Crisis? What crisis

Even if you were in fact a homo erectus emerging from a 500,000-year coma, you wouldn't need more than ten minutes to become aware of the economic crisis that the world is currently undergoing.

And like everyone else, in these difficult times, you would try post-haste to reduce your expenditure to a minimum in order to be able to lead a reasonably well-off life. In addition to the traditional reduction of energy consumption and some unbelievably pathetic little do's and don'ts, BrusselsLife is suggesting here some real ways for to you to economise while remaining comfortable and keeping your peace of mine.

In the restaurant

Then time is long gone when you could treat yourself to a little restaurant at the weekend with your better half or during the week with friends from the office after a long day of hard labour, without counting the expense! There's only one solution. Go there during your lunch hour! Indeed, most restaurants offer lunch formulae where it is entirely possible to enjoy a good meal for less than 50 euros. Another thing, if you've plumped for the jumbo pot of mussels or the lasagne in the way that granny used to make it, but you can't eat another mouthful, put your pride to one side and feel free to ask the waiter for a doggy bag so that you can take the leftovers home with you.

In the car

Your car costs too much? OK... Let's not forget that we have some really good public transport at our disposal. And although the single journey prices are still pretty high, monthly or yearly season tickets will quickly let you save a fair amount of money. So leave your car in the garage and take it out only when you really need it. And if you really can't do without it, you can always put advertising stickers on it, which could earn you up to 300 euros every month.

The washing

Another financial drain: the washing machine. Make sure that you always keep the temperature as low as possible so that the dose of powder is just right. If your children have returned from school, once again, after jumping into every puddle on the way home, or your dog has decided to thank you exhaustively after a walk in the forest, there's no need to overload the drum. And if your favourite jumper is covered with balls of fluff, running delicately over it with an old razor blade will make it as good as new once again. Finally, when it comes to drying your clothes, forget the dryer and go for those good old clothes pegs instead.

Beauty products

To be able to benefit from an infinite source of luxurious beauty products, the latest fashion anti-wrinkle creams and other innovative moisturisers, send for catalogues and register as a customer with the various mail-order outfits. Whenever they sell you a product, they will surely send you free samples as well. Similarly, you can directly contact companies by e-mail, asking for samples in order to try their products. You can also google on "Promotion or Reduction Code" followed by the name of the store or the website, and you would immediately unearth some fabulous promotions.

Keeping warm

With regard to the warmth of your home, make yourself some insulating curtains. You just to sew a survival blanket on the back of your curtains. This will also work as heat insulation to protect you from heat waves during the summer. You can also slip some cardboard covered with tinfoil behind your radiators, which will save you 5 to 10% of heat. Add to that a dehumidifier, which will save to you one or two additional degrees, and your winter will be warm and dry!

Discount vouchers

BrusselsLife protects you from the crisis by proposing you a brand new reductions website. Take advantage of our numerous promotions in Brussels' shops and restaurants. Print straight away your vouchers by clicking here ...

Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves!Elliott Brilmaker