Restaurant & Takeout Deals!

(This post contains affiliate links, and I may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking a link. Thanks in advance for your support!)  

Kosherfrugal.com and Janglo have teamed up to bring you some great Groupon deals and Eluna deals (and other deals) you don't want to miss! Also, Janglo Beteavone has a great selection of restaurant coupons, so you can check http://shop.beteavone.com for additional deals.

This post focuses exclusively on kosher restaurants and take-out food, so if you're going to splurge, you can now afford to splurge a little more, with discount vouchers and savings. I keep checking for new deals, as I know you've been waiting for some, and this week there are some changes, so check carefully! Be sure to check the Facebook group so you don't miss out!

Click here for discounts on Shows, Attractions, Workshops, and much more!

Pre-purchase your vouchers and save up to 50%! This is a GREAT way to save when you want to splurge! Don't miss out on the savings - check below for savings in your area!


Jerusalem and nearby:

Agas V'Tapuach (Italian, at Kikar Safra) - half off vouchers! Redeem your Groupon Sun-Thurs, noon - 9pm. Max 4 people with Groupon vouchers at a table. Reservations required. Voucher valid thru June 30, 2018

Niflaot HaTzuna (mehadrin) 15% off catering, with self-pickup. Delivery within J-m is 100 shekels (free for orders of 20 portions or more). Option for delivery to other cities, as well. After you purchase the Groupon, you must call the caterer to finalize your orders. Minimum order is for 10 people (there are options for 10, 15, or 20 people, plus the option to add an additional person)

Big Pizza (mehadrin), in Pisgat Zeev - get an XL pizza and garlic bread for just 30 shekels, or an XL pizza, garlic bread, and a pasta dish for just 49 shekels. Valid for 60 days from date of purchase, but not from March 27 - Apr 11. Not valid on delivery orders.

Aluma Chef's Restaurant (mehadrin) - fish dinner for 2 starting at 169nis, or meat dinner for 2 starting at 199nis. Voucher valid thru April 30. Reservations required.

Touro Chef's Restaurant - half price vouchers for different meals for 2. Choose from 3 types, starting at 199nis for 2 (HALF OFF!)! Reservations required. Voucher valid thru April 18. Max 2 Groupons per table.

Eucalyptus Chef's Restaurant in Jerusalem - save 30% on the 12 course tasting menu! valid Feb 11 - April 30. Reservations required. 

Shabbat (Friday night) dinner buffet at the Hotel Shani Restaurant - 79 nis for 1, or 149nis for 2. Reservations required. Valid for 60 days from date of purchase.

Begian Waffles from Beit HaCrepe in Bet Shemesh (Mehadrin) for half off! Voucher valid thru May 15, 2018. Sun-Thurs 11am - 10pm, and Fridays 9:30am - 2:30pm. Reservations required

Breakfast Buffet at the Leonardo Jerusalem, for 69nis per person or 129nis for a couple. Max 6 people at a table. Valid Sun-Fri, 6:30-10:00am. Reservations required. Valid thru June 30.

Teresa in Cinema City Jerusalem - breakfast for 2 for 69nis! Can be redeemed Sun-Thurs, 10am - 2pm, and Fridays 9am - 1pm. Valid thru May 30, 2018, but blackout dates apply.  Reservations required. Max 2 couples with Groupons at a table.

Montefiore - dinner for 2 starting at 229nis. Valid Sun - Thurs, 11am - 9pm, and Friday 11am - 2pm. Groupon valid thru April 30, 2018. Up to six people per table with Groupon deals. Reservations required.

Eluna offers discount vouchers (most are 20 - 25% off retail price) for the following Jerusalem area restaurants: Atza Sushi Bar, Bardak, Cafe Cafe (Ramot Mall), Cafe Landwer, Cafe Michael, Gourmandises, Greg (Cinema City), Greg Cafe (Mamilla), HaCnaanit (Kfar Adumim), Hasalatiya, Korus Al HaEsh, La Boca, Mike's Place, Muscat, Nagila, Olive & Fish, Pescados, Pompidou, Sheyan, Tommy's, Waffle Bar (Ramot) (Subject to change)

Shakshuk in Machane Yehuda - 58nis for 2! Groupon valid for 60 days from date of purchase. Can be redeemed Mon - Thurs, 8am - 4:30pm, and Fridays 8am - 1pm

Workshops (meat cooking/butchery) at Ktzizot - including a "Carnivore's meal" and a glass of wine, for 139nis! Groupon valid for 60 days from date of purchase. Reservations required. Workshops take place on Mon, Tues, and Thurs, at 6pm and last for 2 hrs. Plan to arrive 15 min before your workshop begins!

