5 ways to stretch an egyptian pound during these tough economic times

Carpool. With gas prices skyrocketing and the Egyptian pound plummeting, carpooling seems like the only sane choice. Split the gas bills, save the environment and love your misery in your friends’ company.

2. Wait for sales. Don’t go spending that paycheck as soon as you get it. Delayed gratification is the key. Wait until the sales are on and go nuts! Everything looks better when it’s 50% off. When shopping at a cosmetics store, take all the free samples you can get.

3. Don’t buy cleaning products. Doing chores can be a pain, but when cleaning your house ends up costing more than your favourite outfit, then we’ve got a problem. Avoid exposing yourself to chemicals, decrease pollution and save money by making your own cleaning agents using common household items such as vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice.

4. Swap whatever you can. Let’s get back to basics. Who cares about currency devaluation when you can barter, not buy? The crisis has prompted many to start swapping clothes online. Play N Trade Egypt, a video game retailer, allows you to swap video games if you return them in less than a month. Newsed Brands is a Facebook group that allows you to buy and sell used clothes and accessories. People are getting creative with this.

5. Save energy. To slash your electric bill, unplug all chargers and appliances when not in use, wash laundry using cold water and use your oven at night (this means that the AC will use up less energy to keep the room cool during the summer days, and that the heat from the oven will provide warmth during the winter nights).