Vegetable Garden to Save Money Growing your own vegetable garden can signifi - cantly reduce your monthly grocery bill. Learn vegetable growing basics. Learn how to grow vegetables in your planting zone and determine what types of veggies can easily be stored or canned for future use. Grow vegeta- bles that you enjoy eating and that your family will consume the most often so that nothing goes to waste. Establish a plan. Come up with a garden plan and think about how you’ll water it, maintain it, and when you should harvest your crop. Deter- mine where the garden will go and how large you want it to be. An irrigation system makes it easier to water everything more often and more efficiently than water it by hand. The layout is key. Pick a small space in your yard for your vegetable garden. Make sure you place it in a location that gets plenty of sun so that your veggies and fruits grow healthy. How to start. Start small when growing a vege- table garden so you can learn how to plant and cultivate. You can always increase the size later if you need to. Make sure you’re ready for pests, diseases, and inclement weather so you can protect your crop.
Composting food waste. Start composting food waste to create organic fertilizer. This is a great way to nourish your garden while you uniquely reuse table scraps. Cut Down Your Bills Here are some more money-saving tips to help you lower your household bills. Cook instead of eating out or getting takeout. Cooking your own meals is not just healthier, but it will also save you tons of money. Have fun trying new recipes and keep your pantry stocked with essentials. Plan your meals so you won’t be tempted to buy fast food or order in. Avoid getting coffee to go, and instead, make your own at home and take it with you in a travel mug.
Self-care at home. Instead of heading to the salon, consider doing your nails and cutting your own hair at home. This can significant - ly cut costs, and you’ll learn a new skill while having fun, too. Save money on laundry. Look for ways to dry clean your clothing at home. Try a non-electric washing machine and use your washer’s high- spin cycle to dry clothes faster. Only run the washer with a full load, and air dry your clothes to save energy whenever you can. Make sure you clean out your washer and dryer regularly to keep them sanitary and running smoothly. Shop smart. Instead of buying all-new clothes, consider shopping for second-hand clothes at your local consignment or thrift store. Sell your unwanted clothing online to make extra cash
and consider the actual value of your clothing to get the most money for your investment. Saving on pantry expenses. Switch to drinking tap water instead of bottled water and take your reusable bottle wherever you go. There are plenty of stainless steel water bottles to choose from. Besides helping the earth, you will be saving big money. Avoid wasting food by eating more leftovers or making smaller meals. Write down a food inventory and use everything you have in your fridge and freezer before you restock. Consider having meatless meals once or twice a week to save, too.
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
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