Pescados - (Badatz, Jerusalem) Lunch for two for just 139nis! Or the Dinner deal for 44% off regular price (your choice of party of 2, or party of 4). Vouchers valid for 60 days from date of purchase. Reservations required

Buffet Dinner at the Crowne Plaza Hotel (Jerusalem). 1 for 99nis / 2 for 195nis. Groupon valid Sun - Thurs 6:30pm - 9pm. Not valid on Fridays, Shabbat, Holiday eves, or Holidays. Valid for 60 days from date of purchase. Max 10 people per group with Groupon vouchers. Reservations required.

Breakfast Buffet at the Shani Hotel (center of town) - for 49nis (1 person) or 97nis (2 people). Groupon valid for 60 days from date of purchase. Reservations required

Get half off at Ta'im BaKerem. Sun - Wed, 4pm - 9pm or Thursday 4pm -8pm. Reservations required. Valid for 60 days from date of purchase. Max 4 people per table (4 individual vouchers or 2 couples' vouchers)

Tel Aviv and Nearby:

Punchline - the restaurant with singing waiters (yes it's kosher!)! Save over 50% with the Groupon. Limit 4 couples with Groupon vouchers per table. Redeem Sun - Wed and Sat. nights, from 8pm - last customer. Reservations required. Groupon valid for 90 days from date of purchase (not on holidays or New Years' Eve)

Shabbat Takeout from Bishulim Express (Petach Tikvah) (mehadrin) - half price vouchers. Groupon valid for 60 days from date of purchase. Redeem only on Fridays. Limit 1 per person. Cannot be used toward the purchase of certain dishes (grill specialties - salmon, pargit, shnitzel, kebab, kirayim, asado)

Shabbat Takeout from Hilulim in TA/border of Holon - Buy a 100nis voucher for just 50nis! Groupon valid for 60 days from date of purchase. Can be redeemed ONLY on Fridays. Limit 1 per person. 

Shabbat Takeout from Minei Gan Catering in Netanya - Buy a 100nis voucher for just 50nis! Groupon valid for 90 days from date of purchase. Can be redeemed ONLY on Fridays. Limit 1 per household. 

Shabbat Takeout from Viki in Netanya - half price vouchers! Limit one per person. Valid for 90 days from date of purchase, on Fridays only

Shabbat Takeout from Tzanani in Bnei Brak - pay just 50nis for a voucher worth 100nis! Limit one per person. Valid thru April 30, 2018. Redeem on Fridays, between 7am and 2:30pm

Breakfast at Alfredo (Rishon), starting at 45 nis for 1 or 79nis for 2. Voucher valid thru May 31, 2018. Can be redeemed Sun - Thurs, 9am - 12:30pm, or Fridays 9am - noon (reservations required for Friday). Max 3 vouchers per table. 

Breakfast at the David Tower in Netanya, and then use the spa facilities for the rest of the day! Reservations required. Voucher valid for 60 days from date of purchase. Must be 16+ to use the spa facilities.

Fish Market Chef's Restaurant by Meatos, dinner for 2 for 389nis. Valid thru April 30, 2018. Redeem on Sun-Wed, from noon - last customer, Thursdays noon - 5pm, and Sat. nights from the end of Shabbat - last customer. Reservations required. One groupon may be redeemed at a visit. Note: You cannot request changes/substitutions to the dishes on the menu.

Chuma in Gan Ha'Ir, lunch or dinner for 2 for 139nis. Redeem your voucher Sun-Thurs 11am - 10:30pm. Reservations required. Groupon valid thru May 23, 2018.

Breakfast Buffet at the Leonardo Art Hotel in TA - 59nis for one, 115nis for two. Voucher valid thru May 30, 2018. Can be redeemed Sun - Fri. Reservations Required. If you go, you can bring babies under age 2 along for free.

