Brace yourself for the hard times ahead as inflation coupled with a global financial crisis hits.
The Consumer Council has compiled a comprehensive checklist of over 120 pieces of simple consumer advice that you can put into practice in everyday life to save and cut down on your hard-pressed household budget.
In the process, you will also help contribute to conservation and a sustainable lifestyle. Here are some highlights.
For instance, in the use of electrical appliances, such as air-conditioner, washer, refrigerator, always look for the EMSD Grade 1 Energy Efficiency label, to reduce electricity costs.
In lighting, replace all incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps which save electricity consumption up to 80%. Always turn off the lights when leaving the room or not in use.
A television set is on standby mode when switched off by the remote control, thus continuing to consume electricity. Use the main power switch on the TV set, or better still switch off at the electricity supply socket or extension cord.
The same applies to set-top box to watch digital TV broadcast. Therefore, when not watching, remember to cut off the power supply.
Continual running of a computer consumes significant amount of electricity. Have proper settings for power management so that the monitor and hard disk can automatically shut down or the system can enter hibernation mode when idle for some time.
If you need a mobile phone for only phone call and messaging, a simple basic type will suffice. Many new mobile phones provide a lot of functions that users seldom use.
Some general principles to save on food: don't waste food; purchase fresh foods or order dishes in restaurants of suitable amount and take leftovers back home.
Buy foods with similar nutritional value but with lower price, e.g. seasonal foods are always less expensive, and pricey organic foods do not have, in theory, a higher nutritional quality compared with ordinary foods.
Cook foods the energy efficient way e.g. steaming or boiling instead of stewing or frying. Take advantage of different cooking appliances e.g. microwave oven, induction cooker, pressure cooker and thermal cooker, to save energy and cooking time.
Remember money saving on food and diet does not mean the sacrifice of good quality foods or food hygiene.
Make it a practice to buy foods at shops with good hygiene and reputation. Don't buy foods beyond expiry date.
In food preparation, use separate utensils to handle raw and cooked food. The kitchen and utensils should be washed and kept clean.
Make sure foods are cooked thoroughly. Cover leftovers and store them in refrigerator for not longer than 3 days. Leftovers should be reheated thoroughly before consumption and should not be reheated more than once.
Taking bath in a shower is preferable to save water and energy. Use cold or warm water in the summer time if possible. The used water may be collected to flush the toilet.
In daily skin care and makeup, before going out to shop, prepare a checklist estimating the types and amount of cosmetics needed with consideration given to suitable skin type and climate.
Pay heed to manufacturing date, storage period and period of use after opening of the product. Label the product with dates of purchase and remind yourself to use it up in time.
When it comes to clothings, don't' buy on impulse. Spend time organizing the wardrobe, determine the needs and make a short list of items to buy.
Bear in mind that trendy clothes will only last one season. Buy good quality and designs that will stay in style, or color-coordinated clothes that can easily mix and match when on sale or clearance.
Take good care of the clothings so that they will last longer. Separate clothes according to fabric or dirtiness. Wash clothes according to the washing instructions, let them dry completely before storage, and place dehumidifying agents to remove moisture in a cabinet or wardrobe. Contribute unwanted old clothings to charity or recycle bins.
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