7 Ways To Save Money In The Garden This Summer

August 16, 2022 by Leave a Comment

garden at home

Having a garden means investing money both to create and maintain it. Fertilizing, planting, harvesting, pruning, and monitoring pests can become expensive in the long run. However, there are some great ways to cut back on costs. It pays to bear in mind that, on average, a well-kept fruit and vegetable garden can save you at least $600 per year. So if your garden is looking quite unkempt and you’re searching for budget-friendly ways to revamp it this summer, here are some useful tips to help you save money.

  • Go for second-hand tools

 

A well-maintained garden requires supplies, such as buckets, shovels, rakes, lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, and so on. All these tools are rather expensive when bought brand new, but there’s nothing stopping you from buying second-hand gardening tools. Of course, you have to check that it’s still in reasonable condition and won’t break after a short time. Look out for used products that come with a minimum guarantee period; your wallet will thank you.

  • Make compost yourself

 

One of the common garden expenses is fertilizer, as plants need compost to support strong growth. Store-bought fertilizer is sometimes quite expensive. But you may not know that you could easily make your own compost at home. You just have to check the numerous articles online that talk about how to make compost for your plants. And the best part is that it’s not an excessive effort; on the contrary, you will end up reusing the food waste that you would have otherwise thrown away. This waste is definitely ideal for providing the nutrients your plants need. Remember that strong growth also requires regular weed control, so if you cannot commit the time required for this task, consider using a local professional service such as http://masterscapes.com/. These experts can also take care of all your gardening repair and maintenance requirements.

  • Your garden can cut your grocery bills

 

If you have a reasonable amount of space outside of your home for plants, flowers and trees, then it’s possible to intentionally create a garden to cut back on your spending at the supermarket. Of course, maintenance is something you can’t avoid, but what if your garden is designed to not waste money? You can analyze this by separating the cost of the garden from the money you will save. For example, if you have fruit trees, this means free fruits you no longer need to buy. This saves you money in the supermarket, and some of your savings can be spent on garden care products.

  • Make the whole family responsible for gardening

 

Having a garden means taking responsibility. Plants need regular care – you must prune them, compost them, and tend to them when they are sick. All this effort can become highly time-consuming. So what about if you set up gardening maintenance as a family activity?

Just as everyone in the house has a regular chore to do (cleaning, washing dishes, clearing the table, and so on), you can use this method in the garden to get everyone involved.

In addition, it is good practice for children because you will teach them how to take care of their environment and nature. And the back garden is a great place to start learning these skills.

  • Choose plants that are productive for you

 

Most avid gardeners are familiar with the feeling of falling in love with the gardens they’ve seen in pictures and magazines. The desire to recreate these dream gardens is sometimes unavoidable. However, before you commit to a compulsive purchase, you need to consider whether or not these plants will actually do you any good. Is it a plant that you will use for the kitchen? Maybe to take care of your health? Or is it just decorative? We’re not saying you can’t have a beautiful garden, but that shouldn’t be all. You must design a productive, functional garden that positively impacts your purse strings.

  • Recycle products for garden usage

 

It’s true that a garden with recycled products may not look as pretty and stylish as one with all branded accessories, but you certainly save a lot of money and also protect the environment. So it’s worth sacrificing the normal definition of beauty in order to be practical and avoid waste. For example, you could use forks to discourage certain animals from spoiling your plants. Likewise, you can use boots, plastic bottles, or similar containers as flower pots.

  • Use your own seeds instead of buying

 

A common mistake that is often made is the belief that you have to buy all the plants, seeds, and trees for your garden – this is certainly not the case. You can also plant them from the seeds of fruit you’ve already consumed. This is cheaper than seedlings or trees. While it will take years for some of them to bear fruit, don’t think solely about the duration; rather, focus on your future savings.

In this way, saving money on gardening is not only workable but can also be the solution you have been looking for to take the first step and build your garden.

Filed Under: saving/money Tagged With: ,

Unsure Economic Times Call for Smart Money Decisions

June 7, 2022 by Leave a Comment

When it comes to financial planning, it’s important to look both short- and long-term. It would help if you ensured that your immediate needs were met, but you also need to be prepared for future expenses. This can be especially difficult during uncertain economic times when job security is often tenuous, and the future seems unpredictable. However, there are some smart ways to plan for future expenses.

