You can save money every single month—right in your backyard. Here are the top ways to reduce costs and enjoy delicious treats.
Plant Vegetable Garden
Are you looking for a great way to save money every month? Plant a vegetable garden.
Planting a vegetable garden has a lot more benefits beyond ‘being frugal.’ You’ll get your hands in the dirt, have the joy of growing from seeds or starts, and enjoy being out in nature. As the season goes on, you’ll have a bounty of vegetables to eat, cook, and share with neighbors.
If you have children, planting a vegetable garden is educational and fun. It’s an activity that can be shared with children of all ages. If you have elderly parents or relatives, gardening is a wonderful way to stay active and fully engaged.
Planting a garden will not only keep your kitchen filled with natural goodness – but it will also keep your spirits high.
Xeriscape Your Yard
If you’ve had it with mowing, caring for grass, and watering, check out xeriscaping as a smart alternative. Xeriscape is the name for a garden built of drought-resistant plants and shrubs. Many of these plants grow naturally in a Mediterranean climate.
If you are looking for a way to cut down on yard expenses and your water bill in one fell swoop – this is it.
This is one area where it pays off to get the help of a professional. You might not know the best water-wise plants for your area. Plus, setting up low-flow drip lines can be tricky and time-consuming.
That’s why it’s a lot easier to get help from an expert, by checking Networx reviews.
Just do a quick search to find an expert to select plants, set up sprinklers, or build a fence. Ultimately, you’ll have a beautiful yard, less maintenance, and a lower water bill.
Grow Culinary Herbs
There’s something quite wonderful about grabbing a fistful of herbs from your backyard, porch, or rooftop. It’s easy, natural, and immensely rewarding. Oh yes, it’s also going to save you a ton of money.
Fresh herbs are notoriously pricey. In many grocery stores, even a bunch of parsley costs $3 each. Chives, rosemary, oregano, basil, and thyme all cost this much or more. If you are cooking more at home, having piles of fresh herbs is key to adding a lot of flavor to your meals. But if you have to calculate the cost of herbs, you may be cutting back on how much you use.
This is just not necessary. By growing your herbs, you can use herbs to your heart’s content. You’ll notice a lot of ways to add herbal infusions into your salads, soups, main dishes, and egg dishes.
Keeping a giant bucket of chives at the door is a great way to get started.
Grow Colorful Flowers
Most flowers are not edible. But a few are – pansies and nasturtiums come to mind. These are fun treats to add to a salad and to upgrade a plate of food.
But the real reason to grow flowers is – they are beautiful. When you have flowers growing in your back yard, porch, or rooftop garden – you’ll cut them, bring them inside, and enjoy the beauty.
And, let’s face it. Buying flowers can be expensive. If you’re being frugal, you may have cut back on buying bouquets for yourself or your loved one. If you’re being super frugal, you may not have had flowers in the house for some time.
It doesn’t have to stay that way. You can invest in flower seeds or starts. In a short time, you’ll have beautiful colors to brighten up your entryway, stairs, and interiors. You won’t have to spend a fortune and you can have flowers inside and outside your home.
Grow Summer Treats
As we head into summer, some great summertime plants are waiting for you. Tomatoes. Cucumbers. Morning glories. If you’re a tomato lover, check out the farmer’s markets and grocery outlets for starts. You’ll often find organic and heirloom varieties are available especially for your growing region.
If you’re a cucumber lover, check out the many varieties of cucumbers to try. Lemon cucumbers, Persian cucumbers are two to put on your shopping list.
One thing to keep in mind: these plants grow! You may not need as many starts as you think. Depending on how much space you have, a few plants may keep you in ample supply.
