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With demand outstripping supply, gas prices across the US are surging to the highest level in eight years. The higher cost of transport will have a knock-on effect on the economy resulting in a higher cost of living. With the cost of living rising — and expected to remain high for the medium term — here’s what you can do to stretch your income.
SCAMPER is a brainstorming technique that is used to develop, or improve, products and services. It is also a technique everyday consumers like you and me can use to help reduce our daily living expenses. An acronym, SCAMPER stands for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to Other Use, Eliminate, and Rearrange.
Here are some examples of how you can SCAMPER your way to saving money:
SUBSTITUTE. We all need our dose of coffee in the morning. While a cup of Starbucks at the local mall works wonders, it is not cheap and will set you back an average of $7 per cup. If you multiply that by 5 days a week, 4 weeks a month, your daily fix of caffeine will cost you $140 a month. You can however get the same fix by substituting your morning coffee with three-in-ones. Or, if you really cannot give up on your Starbucks, then substitute for the capsules instead.
COMBINE. Bundling is a strategy that retailers use to sell more items while providing consumers with a discount at the same…