Breakfast Buffet at the Ramada in Netanya - 69nis for one, or 135nis for 2! Sun - Friday, 6:30-10am. Reservations required. Voucher can be used thru June 30, 2018. 

Fruit Platters from Ba-Li Pri in Ramat Gan, starting at 99nis. Limit 3 deals per person. Valid for 60 days from date of purchase. Order your platter in advance! 

Eluna offers discount vouchers (most are 20 - 25% off retail price) for the following Tel Aviv area restaurants: Alfredo (Petach Tikva), Alternative, Armondo, Baker's Pattisserie, Bistro 56, Black, Borochov 88, Brenner Wine Bar (Raanana), Cafe Neto (Raanana), Cafe Neto (Petach Tikvah), Cafe Yafo, Carousel, Currylinas, Derby Bar, El Gaucho (Netanya), Entrecoti (Petach Tikvah), Fresh Kitchen (Herzliya), Goshen, HaRoeh BaCafe (Kfar HaRoeh),  Hungarian Blintzes, Jems, Kitchen Bar (Netanya), La Lasagna, Marrakesh, Matsuya, Meat & Wine (Herzliya) , Minato (Herzliya), Nagisa (Ra'anana), Pankina, Regina, Salta (Raanana), Shmulik Cohen, Taipei (Netanya), Taj Indian Restaurant, Vici (Raanana) (Subject to change)

La Place in Netanya - Breakfast for 2, for just 59nis. Limit 2 Groupons per table. Show your Groupon before ordering. Valid thru April 30, 2018.

Wok and Walk in Kiryat HaSharon - Get a 200nis voucher for just 100nis (use it for a meal for 2)! If you use it for takeaway, there is a 9nis additional fee. Groupon valid for 60 days from date of purchase. Limit one Groupon per couple per day. (Over 1600 customers have bought this deal - don't miss out!!)

Breakfast Buffet at the Rimonim Tower in Ramat Gan - 59nis for 1, or 115nis for 2. Valid for 30 days from date of purchase. Reservations required. Breakfast buffet is open from 7am - 10am, Sun- Fri 

Dinner for 2 at Hilulim (mehadrin) restaurant in Tel Aviv at the border of Holon, for 169nis. Reservations required. Max 5 Groupons per table. Voucher can be used Sun - Thurs, noon - 11pm. Voucher valid for 90 days from date of purchase, but not on Rosh Chodesh. 


Haifa and North:


Morgenfeld (Achziv) - (S. American Grill) 299nis for a meal for 2, including a bottle of wine. Groupon valid thru June 30, 2018. Redeem Sun-Thurs, noon - 11pm, and Fridays noon - 3pm. Reservations required.

Takeout food for Shabbat from Pataio Catering in Tirat HaCarmel - get a 100nis voucher for just 50nis! Groupon valid for 60 days from date of purchase.

Shabbat Takeout from Arucha al Hamidracha in Nesher - Buy a voucher valued at 100nis for just 50nis. Limit one per person. Only valid on Fridays, thru May 31.

Breakfast Buffet at the Bay View Hotel in Haifa - Sun-Thurs: 55nis for 1 or 99nis for 2, Fridays: 59nis for 1 or 115nis for 2. Voucher valid thru May 31, 2018. Max 6 per table with Groupons. Reservations required.

Meatballim Chef's Restaurant in Rosh Pinah - 279nis for 2. Voucher valid thru May 15. Sun-Thurs, 11am - midnight. Reservations required.

Iskander (Mehadrin) at Nahar Hayarden (upper Galilee) - dinner for 2 for 219nis. Valid for 60 days from date of purchase. Max. 3 Groupons for table (3 couples). Reservations required. Redeem Sun - Wed, noon - 8pm, Thurs. noon - 9:30pm, or Friday noon - half an hour before Shabbat.

Pizza Puzzle in Akko - get an XL pizza for 30nis. For 49nis, you'll also get a salad and garlic bread with your pizza. Voucher good for 2 months from date of purchase. Not valid for Delivery. Cannot be redeemed from March 23 - April 14, 2018.

Shytel in Nahariya (Badatz/Machpud meats) - Dinner for 2 starting at 135nis. Max. 3 vouchers per table (3 couples). Good for 60 days from date of purchase. Reservations required.

