night any longer.

Meat and vegetables are very expensive. So every alternate day is a meat, fish or chicken day. We have a pet hen that lays an egg daily and my daughter has a plot and we can get eggs from her. Toast, egg and baked beans are the meal often. Pap and cheap meat made into a stew is a lovely alternative meal. Scaling down is now our profession.

Scale down the government and show us they also mean to save. Talk and act by example. Buying clothing is an ultra-luxury so we have to make do with the Fong Kong shops or flea markets. They are much cheaper though the quality isn’t as good.

My husband and I now live with my daughter and we share expenses. I have a twin-tub washing machine and every drop of water, washing and rinsing goes onto the garden. Shower water gets drained into a large plastic bath and that goes onto the garden.

In our opinion, we do more than our fair share to save and it pains us to see how the government wastes money. Not one of them is struggling. That is a fact.

How will I tighten my belt in the face of our battling economy? There is a lovely saying: “Instead of having what you want, love what you have.” I’m not a particularly materialistic person by nature so not really a spender.

I’m relocating to George this week as I can’t find a job in Joburg. I know this move will give me the opportunity to live even more frugally, and I take joy in exploring my new environment. Yes, a little extra fuel balanced by fewer luxuries and just indulging in the nature of the Western Cape.

How does the government expect the everyday person to tighten their belts when the day-to-day cost of living is on the increase with no light at the end of the tunnel as doom and gloom predictions hover over the increasing expenses.

I, for one, will have to look at my current expenses and cut back on luxury items and change my shopping patterns for food items to suit my pocket. There are fixed expenses that one cannot escape, being bonds, school fees, taxes, bank charges, food, petrol, medical expenses, insurance, RA and maintenance costs on homes and vehicles.

Where does that leave the average Joe just about making ends meet and getting slapped left, right and centre with all the impending costs?

Life in South Africa is quite depressing with constant threats to one’s living spaces and possessions, the high unemployment rate and the working individual is being targeted with pending increase in taxes yet the powers that be fail to set an example by tightening their belts

Why should we always be on the receiving end of their selfish choices?

I am the only breadwinner at home and find this democratic government stifling and unrelenting. We have been in recession for how long now and still they misappropriate our hard-earned money and yet again we are asked to make major adjustments to our lifestyles, to what avail?

The question should actually be: “How can the government help the ordinary voter from junk status?”

At a veggie wholesaler today, a small cauliflower that fits into the palm of my hand was priced at R29.99. I bought two, but only noticed the price on my return home the till slip for all my fruit and veg shows a total of R546.66. Three weeks ago the same veggies and fruit cost me R286. Now the only solution is to start a veggie garden. Labour for a once-a-week gardener is R600. Then I’ll have enough to have veggies every day (regularly replaced), and can pass veg on to friends and my children.

We, the people of South Africa, have to tighten the belt very tight.

Food: We must try to plant our own veggies as we already do. Don’t waste but use leftovers again and if you don’t want it, give it to the nextdoor neighbour or some poor people. We should eat more rice, pap and macaroni to keep healthy and full. Only eat meat on special occasions and Sundays.

Water: Drink water out of a glass or mug and don’t waste extra water. Catch water in buckets when the heavy rains fall again. Plant aloe plants that water themselves. Use the shower to save on water. Electricity: Use when needed. Try to switch off the power if not needed. Braai instead of cooking. Make a healthy potjie.

Petrol: Travel together in a club. Travel only the necessary distance. Use a bicycle. Walk to the shop.

It is very difficult to be a South African citizen or to live in South Africa in this day and age as it seems like nothing is coming right in the country.

The rand is dropping while unemployment is soaring and the cost of living is getting higher and higher each day.

I’ll tighten my belt this year by not drinking alcohol and will also lower my fuel spend.

I’ll compare shopping baskets. There will be no overseas holidays and entertainment will be down to virtually nil.

Also, no unnecessary use of motor vehicles, shutting off the geyser when it’s not needed, running the pool pump on shorter cycles and eating less meat.

Last year alone I spent R30 000 on petrol and a whopping R12k on booze. By giving booze a break (this is my second month booze-free) and making fewer trips I’ll be able to save.

We are pensioners so there’s not much chance of bringing in a new income. We are moving from Joburg at the end of month to small town in Western Cape.

It will be much cheaper to live there – and we can safely walk nearly everywhere so can cut down on fuel. Levies there are hugely less than in Joburg. There’s one traffic light so there is less frustration and delays – the roads are good and there’s no litter.

Settle all short-term loans, credit cards and overdraft facilities. Close all useless accounts.

Honestly, there is no way I can tighten my belt as I am drowning in debt. Every payday is a question of which debt not to pay. I’m not in a position to tighten my belt. My salary is low and I can’t afford a bond or to buy a car. I pay back tax and those who can afford to tighten their belts are privileged.