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How To Cut Off 30% Of Your Budget During The Covid-19 Storm

BY Soko Directory Team · April 6, 2020 01:04 pm

I called it a storm because of its tremendous negative impact on everything that defines life. In Kenyan tradition, we are mostly defined by our work because that what we spend most of our time doing.

It’s our work that gives us the social network and from which we create lifestyle and choice of friends. This has a lot to do with how we spend our evening, weekends and also our money. It also has an impact on our personal growth, business growth and community welfare relations.

COVID-19 has affected our social, spiritual, financial and physical life. We are confused, in fear and we can no longer think as usual.  And is due to this there is a need to be careful about how you spend your money, especially during this season. This is because:

It is true we will defeat this storm but we don’t have a timeline by which we have managed this.

Businesses are slow and we may take time to rebuild our economy back even after we are done with this storm.

We will loss some sources of income over time due to the inflation which already had an effect.

Some of our friends and family will lose their primary jobs and you may be forced to take unexpected provision responsibilities.

Sources of credit facilities will be limited.

It is necessary to think through ways of reducing our spending during this period. I, therefore, propose a few tips on how to cut our expenses:

Renegotiate payment plans of loans and services especially where is not interest or penalties for deferring the obligation. This has also been proposed by the Central Bank of Kenya.

Avoid unnecessary travels. This exposes you to the virus and also incur you a cost. Staying at home makes more sense than ever. Obviously finding other interesting and non-costly activities at home is necessary. Find new talent and hobby.

Manage your eating habits to avoid overweight over time. Eating is not a means to kill the boredom. The kitchen is not a playing ground and your fridge is not the playing tool, so these should not be visited because one has nothing to do or they feel bored. People should invest in new hobbies and developing new ideas and do art.

No buying of new attire. We don’t have any social and official gathering as per the government directive. There is little need for buying new clothes. To all my fellow ladies avoid online shopping because you got the time. You will see whatever you have wanted at an affordable price because you got time but this is not the right time to purchase

You may have enough time now to supervise the renovation of your house or project. But is this necessary? This may expose you to the virus. Save before you plan you how to spend your time and money

Its time to embrace the African lifestyle. Time to stay natural and embrace the beauty that we are. There is no need for new makeup pallets, expensive weaves and haircuts, and massage services.

Postpone personal projects that have no income projection. This includes the renovation of your house and households, trading your car for a better one, purchase of new household.

Avoid Repayment of mobile loans from some mobile provider expecting higher loan facilitate. The state directive of the extension of repayment period will force the providers to lock out customers who have bad repayment reputation. This is a way of safe guarding their business.

Direct every coin to what is essential.

READ: World Economy To Contract By 0.9% Due To Covid-19

This article has been written by Faith Njenga an Accountant and Tax Consultant

Soko Directory is a Financial and Markets digital portal that tracks brands, listed firms on the NSE, SMEs and trend setters in the markets eco-system.Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/SokoDirectory and on Twitter: twitter.com/SokoDirectory

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