Breakfast Buffet at the Crown Plaza in Haifa - 59nis for 1/109nis for 2 (69/129 on Fridays). You must buy the deal that is valid on the day you want to go (Sun-Thurs OR Friday). Reservations required. Breakfast is served 6:30-10:30am. Voucher valid thru May 31, 2018.

Japan! Japan in Kiryat Ata - choose a buy one get one free voucher for Sushi or for Stir Fry. Up to 3 Groupons can be used at one table. Can be used for takeout, but not valid for delivery orders. Good thru July 31, 2018.

Eluna offers discount vouchers (most are 20 - 25% off retail price) for the following Northern area restaurants: Baba (Karmiel), Casa Barone (Zichron), Taj Indian Restaurant in Or Akiva, Nili in Zichron Yaakov (Subject to change)

Sinta Bar (Kiryat Ata) at Kenyon Shaar Hatzafon, Burger meal for 2, for 76nis. Includes 2 burgers, one order of fries, and 2 drinks. Voucher valid for 60 days from date of purchase. Valid Sun- Thurs, 5pm - 10pm, and Sat. nights, 7:30pm - 10:30pm. Cannot be redeemed on Fridays. Reservations required, or call in advance for takeout.

Shela Restaurant (Kiryat Motzkin), for 79nis per couple. Limit 2 vouchers per table. Voucher valid for 90 days from date of purchase, with advance reservations. Valid Sun-Wed, 10:30am - midnight, Thursdays, 10:30am - 5pm, Fridays, 8am - 2pm. Max 2 couples with Groupon vouchers per table.

Two Felafels with French Fries at Olam HaOchel, (or two omelet pitot with french fries) for just 19nis! Valid for 60 days from date of purchase. Can be redeemed Sun-Thurs till 9am - 5pm, Fridays 8am - 3pm

Olam Ha'Ochel in Haifa (meat restaurant, with tons of salads for the table) for just 35nis per person (69nis for 2!). Groupon valid for 60 days from date of purchase, and only from 9am - 5pm (Sun-Thurs) or 8am - 3pm Fridays.

50% off at Ta'im L'Chulam in Haifa! (The meal includes soup, a meat main dish, 2 sides, a drink, and more!) Voucher valid for 60 days from date of purchase. Can be redeemed Sun-Thurs till 9am - 5pm.


South:


TakeOut from Boda Blanca in Ashdod (Mehadrin) for half price! Pay 40nis for an 80nis voucher! Fridays only. Groupon valid thru May 30, 2018. Limit 1 voucher per person

Takeout Food for Shabbat from Ofra Gourmet in Ashdod - Get an 100nis voucher for just 50nis! Limit one voucher per person. Can only be redeemed on Fridays. Valid thru May 30, 2018

Criollo Pasta Bar in Be'er Sheva - 89 nis for dinner for 2! Reservations required. Redeem Sun - Thurs, noon - 11pm, and Sat. nights until midnight. Groupon valid thru April 20, 2018

Eluna offers discount vouchers (most are 20 - 25% off retail price) for the following Southern area restaurants: Namaste (Ashdod) (Subject to change)

Marshmallow in Be'er Sheva - Choose breakfast for 2 for 69nis OR a 40 shekel voucher (for one person) for 20 shekels! Valid thru June 30, 2018. Limit 3 couples with a Groupon at a table. Redeem Sun - Thurs 9:30am - 6pm.

Marshmallow in Be'er Sheva - Pasta dinner for 2 for 79nis, including a dessert (fondue and other "specials" not included) Valid thru June 30, 2018.

Ribs in Ashdod - deals starting at 99nis for a 2 person meal! (upgrade that includes wine, dessert, and coffee is available) Voucher valid thru May 30, 2018. Limit 6 people per table if using a Groupon voucher. Can be redeemed Sun-Thurs, noon - 7pm. Reservations required.

Lunch at "Space" in Moshav Amonim - 139nis for 1 person, 279nis for 2, or 549nis for 4. Voucher valid thru June 30, 2018. Check for blackout dates, and reservations required. Generally valid Sun-Thurs noon - 5:30pm or Fridays noon - 2pm. Anyone in your party without a Groupon voucher will be required to order 100nis minimum from the menu, and children under 10 will be required to order a 40nis children's meal. According to the info posted, you can use their gardens (and pool, maybe) before and after your meal.

