Experts share easy money-saving advice

Dubai: If your food and electricity bills are giving you a leaner wallet, it's time to change a few habits that can save you some money in the long run.

Substitute rice with wholegrain couscous, which is cheaper, healthier and easier to prepare, Nassreh Ameri, a fitness consultant and personal training manager with Ignite Fitness and Wellness said. Replace sugar with cinnamon, nutmeg, or fruit, she suggests.

Buy olive oil, a cheaper and heart-friendly alternative to corn oil, and invest in a spray version so you consume less every time you cook, she added. Reduce your intake of meat and chicken and try kidney beans, butter beans, or fava beans instead. Add them to your curry, soups, salads and even veggie burgers for a low-fat and high-protein meal, she says.

Buy fresh produce for the next two days in small quantities because it tends to go bad quicker. "Often we buy for the week and don't use all of it and end up throwing away goods and money," Ameri says.

Try buying local produce or goods produced as close as possible to the UAE because they are often cheaper and more fresh. Check your supermarket for special offers.

Organisation and preparation can save you some cash too.

Cook large batches of healthy stews, soups and curries and freeze them in meal portions for cheap and quick meals during the rest of the week, she says. This will save you time and money which you would otherwise invest in buying expensive ready-made meals off the shelves.

"Always write a list of what you need when you go shopping in order not to get distracted and spend money on extras that you don't actually need," Ameri advises.

Different supermarkets vary considerably in prices, so shop around for the cheapest items, she added. The grocery store below your building is a convenient option but they often charge higher prices. Instead head to the nearest fruit and vegetable market and do some bulk-buying with friends or neighbours to get a better deal, suggests Praveen Mehta, CEO of Prudent Management Partners JLT, a financial planning services company.

Avoid wasting food and prepare only as much as you can consume, he says. "It's not just good for your pocket, but also for the environment," Mehta says.

Watch your utilities and energy bills too. Turn out the lights before you leave home or unoccupied rooms.

Turn up the air conditioning before you leave, and avoid driving about more than necessary.