Along with the upcoming currency change in our country, there is daily talk about how and where we can exchange saved levs in cash. The new podcast episode of “We, the consumers“ offers a different focus – ideas in what longer-lasting household products, which we will need in the medium term anyway, we could invest them. This way, we will both get ahead of inflationary processes, and we will get rid of available cash, and we will start saving from our income in the coming months, which for many people comes via bank transfer and will be able to take advantage of the free currency conversion of accounts when 2026 arrives.
We all buy similar household products, but some of them we can get earlier. It is appropriate to start with the most necessary - food. Legumes such as beans, lentils and peas are a great investment for the home. They can be stored for years under appropriate conditions without losing their nutritional qualities, they are an excellent source of vegetable protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals - an important part of a healthy diet. They are also cheap and easy to prepare and can be included in many recipes - soups, casseroles, salads and anything your imagination can think of.
Another wise investment is in pasta products such as spaghetti, macaroni and the like, because they are also affordable and have a long shelf life - from 1 to 2 years, they are quick and easy to prepare and combine with various sauces and products.
Canned foods are not the best for health, but it is good to have them in our home because they help in certain situations. Canned tomatoes, beans, fish, vegetables and fruits are convenient and have a long shelf life.
You can also stock up wisely on dried fruits and nuts - hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, prunes, apricots - they are rich in energy and healthy fats.
If you use honey in your household, there are at least two reasons to invest some of your savings in such stocks. Honey is one of the few foods with an infinite shelf life when stored properly, it is rich in nutrients and its demand is constantly growing.
Purchases of tea, coffee and spices are also a good investment for the coming months.
We will always need personal hygiene products such as toothpaste, shampoo, soap and shower gel, as well as household products - most of them have a shelf life of 1 to 3 years. Also see if you need a new mattress, bedding, pillows or duvets.
As the saying goes - my home is my castle, so we can look around to see if there is any repair work needed at home. Home improvements are also an investment in the future. While we are on the subject of the home, let's think about whether it is not time to replace an old electrical appliance. If something is broken or is already too old and this is coming very soon, buying a replacement will provide greater energy efficiency and savings, better functionality and higher safety. Old appliances may have worn cables or components that create a risk of short circuits or fires. However, they are not always stronger. Therefore, you may consider buying only replacement parts for appliances that you already have and are still working. This will extend the life of your old appliances, save you money, and will also have an environmental benefit - less waste and less production of new devices means less pollution and better care for the environment.
And more for home – you can invest some of your leva in cash in energy-saving light bulbs. With them, you will reduce your electricity costs, because they consume significantly less energy than traditional light bulbs and have a 10 times longer life, which leads to lower electricity bills and less replacement costs. If you use a lot of electronics, you can get rechargeable batteries and a charger.
Check your home medicine cabinet and replace medications whose expiration date has expired.
If you have been postponing a more expensive procedure at the dentist – placing a crown, bridge or other, now is the time to take care of it.
And you can also get vouchers, which even with a price in leva can be used until their validity expires.