Money Saving Monday: Gardening

A home garden is a fantastic way to save money on produce throughout the summer. We were not very successful last year, due to a lot of unexpected family travel. This year, however, I am determined to grow plenty of our favorites! One of the items on my 40×40 list is to grow and preserve enough vegetables to last through the winter. I don’t have my sights set quite that high this season, but I’m hoping to make good progress.

One of the simplest ways to save money is to start your plants from seed, rather than waiting later in the spring to purchase plants. It takes a lot of care, but you can purchase an entire seed packet for less than half the cost of a plant. Many can be sown directly into the soil in the next month or two; others will need to be started indoors now! A growing light or pad will help your seedlings thrive. Actually, one of the kids at our girls’ school just researched growing lights vs. regular lamps as his science project and discovered a fluorescent bulb was more effective. I think I’ll be trying my hand with one of these Germination Stations this year. We’ll have some expert tips later this month to help us all as we get our money saving gardens started!

We love to hear about your tips, tricks and frugal living ideas each week. Join us on Money Saving Monday to share your budget tips for spring break—whether you’re planning a beach vacation, amusement parks or a staycation, we want to hear your frugal ideas!