The brain, that amazing entity responsible for thinking, analysis, logic, criticism, and feeling, has abandoned most Lebanese citizens’ functions to become a mere calculator, limited to calculating prices in Lebanese pounds and dollars and comparing them to prices from the past. The primary concern of citizens now is saving and cutting expenses to make it through the month without reaching out to humanitarian organizations or support programs provided by the Ministry of Social Affairs. We have all become "savers" and frugal kings and queens against our will. Some have mastered the game and have become “experts,” knowing exactly how much a kilometer costs between Beirut and Sarba, the expense of an electric kettle, and can compare the best price for Kashkawan cheese with white cheese using expertise and knowledge... while others are still struggling, unable to comprehend the new price values and not yet adept at the savings game. For them, we outline the rules of the game and offer free saving tips from some experienced individuals.
Three main areas constitute Lebanese family spending (excluding education, healthcare, etc.): electricity, transportation, and food... In each area, we consulted an expert to eliminate any unnecessary expenses that can be reduced to the lowest levels.
### Fight the Energy Monster
Electricity in our homes is a monster devouring what is in our pockets and evenly distributing it between "the state" and the generator, especially with the new electricity pricing system coming into effect. Michel Touma, an electrical technician with years of experience, warns, "Beware of resistances" (and we don't mean resistance as a political term) but all electrical devices that use metal wires to generate heat, including water heaters, electric heaters, kettles, sandwich heaters, hairdryers, hot air heaters, and irons... These consume a large amount of energy and significantly increase the electricity bill. Be aware that any electrical appliance equipped with a motor consumes a large amount of electrical energy while the consumption of chargers, televisions, and everything not equipped with a motor remains minimal. Microwaves are an electrical disaster, and so are air conditioners, especially when set to blow warm air, as their consumption can rise to more than a third of the cold air conditioner’s consumption. Washing machines can be managed since washing with cold water is more economical, consuming no more than 1.5 amps, while heating water causes the consumption to rise to 5 amps and above. During the hot wash cycle, the consumption can reach up to 9 amps, drastically increasing the monthly electricity consumption. Dishwashers consume 7 amps since they immediately heat the water, but they could be beneficial if they are full and used on a short cycle, thus saving water and electricity. Forget about dryers; returning to a clothesline is more guaranteed and economical. Avoid using the water cooler for heating water, and it's better to turn it off in winter. The refrigerator can be turned off for an hour in winter, placing perishable foods in its freezer during that time.
Having learned about the energy monster in our homes, let’s prepare to confront it with saving weapons. Touma advises using a solar water heater, which is different from the solar panels used today, limited to heating water via a single panel installed on the roof with a pump and tank, capable of providing hot water that only consumes one amp. A gas boiler is also a plentiful solution for heating water.
The heating costs that the Lebanese are lamenting over are difficult to circumvent no matter what we try; gas remains the most economical solution, with gas cylinders providing heat for 15 to 20 days being the least expensive option. Next comes electric heaters, which can be adjusted and used with the least number of heating elements, followed by diesel heaters that provide strong heating at an acceptable consumption level. Radiators suitable for heating and water heating cost more with diesel than with electricity.
However, the most important and effective advice remains to avoid using multiple electrical devices at the same time, as this makes the meter run faster, and as the speed increases, so does the bill. Hence, it is advised to schedule electricity usage to keep the meter reading slow. No iron while using the water heater, and no microwave while blow-drying…
### Does Hitchhiking Return?
The cost of transportation is the second worry for Lebanese citizens with the continuous rise in gasoline prices. The figures show that costs have risen by 500% since 2019, with a 183% increase in 2022 alone. We tried to find out with the Passenger Rights Association about the most economical ways to commute, and it seems we are not alone; many citizens, according to Shadi Farraj, responsible for the association, have turned to the "Passenger Rights" platform to learn about the public transportation system in Lebanon and its established routes. Unfortunately, a significant percentage of Lebanese people are unaware of the existence of a public transport system in Lebanon or do not use it because it is stigmatized as being for "workers" and foreign laborers. But the truth is that both public and private shared transport, i.e., using red license plates, exists and is effective despite the chaos that prevails. In Lebanon, according to the Ministry of Transport, there are around 6,500 buses and vans dedicated to transporting passengers, operating on fixed routes and schedules from 6 AM to 8 PM. While private buses are more organized with accurate numbers and schedules, their presence is widespread throughout Lebanon... It is true that it cannot be compared to the precise transport systems in Europe, but "what exists is gold" in these challenging days as it is the most economical. In a simple calculation, two trips by service round trip equal a monthly cost of around 6 cans of gasoline, making using public transport more economical than driving to work, with costs decreasing with other shared transport methods.
If we want to list from the cheapest to the most expensive options, the "tuk-tuk" certainly tops the list, though it cannot cover long distances and is ideal for the last-mile, allowing access to inner neighborhoods or distances not exceeding a few kilometers. Following that are buses, where larger capacity buses are more economical, especially for long distances. The "village bus" remains the cheapest option... followed by smaller capacity vans, costing between 20,000 and 30,000 Lira within Beirut, followed by services whose costs increase daily due to the absence of a fixed pricing system. Next are smart transportation apps such as Uber and Bolt, with taxis coming last as a luxury that only a few Lebanese can afford, where fares can exceed one million Lira.
Farraj advises citizens to mix different transportation means - from buses, services, walking, and even using bicycles or small motorcycles to reduce commuting costs. He confirms a noticeable increase in the number of bicycles on the roads and calls on municipalities to provide bike lanes that contribute to alleviating transportation issues and costs, but only a studied transport plan prioritizing people and supporting transportation rather than gasoline will remain the solution.
New options are emerging that Lebanese people are not familiar with, even though their applications or WhatsApp groups are starting to appear, such as carpooling, which represents the best and the most economical choice, especially for university students or passengers coming from far rural areas where gas costs are shared among the passengers in one car. This option, alongside tuk-tuks, helps solve the issue of transporting students after the cost of "school buses" has become astronomical.
In the midst of the crisis, why not return to hitchhiking? A free ride, albeit not without risks in these tough security times...
