One of life’s cruellest ironies is finding yourself in Cape Town during January. The summer weather’s still calling you out to go and enjoy the city, but with Christmas bonuses nothing more than a distant memory, there’s that pesky issue of your ever-dwindling bank balance.

So what’s a Capetonian to do?

Well, as it turns out, there are some places that haven’t been lured into hiking their prices by the freely-flowing tourist pounds, dollars and euros, or are always around just waiting for us to pop by.

Here’s a quick rundown of some of Cape Town gems you can still visit, but won’t lead to a warning call from your bank about low funds.

Chappies

Joburgers will always tell you how amazed they are that a Capetonian finds anything more than a 15 minute drive away from home to be a journey. As such, it’s quite shocking how many locals have actually never made the trip out to Chapmans Peak, more commonly known as Chappies. For only R36.00 if you’re driving a standard vehicle, you can experience one of the most spectacular marine drives in the world. With various viewpoints and picnic spots encouraging people to make the most of their trip, you can definitely make a day of it.

And with petrol prices going the way they are – best scratch this one off your bucket list sooner rather than later.

For more information visit: https://www.chapmanspeakdrive.co.za/.

Lower Woodstock

Knowing the state of most of our “Januworry” bank balances we can’t fully suggest a Saturday’s shopping at the Old Biscuit Mill, but all’s not lost. While a Saturday trip to the Biscuit Mill used to be a staple Saturday morning activity for locals, recently it seems to have been abandoned to the tourists. Well, while we’ve been holed up, things have changed around the Mill. Pop down and take a stroll through some of the great new stores in the area. From a great selection of second hand books at Blank Books in the Salt Circle Arcade, to custom-made furniture at a fraction of the price you’ll find in malls, there’re some great steals to be found in this quickly-changing area of our city.

The Bedouin Cafe & Deli

This is another of these great new places to open up around the Biscuit Mill, and deserves a mention all of its own. Open for just a little over six months, the Bedouin Cafe & Deli is quickly making a name for itself as one of the best places for unique cuisine in the city. So what makes their food so special? As you can guess from the name, their dishes are based on traditional Middle Eastern fare, with most featuring a delicious cheese called labneh. Get it to take back home and chow for around R50 a jar, depending on your choice. A generous lunch at the deli for two will set you back no more than ±R150. Bonus: FREE WI-FI!

For more information visit: www.facebook.com/BedouinDeli.

A Day’s Train Ride To Simon’s Town

Most of us will probably have heard about doing this, but how many of us have actually done it? At only R30.00 for a one day ticket which allows you to hop on and off at the participating stations, this is an activity which definitely won’t be adding to your Januworry blues. The ± 1hr 15 minute trip, travelling from the central station in the CBD to its final stop in Simon’s Town, takes you through spectacular sea views along Metrorail’s Southern Line. If you’re not tempted by the many other attractions along the way and actually make it to Simon’s Town, you’ll get a glimpse into our rich naval history exploring the SA Naval Museum, Simon’s Town Museum or the Heritage Museum. On the outdoors front, for an additional R40 you can be guaranteed fun with Boulders Beach’s famous penguins, or simply enjoy the picturesque surroundings of Simon’s Town for free. Bonus: You can chew gum on Metrorail, so take that, Gautrain!

For more information visit: https://www.simonstown.com/.