Pizza HaGesher in Be'er Sheva (Mehadrin) - Get an XL pie for just 29nis! Sun - Thurs, 11am - 8pm. Groupon valid for 60 days from date of purchase. You can redeem multiple vouchers at one time.


Have you joined Groupon Israel's Best Deals on Facebook? Join us there and you'll find out about awesome deals every day! 

12 Ways to Reduce Your Expenses!

People are always looking for easy ways to save money, so I'm sharing some of my favorite tips for reducing your expenses:

1. Always shop with a list and stick to it

2. Only buy items you really need. If you see something and think you need it, don't buy it right away. Go home and really think it over. If it really is something that will improve your life or save you money, go back and buy it (after doing some comparison shopping. Sometimes those gadgets are much less expensive online, from stores like aliexpress (see my online shopping guide for more ways to shop online).

3. Cook your own food. Stop buying food - whether it's restaurant food, takeout food, or frozen prepared food, it's almost always more cost effective to cook a simple meal. (need a recipe? I've got lots of recipes for you!)

4. Buy secondhand whenever possible. Turn this into a source of pride, not shame. Secondhand purchases do a lot to save energy and resources. Convince yourself (and your kids) that this will do a world of good. (**Even better - scavenge or dumpster dive if you are up for it! We have scavenged many perfectly good and useful items over the years!)

5. Learn to cut your own hair. And your kids' hair. This will really save you a lot, especially if you have a whole crew of kids!

6. Walk or ride a bike to get around whenever possible. Gas is EXPENSIVE in this country. Walking is free. Sure, that means a little more time and possibly carrying some heavy items home when doing errands, but it saves a ton that whenever I do things locally, I walk. So many people drive their cars to the post office or the matnas or the bank. I don't. The biggest exception would be when one of us is sick and walking to the doctor is difficult. Once in a while, if the weather is terrible, a car is justified too. Otherwise, if it's local - walk or bike!

7. Use the library instead of buying books. Or go to book swaps!

8. Don't pay for TV access. It's just not worth it when you can almost always stream your favorite shows online!

9. Take short showers.

10. Drink water. If your water has an unpleasant taste, get a simple filtration system, like a Brita pitcher. No need for a pricy, water wasting reverse osmosis system.

11. Find free alternatives to expensive "needs". My computer was dying. I abandoned Windows and gave my computer a new lease on life by installing Linux.

12. Make homemade cleaning solutions instead of buying pricey bottles of cleaner. Not only will this save you money, it wil save you from exposure to questionable chemicals. (I use baking soda, vinegar, and simple soaps or natural deterents to do most of my cleaning. I add essential oils for fragrance purposes)


There are lots of other everyday ways to save money, so please share your favorite tips in the comments!

Things I buy from Aliexpress!

I'm constantly on the lookout for ways to stretch our shekels, and over the last year or so, I've tried to plan far enough in advance for things that I can make a fair number of purchases on Aliexpress. Most of what we buy in the store here comes from China in any case, so cutting out the middleman saves a lot of money.

Here is a quick sampling of the kinds of things we tend to buy from Aliexpress!

I'd love to hear what you buy!

MicroSD card (great for expanding the memory on your phone!)

Gift bags (we got these small ones for a crafting project)

Food safe bags (for mishloach manot and other gifts)

Anti-nausea wrist bands (I've got a bunch of these in my bag and more in the car!)

Sun hats (I really need hats with visors in the summer!)

Sunglasses (especially the kind that fit over glasses!)

Purim Costumes

Craft Supplies & Puzzles

Lego Compatible Specialty Figures

Computer Cables and the like

And many more things!

I highly recommend you check out Aliexpress to help you save money!

Calling Overseas/Free US Phone Numbers (Money Saving Tip)

Over the years, I've tried out several ways of keeping in touch with my family and friends in the USA. When I first came to Israel in the early 90s I bought those ridiculous Telecards with 1000 or more yechidot on them! Later I bought prepaid minutes that I accessed via a code and PIN number, that I used from my phone line in my apartment. But life is different now, and we all have celphones, most of us have smartphones. Some plans even include unlimited overseas calls (my latest one does)! But the One Thing I've avoided doing is buying a 100 shekel a month phone plan that includes a US number! Instead, I've always looked for other, lower cost, options.