1. Investing Money

The best way to make money is to invest it. This may seem counterintuitive during times of economic uncertainty, but the truth is that investing is always a smart move. Investing your money allows you to grow your wealth while taking less risk than gambling or speculation.

There are many different ways to invest your money, but one of the best ways to get started is by investing in penny stocks. While penny stocks may be riskier than other investments, they also have the potential to generate a higher return. For example, the best Reddit penny stocks have outperformed the market by a wide margin over the past year. This can be a great way to protect your finances during economic instability.

Of course, you need to be careful with investing. You don’t want to put all of your eggs in one basket, so to speak. You also need to be aware of the risks involved. But if you’re smart about it, investing can be a great way to safeguard your finances during uncertain economic times.

2. Saving Money

If you have extra cash, you should put it into savings. This will allow you to have a cushion in case of an emergency. It will also give you peace of mind knowing that you have some money set aside just in case the economy takes a turn for the worse.

There are many different ways to save money. You can open a savings account at your local bank or credit union. Another way to save money is to invest in a retirement account such as a 401k or IRA. This way, you can watch your money grow over time while also getting tax breaks. Finally, make sure you have an emergency fund saved up in case something unexpected comes up. Having this cushion will help you avoid going into debt if something unexpected does happen.

3. Budgeting

One of the most important things you can do during uncertain economic times is to create a budget. This will help you make sure that you are spending within your means and not putting yourself in a position where you cannot pay your bills.

When creating a budget, include all of your necessary expenses, such as rent, food, transportation, and utilities. Once you have all of your necessary expenses accounted for, you can start to look at other areas where you may be able to cut back. For example, maybe you can eat out less often or go on fewer vacations. By creating a budget, you can make sure that your spending is under control and that you are not putting yourself at risk financially.

4. Keep an Eye on Your Credit Score

A credit score is a number that lenders use to determine your creditworthiness. A high credit score means you’re a low-risk borrower, leading to lower interest rates on loans and credit cards. A low credit score could lead to higher interest rates and less favorable terms.

You can get your free annual credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Reviewing your credit report regularly can help you catch errors and identify any suspicious activity. By monitoring your credit score, you can make sure you’re in good financial shape in case you need to borrow money during uncertain economic times.

5. Plan for Future Expenses

This means setting aside money each month for things like groceries, utilities, and rent or mortgage payments. This will help you avoid getting into debt when unexpected expenses come up. Finally, invest in yourself. This could mean taking a class to improve your job skills or investing in a solid retirement plan. Whatever you choose, remember that investing in yourself is one of the best ways to secure your financial future.

You can weather any economic storm and come out on top financially by following these tips. So don’t let uncertainty get in the way of your financial success. Start implementing these tips today and take control of your financial future.

Filed Under: saving/money Tagged With: ,

Cutting Down Your Heating Costs

February 2, 2022 by Leave a Comment

save on heating

Even though the weather will soon be warming up, there is still a good few months where many of us will be using the heating and staying toasty indoors. This coupled with the higher energy prices means that we are on the hunt for ways to cut our heating bills. Let’s have a look at some of the ways you can do this below:

Draw You Curtains 

At night, closing your curtains will assist keep the heat in and reducing draughts from your windows. If they’re hanging in front of radiators, tuck them behind them so the heat can get in.

Alternatively, you might take it a step further and invest in heated curtains. The dense woven designs are designed to provide optimum insulation and warmth in a room, and they can be bought for a reasonable price. 

However, remember to open your curtains in the mornings to allow sunlight into your home, which might help to warm it up.

Know Your Radiators

Do you have a room or a few where you don’t spend a lot of time? To save energy, turn off the radiators or set them to the lowest heat and close the door(s).

Keep your heaters and radiators clear in the areas you do use so they can heat the room adequately. The heat will otherwise be transferred into the back of your sofa and other furniture blocking them. 

Change Your Provider Or Tariff

Although some people may find it difficult to change providers at the moment, this won’t always be like this. One of the best ways to save money on your energy bills is to change providers. Often you get a lower and new customer tariff for the first 12 months. If you are a loyal customer, though, it may be worth speaking to your current provider and seeing if they are able to offer a discount. 

Suppress Any Draughts

You’re undoubtedly used to draughts if you live in an ancient building. There are, however, techniques to limit the amount of wind that blows into your home.

