How can you save a a bit of extra cash this summer? There are lots of things you can do, here are just a few to get you started

1 Try to live off half your salary
In these uncertain times when job security is a luxury enjoyed by so few, it pays to save as much as you can just in case you find yourself unemployed.
Really examine your expenses and be brutal when it comes to deciding what you can live without - manicures, double lattes, fancy restaurants and gym memberships are all luxuries, and cutting them out of your budget could mean surprising savings at the end of the month.

2 Leave those credit cards at home
It’s great to have a card or two to bail you out in emergencies, but unless you are self-disciplined when using them, they can land you in trouble. Leave them in your wallet, or better yet, leave them in a secure place at home where you won’t be tempted. And always make the minimum repayments on time to avoid dreaded late fees.

3 Don’t pay full price for anything
There’s no need to drive all the way to the Outlet Mall anymore: Dubai is flooded with sales, discounts and buy-one-get-one-free offers right now, especially with the quiet summer months ahead.

Shop around and find the best bargains; you’ll be amazed at what you can save.

Invest in an Entertainer book - it is full of buy-one-get-one-free vouchers that can save you loads of cash. Some of the vouchers, like those for rounds of golf, bus tours or entry into waterparks, save you the price of the book in one go.

4 Entertain at home
As much as we all love going out for a luxurious meal in a top restaurant, it doesn’t come cheap. In tough financial times, master the art of ‘cocooning’ - staying in and inviting friends round for dinner or a movie night.

Host a ‘credit crunch brunch’, where everyone brings a dish to share, and their own drinks - it’s a cheap and cheerful way to hang out with friends.

5 Buy second-hand
The rumour is that expats are leaving Dubai by the thousands; whether this is accurate or not, the second-hand market here is thriving.

Visit Dubai Flea Market for a browse through other people’s unwanted items (it is held indoors at Safa School Hall from June to September; www.dubai-fleamarket.com).

House of Prose sells a huge range of second-hand books (04 344 9021), and supermarket noticeboards are cluttered with great pre-owned items looking for new homes.

6 Shop smart
Certain supermarkets may be convenient and stock all your favourite supplies from back home, but are much more expensive than other, more basic supermarkets.

You’ll save much more if you buy your everyday items from a larger hypermarket (Union Coop and Carrefour are good options), and save the smaller supermarkets for the odd luxury. Decide on a grocery budget at the beginning of the month, and make it last.

7 Reduce costs over summer
If you are planning to be away for some time over the summer, look into downgrading your satellite TV and internet packages for a few months.
That way you can usually upgrade again come September without having to pay any reconnection fees. Better yet, if you only have satellite TV so you can watch the premier league football, cancel it completely over summer. You can always resubscribe when the season kicks off again.

8 Get packing
There’s no such thing as a free lunch, but packing your own sandwiches is the next best thing. That dhs25 you spend on a fancy sandwich and packet of crisps every day adds up to a whopping dhs500 per month - that’s much more than you’d spend a month on home-made sandwiches or salads.
Packing your own lunch is healthier too, so it’s good for your wallet and your waistline.

9 Avoid Salik
No matter where you’re going, there’s almost always a way around the Salik toll gates.
Summer traffic is always much lighter, so you can easily skip Salik and go the longer way round without getting snarled up in congestion.
If you usually pass under a Salik gate on your way to and from work, you’ll save nearly dhs200 if you avoid them for just one month.

10 Take advantage of exchange rates
Certain items can work out much cheaper when buying from Amazon, even when you factor in the shipping, simply because of the exchange rate.
You can get a current CD at least dhs10 cheaper than you’d pay in a retail outlet here - so if you’re ordering a few, you’ll save a bundle. If you’ve got visitors coming over, get your Amazon order delivered to them (most ship free locally), and get them to bring it with them

SOURCE: 7-Days