The much anticipated arrival of Spring means it’s a great time to get some seeds in the ground and watch them grow into flowers, veggies, berries, herbs and more! Growing your own produce may seem like an ideal way to cut back on food costs, but it doesn’t always turn out that way.
You imagine strolling through rows of lush plants, laden with ripe red tomatoes, plump strawberries and lovely squash…without having to spend a penny! But a costly trip to the garden centre for tools, seeds, plants, soil, pots and compost, followed by a few weeks of weeding only to find that some things never grew and others were devoured by bugs, birds, rabbits or other critters can cause some serious frustration.
So, what to do? How can you increase the chances for a satisfying experience where you reap the rewards (both financial and emotional!) of your garden, and decrease the chances of it becoming a money pit? Get started with these budget friendly gardening tips: [Read more...]
It’s the most wonderful time…but also that time of year that might just make you want to grab your cash and credit cards, crawl into a hole and not come out until after New Year’s. Between parties, decorating, travelling or hosting out of town guests, requests for year-end charitable donations and, of course, gift giving, the holidays can throw even the most disciplined budgeter for a loop.
A popular money saving tip is to make your own costumes. I think this is a great idea but I don’t suggest immediately heading to the fabric store. My talented friends who sew costumes for their children tend to spend more than those who grab something at the local superstore. Of course the homemade outfits are often works of art that are lovingly created and last for years in the dress-up box, so if you love to sew then go for it! Just don’t force yourself to wrestle with fabric and thread because you think it’s the cheapest way to go.
What isn’t working about the current room? Does the clutter drive you crazy? Add “better storage and organization” to your list of goals. Other plans might include updating the color scheme, creating better traffic flow, or making a space that seamlessly accommodates several uses (guest room and home office, for example). By focusing on what you really need to accomplish with the renovation first, you’ll find that you keep those goals in mind throughout the project and can be assured the finished project will function as you’d hoped. 
