Let’s beat it!

The financial and economic crisis has got the whole world running around like a decapitated chicken. Over the past half year the world has lost 30 trillion dollars, simply because currencies devaluated, stock plummeted and house prices dropped to, in some cases, half their value! 30 TRILLION DOLLARS…(that’s twelve zero’s!! And, half the world's income according to Mr. Clinton. No wonder everyone is panicking. A couple of top renowned economists have put together a list of countries at risk of bankruptcy during this crisis.

Amongst these countries are Turkey, Venezuela, Italy, Sweden(?) and, of course Greece. Here we are already noticing the effects. People are spending less, not paying their bills on time, and the worst is yet to come. The upcoming season will be a disaster as far as tourism is concerned.

Reservations are down, most of the travel agents on the island will start a month later than last year, and everyone is praying for last minute bookings. But then, still, what will any of our visitors be able to spend? Can they afford to dine out every day . . . will they rent a car . . . will they go shopping? Insecurities are all around, and the future looks dark with lots of stormy weather ahead. We cannot count on anything except for just maybe this one:  My-almost-fool-proof-money-saving-scheme. Follow my simple guidelines and save, save, save!!

1.      Downgrade your mobile phone subscription. You can always do with less then you are using now. Save about 20 Euros a month.
2.      Check all supermarket leaflets, make a shopping list accordingly. Don’t buy more then you need. Save about 3 Euros a day.
3.      Eat beans twice a week. Healthy and cheap. Save about 10 Euros a week.  
4.      Visiting someone? Bake a cake and go around dinner time. Cost of cake 3 Euros and save on dinner at the same time (save 5 Euros on dinner, so there's a profit of 2 Euros.  
5.      Check your phone cost at OTE. There are usually quite a few offers you don’t know about, which could save about 8 Euros a month.
6.      Phone cut off? Pay at OTE Hersonissos when the really nice bald gentleman is working. He'll be happy to put part of your bill on the next one and doesn’t charge for reconnecting. Save about 10 Euros a year.
7.      Close all lights and stand-by buttons on your machines at all times. Live "green" and save about 8 Euros a month.
8.      Don’t buy bin-bags . . . use the plastic bags you get with every little thing you buy. Save about 5 Euros a month.
9.      Walk more . . . don’t always take the car. Save the environment and about 10 Euros a month.
10. Store all presents you get. You will have a big supply for any upcoming birth- or name days. Just make sure you tag your presents, this is to ensure you don’t give them back to the same person. Save about 15 Euros a month.
11. Don’t throw old wine away. Becomes fantastic cooking vinegar. Save 1 Euro a month.
12. Take showers together with spouse and save water, shampoo and razor (?) while investing in your relationship. Your gain about 3 Euros a month and lotsa fine lovin’.

If you follow my 12 commandments, you can save roughly 200 Euros a month. Together we can beat this thing . . . YES WE CAN!