Tip 1: Use Cheap toiletries
I can't speak for everyone but I certainly can't tell the difference between the cheaper and the more expensive brands of just about any toiletry, be it face cream, shampoo, bubble bath, moisturiser, and so on. They all do the same job whether they cost P10 or P58 for the same type of product! Go for the lower priced item. Another option is shopping for your favourite brand names at discounted prices.

Tip 2: Use Generic Washing Powder
You can save quite a bit of money each month just by purchasing, for example, the No-Name PnP washing powder over the more expensive brands.
Whether you buy the generic brand or use coupons, the money you can save really adds up by the end of the month when you consider how much clothes washing you do. Add washing soap to your list when shopping for discounted products.

Tip 3: Use your coupons effectively
If you're going to collect coupons, use them in a way that saves you the most money possible. For example, if your local grocery store offers to double coupon values on a certain day, make that day your regular shopping day.  Also, refer to the store's weekly sale flyer to find out what's going cheap. If you have coupons for items, such as cereal, that regularly go on sale, wait until the sale to use the coupon. Over time, this strategy will help you save a lot of money.

Tip 4: Forget having Clothes Professionally Dry Cleaned
It's quite simple: Do NOT  buy clothes that need to be dry cleaned!

Tip 5: Drink Plain Tap Water
How much money do we spend per week on fizzy drinks and 'special' concoctions such as sports drinks or concentrates? Making an effort to drink tap water during the day can really add up when you compare its cost - nothing at all besides the water bill - to what you typically spend on soft drinks, coffees, and other beverages.

Tip 6: Double Your Recipes When You Cook
When you go grocery shopping, plan to buy double the ingredients for a couple of recipes. Specifically with regards to the meat, you'll pay less per kilo when you purchase a larger amount. Make your recipe, then freeze the extra batch for an evening when you don't have time to cook a full meal.
Not only will this strategy save you money on the cost of the ingredients, but it will save you gaining extra kilos as it will prevent you from ordering take-aways on your next busy evening. The combination can lead to significant savings.

Tip 7: Buy Generic Foods and Staples
If you don't already buy generic breakfast cereals, snacks, and breads, just think how much money you could save each month. If you have kids and  you're concerned that your kid(s) "won't like" the generic foods, take a couple of weeks to gradually ease them into the idea. For example, mix half of a box of say, Kellogs Corn flakes, with half of a box of generic cornflakes or a cheaper version. In a couple of weeks, your kid(s) will be accustomed to any variance in flavour or texture, and they won't know the difference. Alternatively, keep the original expensive version, buy the generic one and slip the plastic bag containing the cereal into the brand name box. Sneaky, but effective!

Tip 8: Make Your Own Snacks
It might surprise you how much of your regular grocery shopping is pre-packed with snack food for the kids! Instead of buying individually-wrapped snacks at P3-P4 per box, switch to making your own snacks, or buying snacks in bulk and storing them in handy snack-sized Zip-loc bags. The result is just as convenient, but costs you a lot less.

Tip 9: Only Buy Used Cars
Do you deserve a new car? Absolutely! But it isn't always the wisest decision. You can save more money over time by purchasing a decent "certified" used car from a dealer you trust.

Tip 10: Downgrade One Luxury Item
We've become accustomed to any number of not really necessary luxury items! You probably don't go anywhere without your cell phone, and we all seem to be convinced that we "have to have" DSTV.
Some of the things we once thought of as special treats have unwisely become the regulars in our monthly budgets. This is actually a big reason why there's too much 'month' left after our paycheques have been exhausted. Choose only one luxury to downgrade or eliminate, and just do it!

Olebile Makhupe is the Head of Global Markets at Standard Chartered Bank Botswana. For Feedback and contributions please e-mail--mymoney@mmegi.bw