I've tried out various video chat software, as well as VOIP services.

So here's what I know about calling the US and getting a FREE U.S. phone number for people to call me on:

MagicApp - I use this one a lot. For about $20 a year, you get your own permanent US phone # (it works on Android and iPhone/iPad as long as you have internet service). We also have one on a device that is the "free App" - we pay nothing for it. This free version of the app can call phones in the US and Canada for free, and each person we call will get a different number that displays for them on their caller ID. BUT they can call us back using that number (it is my dedicated number that works ONLY from that specific line) anytime they want, from that phone line! And for them, it's a local number, so they don't have to pay anything extra to call me! It's a bit annoying not to be able to give out a specific number, but rather to have to call first and have each person save a different number into their phone, but it works!

Another service I've heard a lot about is Talkatone. Apparently, you get a free US phone number and a limited number of free outgoing minutes per month. Incoming calls are always free. It sounds like it's worth checking out!

You can also easily go the The Play Store (or if you have an iPhone, the Apple Store - iPhones are way out of my price range, though!) and check for apps that provide this service and give some of them a try. There are a whole bunch to check out and see which works well for you! A quick search for "free us phone number" on my phone showed these results (and many more):

Let me know if you have a favorite one - I'd love to know which.
I hope this helps some of you out there. I know my family in America is really happy to be able to call a local number to talk to us. I'm sure yours will be too!

P.S. Yes, I finally got a smartphone. But I got a no-name one like this for about $60. It usually does what it should do and I didn't have to spend a fortune on it!

Lower Rx Prices Coming Soon!

Misrad HaBriut announced that prescriptions that cost more than 16.00 shekels will benefit from the recent changes in the Euro-Shekel exchange rate.

In short, the cost of prescription medications is regulated by the Ministry of Health, and prices will be reduced by 5.37% on June 15, 2015. - changed from June 1 to allow time to update databases.

Hope this change will help some of you out there. If you have a script due for a refill and can wait until June 15th to fill it, doing so could save you some money. Obviously, I am not advocating skipping doses. I just know a lot of people refill scripts early to be sure they don't run out. This may be the month to wait, however.

Best of health to all of you!

Household Habits that will Save You Money

I'm always looking for things to do that will lower our bills or minimize our expenses.

Here's a list of some really easy ones to do:

1. Wash your laundry in cold water.

2. Turn off lights and unplug appliances that draw energy even when not in use (like your printer or coffee maker with a timer, etc). (Find out how much energy your appliances use!)

3. Use fans instead of the air conditioner. Do not use blankets in the summer when sleeping.

4. Wear sweaters and other warm clothing in the winter, instead of running the heat all the time. Use very warm blankets in the winter! This way you can run the heat only sparingly and still stay warm.

5. Consolidate your errands. If you are going out, especially if you are taking a car, plan to do errands that fit into your route. Never drive a long way for just one errand!

6. Eat at home, and eat your leftovers. Or at least freeze them for next week!

7. Do not go shopping just to fill your time. EVER. Only shop when you must, and always with a list. Do not make impulse purchases! I even write a list when I'm doing non-grocery shopping. Otherwise we fall into the "I want" trap.

8. Use diluted vinegar or baking soda for most of your cleaning tasks.

9. Buy milk in bags, not cartons (assuming you use several liters/week), unless there's a sale. Always compare prices!

10. Quit your expensive unhealthy habits (i.e. smoking, diet sodas, daily iced coffee, etc).

What money saving strategies do you use?

Best deal for National Parks Membership

I know a lot of Israelis like to go hiking. And a lot of tourists like to go hiking. And to do that, you're going to want to be all set for hiking around this country! You've got your sun hat , (or your bandana visor) your water bottle holder , your good hiking shoes ... now you just need money to pay admission to all those national parks!


If that's you, you may want a Reshut HaTeva Membership Card. These cards are available for a yearly membership fee and get you into most of the parks run by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority at no additional charge. At certain parks, you get a 50% discount on admission. For a complete list of perks you get with the membership, check out the official members guide!

If you buy the membership directly from the Parks Authority, it will cost a pretty penny. For a couple with 3 or more children, the category my family falls into, a yearly membership costs 446 shekels.

