1. Read the article below and think about how you will cut cost.
2. Tell me some possible ways to save 10 dollars in a month. Let me know how much you can save in each way.

   For example:

   Pick 5 days to walk to school instead of taking tram (5 days / $2 a day)

   Deadline: 11.55pm, 2 Mar 2009 

  

Seek help from Wordreference and Thesaurus!

    

Cutting costs can be as simple as brushing your teeth, writes Sunny Tse

Feb 20 2009, Young Post, SCMP

Everyone is talking about cutting costs during the economic downturn, but the question is how to do it in a practical manner. Here are some saving tips that may seem insignificant but are effective and will not make you look un-cool or bring drastic changes to your daily life.

Every morning, you get up and brush you teeth with a brush-full of toothpaste just as they do in the commercials. But if you look closer at the instructions, a pea-sized dab of paste is enough.

In a hurry to school, you rush into a convenience store for breakfast, grab a carton of milk, a sandwich pack, a bottle of water and some tissues. But convenience comes at a price. Why not buy the milk and tissues in bulk at the supermarket and make the sandwiches the night before? The ones in the store are not freshly made anyway.

Before going to the MTR, ask yourself if there are any cheaper alternatives. And since we are using the Octopus Card more often than cash now, you might consider registering for the reward programmes in which points collected can be swapped for free rides, discount vouchers and a range of other benefits.

On the commute, you read the new novel you just bought. It is probably a book you could borrow from the library for free or get cheaper second-hand. You could probably also get it cheaper in any of the simplified Chinese bookstores in town – the only real difference between local and mainland editions of books is the quality of the paper and the price.

You might complain about having to go, but think about it, school is a great way of saving money. Not only is there nothing to buy, you get a student card that guarantees special discounts in cinemas, museums and many other leisure destinations. From now on, wear your student identity proudly.

At home, when you want to listen to some music, search online for play lists and radio stations that offer free music. What’s more, songs can be purchased individually online, meaning you only have to buy your favourite songs, not the entire album.

When it comes to movies, there is a DVD rental store on every corner. If you have a favourite magazine, sign up for a subscription or purchase an online reading plan.

When you are done, remember to shut down your computer – “sleep” and “hibernate” modes don’t count.

When it comes to grooming, savings can be made with a sponge and a pair of scissors. Use the sponge with a tiny dollop of shower gel, enough for the whole body. Use the scissors to cut open any near-empty container and scrape out every last drop in it.

Excess facial cream or scrub can be used on the arms and legs, and instead of applying chemical skincare products, go natural with a DIY recipe, using fruit peel – the recipes are widely available on the internet.