SEPTEMBER 2019 35THE DRIVE FOR EQUAL PAY
South African women are paid an average of 28% less than their male
counterparts, according to the Global Wage Report 2018/2019, although this
is set to improve. Studies have shown a rising awareness of unequal pay as a
problem to be tackled. Casey Rousseau from 1st for Women Insurance offers
thesetipstowomenseekingapay raise:Two things to remember
before buying a new smartphone
Buying a new mobile device these days can be costly, so it’s well worth
doing your homework to ensure you find the best deal. Michelle Beetar,
Cell C’s Chief Customer Experience Officer, advises thinking about these
two points before shelling out for a new phone:
1 SHOULD YOU CONSIDER A SIM-ONLY DEAL
OVER A NEW PHONE?
Despite what technology manufacturers would have us believe, older-
model smartphones aren’t rendered obsolete in the blink of an eye.
Rather than switching to a new model, consider choosing a new SIM
instead. This will allow you to keep your costs lower, while opening up
better package options.
2 READ THE FINE PRINT
Don’t be fooled by a low headline price- this doesn’t necessarily mean
the phone’s the best possible
deal. Take a good look
at what each service
provider’s offering,
as some deals may
come with better
data and airtime
rates, which will
bring down
monthly costs.
COMPILED BY CAITLIN GENG PHOTOS: STOCK.ADOBE.COM AND SUPPLIED
9
CANCEL SERVICES AND
MEMBERSHIPS YOU DON’T NEED
Memberships and services can be big money-
wasters, as we often set automatic payments for
them and then forget them. For instance, is there a
gym membership you’re still paying, even though
you haven’t been in more than a year? Or did you
sign up for Netflix, but forget to cancel the payments
for other viewing services you no longer use? Go
through your automatic monthly payments and see
where you could be saving.7
HAVE HOME-COOKED MEALS
With the advent of Uber Eats and Mr Delivery,
ordering in has become more tempting than ever.
After a long day at work and ferrying kids to and
from school and extramurals, flopping down on the
couch and waiting for dinner to magically arrive can
seem irresistible. However, convenience comes at a
cost. Take-aways may be stress-free and quick, but
if you add up what they cost, you’ll be shocked. Try
other ways to make cooking every night less of a
chore – take turns with your partner or kids to cook,
spend one night a week preparing ahead and find
some recipes you’re excited to try out.10
CONTROL YOUR IMPULSES
Sticking to a strict budget isn’t easy, but
it basically boils down to controlling impulses.
Set yourself a rule: before buying that fab pair of
shoes you’ve just spotted, give yourself a cooling-
off period. After a week, if you’re still absolutely
certain you can’t live without them, consult
your budget and ensure there’s enough wiggle
room to buy them. If not, talk yourself down and
accept that if you want them, you’ll have to save
for a while. Better yet, make do with a smaller
indulgence, like a cappuccino and muffin. Often,
gratifying one appetite also satisfies another!8
SAVE YOUR BONUSES
You should only be planning a budget
using your standard income, meaning your
lifestyle should match what you’re guaranteed
to earn every month. This budget should include
any luxuries or treats you intend indulging in,
so if you receive a bonus at work, score on a tax
refund or even find R50 in one of your jacket
pockets, put this money into your savings. Little
boosts to your savings can have a big impact
and end up being far more rewarding than
that new dress or fancy weekend away you’re
tempted to blow your bonus on.Don’t shy away from self-
promotion: speak up and
let others know where your
particularstrengthslie.
Know your worth and keep track
of benchmarking resources
which show the average earnings
of people in similar roles.Speak to your boss directly when
discussing your salary. Emails
are more easily dismissed than a
well-prepared employee who’s
donetheirresearch.
Don’t issue ultimatums unless
you’re really prepared to leave
your current job for another offer.