To begin, do like your grandmother did and purchase a draught excluder to keep the chilly breeze from blowing beneath your door. Alternatively, cover the space with an old towel. Next, use a sealer, gaffer tape, or, if the gaps are significant, there are some products that use thin tubes to fill the gaps, to cover any cracks in your flooring and skirting boards.

Lower The Temperature On Your Thermostat

When you return home on a cold day, you might be tempted to set your thermostat to the highest setting, but it’s best to set it to around 18-20oC. Otherwise, your home will likely overheat and you may be tempted to open the windows, wasting energy. It’s claimed that lowering your thermostat by one degree will save you up to £75 each year.

Wrap Up Warm

When you’re sitting around watching TV, add an extra layer of clothing to the mix. Whether it’s a dressing gown, felt slippers, or some new loungewear, wrapping up can help you avoid having the heating on or so long and so high. If you’re really cold, wrap up in blankets, put on some warm socks, and fill up a hot water bottle. If your bedroom is always cold, put one in your bed as well.

These tips should help you to cut down on your energy bills. Do you have any other tips that may help? Please share them below.

Filed Under: saving/money Tagged With:

Key Trends That Will Drive Small Businesses in 2022

December 4, 2021 by Leave a Comment

When Covid-19 struck, it sent small businesses into a turbulent period and upheaval that they either benefited from or needed to recover from. However, as 2021 draws to a close and life returns to a sense of normalcy, new business trends are emerging, and understanding and utilizing them will help businesses have an excellent 2022. 

trends

Influencer Marketing

Online platforms and social media channels such as Instagram and TikTok can help small businesses tell their stories to drive awareness and excitement in microdoses through Instagram stories and posts and TikTok videos. Influencers already have an audience that is interested in them and what they have to say. Big or small, they strengthen the story by providing relevance and endorsements. 

Return of Traditional Marketing Techniques

While digital marketing has taken over at breakneck speed, consumers can also be drowned in digital noise. So, marketers should go back to their roots with tried and true tricks because they still work—for example, signage. Signage may be one of the oldest forms of marketing still in existence, but it helps customers find whether they are looking for you or not. 4allpromos also believes that you can spread brand awareness, ensure a great impression, and make conversation easy with items such as promotional trade.

Networking With Business Owners

Networking is arguably the most significant trend of 2022. Instead of growing alone, small-business owners can multiply their efforts exponentially by connecting with other business owners. Networking helps you gain business lead referrals, hear new market perspectives, learn from others’ experiences, sharpen your game and pitch. Work together to ensure everyone’s success! 

Hybrid Workspaces

The world has changed now as people have realized that it is, in fact, possible to work from home, whether it’s due to being high risk or wanting to be more flexible with children. The opportunities for everyone, no matter their situation, have opened up. Having a hybrid workplace where employees can choose their optimal work schedule as well as whether to be remote or in-person will be a trend for the future as security and insecurity are balanced with a healthy home and working environment. In addition, it is an excellent way to embrace employees with different value systems and life-learned skill sets. 

Mental Health in the Workplace

This should not really be called a trend as it should always be focussed on. However, it can be argued that there is more of an awareness of mental health in the workplace. No matter the size of its workforce. Supply chain crunches, lack of staffing, remote work, and the blur of the work-life intersection are deepening employee stress at a record rate. Implementing policies that address this trend will increase engagement, reduce turnover, and improve productivity.

We have barely scratched the surface on what sort of trends are going to help small businesses get the best out of the year 2022. But these are a great start to what is bound to be a fantastic year. 

Filed Under: saving/money Tagged With: ,

What If A Distributor Is Not Paying Up?

October 14, 2021 by Leave a Comment

people who don't pay

Whenever you work with a business, there is always the danger of being messed around with. Small businesses have to be wary of the tricks that large businesses can play on them, as they have a large legal team and the latter does not. But entrepreneurs need to be careful of working with small businesses that have a little more experience than they do and can take advantage of their ideas. But we’re going to explore something that is all too common when a distributor i.e. a wholesaler is not meeting their financial obligations to you. They might be selling your products or services, they might have exclusive rights to do so, so you expect adequate and timely remuneration.

What are you to them?

