Guest post by Andy Gilder.

Its official, the recession is here.

Throw in a case of winter blues and a splash of negative media sentiment and you could be in for a long four months. But fear not dear readers, this month we try something a little different – we give you actual savings… that you can use right now!

Some of these ideas won’t be new to you, some of them will, but because you know this advice could actually make a difference to your daily expenses, why not actually put some of this into practise? Even if it’s just for a month. Then write to us and tell us about it. Better yet, offer some suggestions of your own.

Socialising:

Just because the recession is official it doesn’t mean that you need to cut down on your social ties completely, it’s just time to become a little more savvy on where you go and when you do it. Looking for a drink? Why not socialise during happy hours when you can literally save 50% on everything you buy!

You know when your local has its happy hour, but it is usually a few hours earlier than you would normally go and have a drink, so why not start festivities a little earlier this weekend a take advantage of some lower prices.

Click here to read the rest of this article and find out how to save on movies, grocery shopping, travelling, dining and insurance.

Andy Gilder represents www.justmoney.co.za, South Africa’s online guide to money. As Justmoney’s editorial and content producer, Andy spends all day addressing the financial concerns of South Africans and uses the www.justmoney.co.za tools and guides to find consumers the best deals available. Check out their bank charges comparison tool to see if you’ve got the best bank account available.