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Takeaways from the likes of Steers, KFC or Burger King may be a regular indulgence or an ad hoc one for you. Perhaps you even buy a cup of coffee at your favourite coffee shop on a regular basis. But do you know how much your regular treat is costing you? As Money Makeover contestant Mmabatho discovered, it could, in fact, be costing you thousands of rands every year.
Take for example your regular coffee fix. If you buy one every week day for an average amount of between R20 and R30 that alone could set you back at least R400 to R600 a month or between R4800 and R7200 a year! If you indulge in a takeaway meal, say, once a week with an average spend of R70 that would cost you R280 a month or R3360 a year.
READ: Who are the Money Makeover contestants? Find out here
If you combine this amount with the maximum you would spend on a daily cup of coffee a year that would come to a whopping R10 560 that you would pay on takeaway meals and coffees a year – and that’s just for yourself.
Here are some tips on how you can reduce or eliminate the amount you spend on takeaway coffees and meals:
1. Wake up an extra 15 minutes early and make your own caffeinated beverage. It may sound like an ordeal but it could save you a lot of money in the long run.
2. If you have to get a takeaway cup of coffee, take a small cup instead of a large one.
3. Bring your own refillable coffee takeaway cup – some coffee places will give you a small discount if you use your own instead of their throwaway ones.
4. Go simple. Skip the fancy cappuccinos with the extra fillings and buy a regular filtered coffee.
5. Skip the other extras. Coffee shops sell you more than just coffee. So don’t indulge in the other offerings such as muffins, cookies and cakes.
6. Work out more and get rewarded through the schemes you belong to! If you reach your Discovery Vitality goals, for example, you get free coffee out of the deal.
7. Order online: Look out for companies that are offering online specials and free deliveries. If you physically go to your takeaway outlet you may be tempted to order more than just the regular pizza while you’re waiting in the queue.
8. Stretch your takeaway: One of the few times it makes sense to order more is if you are disciplined enough not to eat it all and reserve your leftovers for the following lunch or dinner.
9. Scout online for deals: Make use of group buying sites such as Hyperli and Wikideals to get a discount on your takeaways.
10. Wait for the specials: Check out the flyers that you get in your post box or email inbox and take advantage of those. Take note when your favourite takeout place has specials. At the time of writing Spur, for example, has a classic burger special on a Monday for R50.
11. Look at your supermarket for takeaway alternatives. It’s important to compare prices but your local Pick n Pay or Woolworths could offer cheaper alternatives to your takeaway meal.
12. Rather make your own: Cook your own meal instead of ordering a takeaway. It will cost less and will probably be healthier, depending of course on what ingredients you add. Use the internet to research healthy alternatives to your regular takeaway favourites.
Your regular takeout indulgence could cost you thousands each year. If you are disciplined and get rid of this treat altogether this money could be ploughed into your savings or go towards paying off your debt. While you may think that a takeaway is some innocent treat, it could be what’s holding you back from getting out of the red.
