Tip of the week: Review your subscriptions and small leaks every month

Small spending that you barely notice can take a surprising share of your income: daily airtime top-ups, data bundles you do not use, snacks, paid apps, transaction charges for frequent small transfers.

Once a month, go through your mobile money messages and bank statement. Mark each spending item as need, want or waste. Add up the totals for each group.

Look for patterns. Maybe you buy small data bundles several times a day when one bigger bundle would be cheaper. Maybe you send many small transfers where one larger one would cost less in fees. Ask your provider about current charges.

You do not have to remove all pleasures. Decide on a reasonable amount for them, and cut the real waste.

A young professional in Dar es Salaam who cancels unused paid apps and plans data purchases can free up money for savings with no real sacrifice.

This week: go through last month's mobile money messages and find three leaks to close.