Moving to Dubai can be very expensive. But with the right saving tips and tricks, you can manage your budget without overspending. Like many Dubai residents, you could be spending more on your monthly bills than you need to! Some simple budgeting hacks can help you save money on your bills each month. This can make a large difference to your savings over the year. Here are some insider savings tips to help you save as much as possible:
1. Save up on your home telecom bill:
This is one area where many people could be saving a significant amount of money each month.
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- Switch telecom providers: In the past, residents in Dubai had to use Etisalat or du depending on which one their building offered. This is no longer the case. Many people don’t realize that you can now get both Etisalat and du in all buildings in Dubai, so you can pick the service provider with the best deal for you! There are a number of great offers out there, so take the time to do your research and compare your options to see which option gives you the best value for money. For example if you are living in a du building, you can easily switch to Etisalat. After you submit a request to switch your provider, Etisalat will send one of their professionals within 24 hours to seamlessly switch your connection to Etisalat. Moreover, the installation is free! You can choose any of the attractive eLife packages on their website. Their packages start from AED 299 per month for the first 6 months. All of their packages include free landline calls within the UAE, free unlimited super-fast internet, free devices (Home Telephone, 4K TV Box, Wi-Fi router), free eLife TV anywhere with their app eLifeON and an AED 200 Smiles voucher!
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- Check what’s included in your package: Double check whether your existing package includes all the features that you need. You could be saving money by upgrading to a different package. If you’re currently spending a lot on national calls, switch to an Etisalat package that gives you free national calls with your home phone.
2. Save up to 70% on electricity:
Your electricity usage probably constitutes a large percentage of your monthly bills, and you can easily save money by conserving energy in your home:
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- Limit electricity usage during peak hours: In the summer months, try to limit your electricity usage during the peak hours i.e. 12pm-6pm. Being mindful of your electricity consumption during this time will help you in saving up on your electricity bill.
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- Check your air conditioning unit: You might be doubling your cooling costs if your AC is old or malfunctions frequently. Regular servicing and frequent filter cleaning can significantly enhance its performance, helping you save on electricity bills. It is ideal to get AC maintenance done twice a year to ensure your AC functions efficiently against the Dubai heat.
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- Monitor the temperature in your home: According to DEWA, it is recommended that you keep your AC set at 24 degrees or higher. Did you know that you can save up to 5% on your bill for each degree increase?
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- Invest in a smart home solution: When you leave your home, turn all electrical equipment off – and yes, that includes the AC. Make sure to switch everything off when it is not in use. You can even invest in a smart home solution that automatically switches off lights and appliances when they are not needed.
3. Save on water:
You can also save money by taking simple steps to preserve water:
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- Install a Water Leak Sensor: With Smart Living innovations, now you can install a water leak sensor so that you do not have to come home to unrealistic water bills due to flooding when not home. Just install a water leak sensor near areas where you can expect water leaks and any time you have an unexpected leak in your home, you will receive a notification on your phone.
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- In the bathroom: Keep the tap off while brushing your teeth and shaving and install low-flow faucets that use flow restrictors or faucet aerators to prevent water wastage. Get leaking pipes and faucets fixed immediately from a professional plumber.
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- In the kitchen: Load dishwashers and washing machines to their full capacity before you hit the start button. If there aren’t enough clothes to fill your washing machine, then consider waiting a couple of days before you do your laundry.
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- Outside in the garden: Turn off the hose and sprinklers as soon as your garden has been properly irrigated. You can minimize evaporation by watering early in the morning or late at night.
4. Save on your mobile bill:
Here are some tried and tested ways to keep your mobile bill within your budget:
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- Choose the right mobile plan: Wondering what’s the best mobile plan? It depends on your usage. If you do a lot of web surfing and watch videos on your phone, then you should sign up for a mobile plan that gives you plenty of internet data every month. If you don’t watch a lot of videos, but are constantly calling your family back home, then choose a plan with free international minutes. Etisalat gives a lot of options for both Prepaid and Postpaid plans.
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- Use bundles: You can also sign up for bundles to save money. For example, a bundle might give you 500 minutes of talk time at a discounted rate. Remember, you’ll be billed at the standard rate as soon as you exceed the limit of your bundle, so keep track of your usage and renew your bundles as soon as they expire. You can easily track your usage through your network provider’s app.
5. Save on your home services cost:
There are three main ways to save money while booking home services:
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- Book at an off-peak time: Consider booking home services when demand is lower. Weekends and public holidays have high demand for home services so you’re unlikely to get a discounted service then. Save money by keeping an eye out for promotions and book services at non-peak times on home services applications like ServiceMarket.
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- Commit to a long-term recurring booking: You can often get a discount from your service provider if you sign a long term contract with them. You can get quotes from multiple companies to see which one offers you the best deal. At ServiceMarket you can get discounts on recurring bookings, 10% off if you book weekly cleaning sessions and 15% off if you book multiple cleaning sessions a week.
If you’re thinking of moving to Dubai but are worried about it being expensive, this guide will prove to be quite helpful to you and will help you make a decision in favor of moving to Dubai. If you are looking for movers and packers for your move, you can easily hire a reliable budget moving company on ServiceMarket.
