Eating out for less

Going out to eat is not normally considered an especially frugal activity. And you know what? It isn't.  The (usually American) hobby of going out to eat at McDonald's twice a week because nobody in the house could be bothered to cook, or frequent ordering of a latte and a sandwich on your lunch break at the café near your work, can be a huge and unnecessary financial drain (even if said café is Cofix. Those 5-Shekel coffees really add up over time!). And that's without even mentioning the negative health ramifications of eating fast food on a regular basis.

However, there is definitely a time and place for eating out even for frugal people, assuming you're not currently in serious financial dire straits. Meeting up with friends from out of town occasionally, celebrating a family member's birthday or your wedding anniversary - all those are great reasons to dine out in a nice restaurant, enjoying the food and the ambiance. Doing it at at a discount ? Even better.

The 1 important rule about using vouchers and membership cards

I've already discussed how to make the most of your vouchers (tavim) , either the ones you get at work or those you receive filling out surveys. Chances are, you also have one or more membership cards for a variety of chain stores.

Have you ever left a store after shopping and paying full price, only to remember you have vouchers or discount cards you could have used...but now it's too late, or you left the cards in your other purse/desk drawer/wherever? I know I have, way too many times.

Survey site for medical professionals...and non-medical ones

A while back I was telling you how you can make money online (or its equivalent in the form of vouchers) by filling out online surveys. If you go to the post mentioned - here - you'll notice all the survey sites mentioned are Israeli ones. This is no coincidence. While there are American and British survey sites which claim to be open to participants from all countries, in practice, you'll get a survey from them once in a blue moon (if that; one company I belonged to for several years was very meticulous about congratulating me every year on my birthday, but other than that yearly email, I received no other communication from them) and will find it very hard to cash out.

There is, however, one exception I know of: an international survey site that might actually contact you more often, and as they pay you (to your Paypal account, in $) after every survey, there's no need to accumulate points or reach a limit in order to cash out.   

What's the best use for vouchers (tavim)?

If you're like most salaried employees (known in Hebrew as schirim), or if you've taken my advice and signed up for one or more online survey sites, you're probably in possession of a number of gift vouchers, known locally as tavei shai, tavei kniya or just plain tavim. These vouchers are usually issued by one of the large supermarket conglomerates - Shufersal, which owns Shufersal, Shufersal Deal, Shufersal Sheli and Yesh, produces Tav HaZahav, and The Ribua Kachol (Blue Square), which owns Mega, Mega Ba'Ir, You and Zol B'Shefa, issues Rav Tav.
Other than the supermarkets owned by the company issuing them, these vouchers can be used in a variety of chain stores you often find in malls.

Companies who give these vouchers as a holiday gift (Shai LaChag) to their employees before Rosh HaShanah and Pesach each year typically buy them at a discount, which makes it an attractive proposition for them. The limits upon their use - many stores don't allow purchases with vouchers of items on sale, or their use annuls any other discounts on the items - make them a somewhat less attractive proposition for you, at least as compared to a plain cash gift. However, let's not look a gift horse in the mouth and see how we can make the most of these vouchers.

Making Money Online: Survey Sites

One of the easiest ways to make money in your spare time, if you speak/read passable Hebrew, is participating in paid surveys. This is far from a get-rich-quick (or even a get-rich-slow!) scheme, but everyone can use a little extra money for those small luxuries in life. In addition, you ensure your voice is heard on a variety of subjects, from consumerism to politics.

Luckily for us Israelis, there are several reliable local survey sites to choose from. Or rather, there is no need to choose - you can sign up to them all! The ones listed below are all ones I have personal experience with and have received either cash-equivalent vouchers or checks from, once I reached the points limit specified. Some of the survey sites allow answering surveys via smartphones or tablets as well, so you can make money while waiting on line at the post office or on the way to work, as a passenger of course. You'll be notified you have a survey waiting for you via email; don't wait too long, as an email is usually sent to all registrants at a given panel, and surveys can close fast.