I've been checking out the few discount deals that are out there and here's what I discovered.

The best deal I can find is the Group-e deal, which is 357 shekels for a yearly membership.

This is far better than some of the other deals I found, which range from 379 shekels for a family with 3 or more children to 437 shekels for a family of that size. So check carefully before you buy a "deal" and be sure you are getting the BEST deal available!

However, if you or your spouse is a member of a union or is a government employee (here in Israel), there is a good chance you can purchase a membership for even less through your union or government discount program, so be sure check that out (and feel free to report back here if you get a good deal!).

So now that you know where the best deal is, feel free to spread the word and share this post with your friends and community lists. And go get your card, if you'd planned to spend even part of this season at the National Parks!

Don't forget to find me on Facebook, where I post even more deals and money-saving ideas!

Arnona Discounts!

I told you all about the "Working Families Grant"/Ma'anak Avodah back in February. In case you missed that, here's the short version: It's a government program to give a little extra cash to families who are earning on the lower end of the spectrum. It's pretty simple - if you qualify, you go apply for it - it's simple to do, and you'll get some money from the government in your bank account once you're approved.  If you haven't yet checked if you should apply, go ahead and read my post from February about it! Then, register for your grant. Important: You will NOT get this grant automatically, you MUST apply for it.

There are several programs "out there" designed to help people with lower income, besides the Ma'anak Avodah. So today, I'm going to give you the basics of one that many people already know about, but some don't: Arnona Discounts.

Misrad Hapnim has some say in Arnona rates and discounts, and all the various discounts are listed on their website. You can see them here, in the original Hebrew.

There are a lot of different categories, including Holocaust survivors, People with Disabilities, Former Refuseniks, Righteous Gentiles, Senior Citizens, and more. Today I am going to focus on the "Low Income" category. (Family size/income levels/discount amount taken from Kol Zchut.) 

Here's what you need to know:

You apply for the discount at your local municipal offices by filling out a form.
You will be asked to supply copies your tlushim (payslips) from the last several months. If you are atzmai, you will be asked to supply a certain amount of documentation.
In some cases the municipality will order a full financial audit before granting the discount.
In most cases, the discount applies to the arnona charges for the the first 100m - if your home is bigger than 100m you pay the full rate on the portion over 100m.

The table below will help you determine if you are eligible for an Arnona discount. Look for your family size, and determine whether your monthly income is in a discount-eligible bracket.

Family size           Monthly Income up to this amount                 Discount amount
1                             2703                                                               up to 80%
                               2704 - 3108                                                     up to 60%
                               3109 -  3513                                                    up to 40%

2                             4054                                                                up to 80%
                               4055 - 4662                                                     up to 60%
                               4663 - 5270                                                     up to 40%

3                             4703                                                                up to 80%
                               4704 - 5408                                                     up to 60%
                               5409 - 6113                                                     up to 40%

4                              5351                                                               up to 80%  
                                5352 - 6154                                                     up to 60%
                                6155 - 6957                                                     up to 40%

5                              6535                                                               up to 80%
                                6536 - 7515                                                    up to 60% 
                                7516 - 8496                                                    up to 40%

6                              7719                                                               up to 80%
                               7720 - 8877                                                     up to 60%
                               8878 - 10,035                                                  up to 40%

7                              8903                                                               up to 90%
                                8904 - 10,238                                                 up to 70%
                                10,239 - 11,574                                              up to 50%

8                              10,087                                                            up to 90%
                                10,088 - 11,600                                               up to 70%
                                11,601 - 13,113                                               up to 50%

9                               11,271                                                            up to 90%
                                 11,272 - 12,961                                              up to 70%
                                 12,962 - 14,652                                              up to 50%

10+                              up to 1252 per person                                   up to 90%
                                   up to 1440 per person                                   up to 70%
                                   up to 1628 per person                                   up to 50%




I hope this information helps some people out there get the discount they deserve on their Arnona (municipal taxes)! And to those who hesitate to ask for this discount - please don't hesitate! Getting this discount will help you out, and there is nothing to be embarrassed about if you apply for it. Asking for this discount (that you deserve) does not make you less of a responsible person, it just means your income needs a boost, like so many others in this country. And this is one way the government gives you that boost. So go ahead and apply!

