HOW TO SHRINK THE MONTHLY BUDGET

❯❯ CANCEL LUXURY SERVICES such as DSTV or the garden/pool service (your partner can do these) or the gym.

❯❯ ADOPT THE CLICHÉ “EVERY PENNY COUNTS” When it comes to the groceries, buy generic “no name” brands and, whereas before you may have blindly shopped for goods, now you should get to know the prices of things. This way you can do comparative shopping and start buying from your local butcher or green grocer if you find that you can get items cheaper from them.

❯❯ READ ALL THE BROCHURES advertising grocery sales, and shop wherever these sales exist.

❯❯ BUY CLOTHES AT END-OF-SEASON CLEARANCE SALES and second-hand clothing shops: you’ll be surprised at what you’ll pick up for a steal.

❯❯ WHEN YOU NEED TO START BUYING MATERNITY WEAR, ask friends and family for hand-me-downs, or purchase drawstring skirts/trousers and loose, comfortable-fitting tops from nonpregnant sections in shops such as Mr Price (they also have great, inexpensive maternity wear), Ackermans, Jet and Pep, to name a few.

❯❯ ORGANISE CAR POOLS with coworkers, and save on petrol.

❯❯ IF YOU’RE A SMOKER, NOW’S THE TIME TO QUIT Smoking is damaging to you and your unborn baby – plus quitting is a huge money-saver.

❯❯ DON’T EAT OUT, AND DON’T ORDER IN Buy nutritious ingredients from the grocery stores, and spend

quality time at home with your family inventing healthy, wholesome, homecooked meals.

❯❯ DOWNSCALE ON ENTERTAINMENT Instead of going out to the movies, make popcorn, and enjoy a night in front of your own TV. Stop going to expensive play zones with your kids, and visit your local parks instead – take a picnic basket and get some downtime as a family while the kids play on jungle gyms, slides and swings for free.