Please share this post with your English speaking friends in Israel, so as many people as possible who are eligible for these discounts can go apply for them!

And don't forget to find me on Facebook, so you never miss out on a money-saving post!
 

Expenses Going Up... You can bring them down!

Scrimping and saving. Adjusting to higher taxes, and fewer government benefits.
That's what we are all thinking about right now.

So what's a struggling family to do? It's already hard to keep from falling into the "minus" gap that so many Israelis find themselves in. And now - it is going to get tougher.

I don't have the answers. I know this is going to be a tough time for many of us. Lapid keeps promising that the tax hike and cutbacks are temporary, and while I hope that's true, I wouldn't place any bets on that.

So here are some money saving ideas.

1. Call your service providers and ask for lower rates, and be ready to switch to the least expensive competitor.

2. Evaluate all of your spending. Save every receipt from every purchase you make. See where there are unnecessary expenses. This will vary. there is no exact formula for deciding what you can cut out, but there are usually places to cut back.

3. Watch your electricity usage. Turn off the lights when you leave a room. unplug small appliances when not in use. (Actually, I also unplug my washing machine a dryer when not in use, too) Don't run fans in empty rooms. During the day, use natural light - make sure to open those shades to let the light in!

4. If you are throwing out food at the end of the day/week, then you can safely cut back on the amount of food you purchase.

5. If you need new clothing, first check the second hand shop! There are plenty of them out there, and lots of them have clothing for just a few shekels per piece. Especially if it's a G'mach. I've gotten really great deals at the second hand shop, even items that are new with tags!

6. If you are genuinely struggling, consider downsizing. Sell stuff that you aren't using - post on Craigslist, Yad2, your local bulletin board. I would even recommend moving somewhere that will cost you less in the long run (as long as the savings are greater than the move itself will cost you!).

7. If you need to quickly save up money, try out a spending fast for a month. A month with NO spending (I would say except the very basics of living) at all. And stash the money saved for rainy day!

8. If you must buy something, do take some time to comparison shop, especially if it's a big-ticket item! Your wallet will thank you.

9. Even for groceries, keep track of prices. Some stores have consistently better prices on some of the items you buy, so be sure to buy them where they will cost you less! (As an example, my kids wanted yogurt in single serve cups. And 8-pack at Mega was well over 20 shekels. But at Yesh, that same 8-pack was 16 shekels!)

What are your best money-saving tips?

Israelis and Anybody, really: Quit Smoking!

Ok, this post has a long history behind it. I have been passionately anti-smoking for almost as long as I can remember. I feel very strongly that to start smoking in this day and age is just plain stupid. And for people who have been smoking for 50 years (yes, I know some people like that), if they are not attempting to stop, then they are in denial.

Smoking kills. It's plain and simple. Smoking also kills your loved ones. I have asthma, quite a severe case. And my husband and most of our children have asthma too. And every time I go out somewhere and someone blows smoke in our faces, I feel like telling them that they are killing us, bit by bit.

And I have news for you. Smoking is a really expensive habit. Imagine if all that money people spend on cigarettes was saved, or given to tzedaka instead. Unbelievable, really!

So, I urge everyone to try to quit. And talk to your kids about never starting.  Talk to them while they are young, and still trust you. It will go a lot further than once you've caught your kid "trying it out".

If you are lucky enough to live in a place with a Quitline, call it. If you don't have one, talk to your doctor about wanting to quit....

Your body and your wallet will both thank you for quitting.

If you want an extra something to read, to keep you on track towards quitting, you can also download some free e-books. E-books, though, are not enough. You will likely need help quitting, so find someone to help you, today!




Feel free to share this post with your loved ones who smoke.

Save money on your electric bill

The Israeli Electric Company announced that, to encourage people to reduce their energy consumption, there will be an incentive program from June -September

It goes like this:
If you (private households) reduce your energy consumption compared to the same period last year, you will be eligible for a discount on your electric bill.
15-20% reduction will earn you a 10% discount.
20-30% reduction will earn you a 20% discount.
If you reduce your consumption by more than 30%, you will not get a discount at all, because they will assume you were not home!
Discounts will be distributed AFTER the program ends - starting in December.
All the details and the sign-up form are available at the Electric Company website. Hurry! You must sign up to participate, and registration ends 31/05/2012.

Happy savings!
.