In the most basic business sense, you are a supplier. You are probably among a whole range of suppliers, as wholesalers working with hundreds of brands and companies for all different sorts of reasons. However, the chances of you being at the bottom of the list in terms of importance might be starkly true. It’s a reality that small businesses that are trying to get their products to sell, working with lots of brands, might not receive the due care and attention from wholesalers that large brands do. Don’t kid yourself that if you are working with Amazon, that your concerns will be heard before Coca-Colas or Apple’s. So, prepare your mind to chase them up, constantly!

Keeping a record of correspondence

When you begin to communicate about why your payment is late, you need to track everything. This will be helpful later on so you can avoid a sticky situation in court if it comes to that. You need to log all your phone calls. It’s a good idea to minute your conversations with the distributor so you have a record of what was said. You can’t record them without their knowledge as it’s against the law in most countries and states. Record all your emails, print them off, and store them in a file as well as keeping them locked in your cloud. 

Call someone in

If you really do not want to go to court over payment but you want something to be done, then use collection agency software. You simply put in your request and the details of your case and they will do the chasing for you. They will continually go after those that are supposed to be doing the payment. This might be finding who the payment officer is from LinkedIn, visiting their website for information about the head office, and making a formal complaint. They do all the running around, finding the right people and chasing them up.

Working with any distributor that isn’t punctual and upfront can be infuriating at worst and disheartening at best. Just know that you do have options and if you have patience and the sound mind to record everything down as soon as you suspect late payment, you should have the law and morality on your side. 

Filed Under: saving/money Tagged With: ,

Three Types Of Investments Worth Considering

October 14, 2021 by Leave a Comment

Investing means buying something as an asset with the hope that its value will increase over time. There are many different ways to invest your money, from real estate to cryptocurrencies.

cryptocurrency

Here Three Popular Kinds Of Investments:

Cryptocurrency

Many people have heard about Bitcoin or other forms of cryptocurrency through the news lately. For those who don’t know, a cryptocurrency is a digital form of currency that has been gaining popularity recently due to its ability to prevent fraud or duplication. 

You can buy cryptocurrency and use it to purchase things online without having any association with fiat currency (such as the US dollar). In addition, this digital currency is decentralized, meaning it isn’t controlled by an authority such as a bank. This makes cryptocurrency a very secure form of currency.

However, this isn’t to say that cryptocurrencies are without their drawbacks. First off, crypto has gained so much popularity recently that many people have been buying them as investments instead of spending money on things with them. 

Because of this, the value of Bitcoin has skyrocketed in price over the last year or so. This is good news for those who invested early but not necessarily great for those who want to use it as currency to buy things online.

If you choose to invest in cryptocurrency, make sure you diversify your investment among several different types and some fiat currencies.

Stocks

A more traditional form of investment is in stocks through the stock market. By investing in a company (buying some of their stocks), you can make money off their success while also supporting your favorite companies or industries with which you prefer to do business. 

In addition, many stocks pay dividends which is basically a percentage of the profit that is divided among shareholders at certain times during the year.

Receiving this dividend payment for simply owning a stock helps to increase your gains on top of any appreciation in the price for holding onto it. On the other hand, most people have very little understanding of how stocks work, especially regarding fundamental analysis.

It requires research and a certain type of investor to be able to successfully invest in stocks. In addition, most people have no idea how the stock market works, so it can be difficult for them to find a qualified person to help them if they need assistance.

Bonds

Instead of focusing on the success of a single company or industry, another form of investment is buying government bonds or investing in mutual funds. Bonds are essentially loans that you give money to a bank or an authority such as a government with the agreement that they will pay your money back at a later date with some interest payment on top. 

This helps people needing money for things like mortgages while also assisting investors in making more money than they originally invested by receiving this interest payment. This makes bonds an attractive option, especially if you don’t like the volatility of stocks and cryptocurrencies. However, bonds usually aren’t as lucrative as other investments such as stocks or cryptocurrency.

Filed Under: saving/money Tagged With: , ,

What’s The Best Form of Debt Relief?

September 14, 2021 by Leave a Comment

You’ve decided on debt relief as a financial strategy to help you emerge from what has become a suffocating situation. There are, however, multiple ways to use the approach. So, what’s the best form of debt relief? Well, it depends on your circumstances. Let’s look closer.

What is Debt Relief?

It’s a way to decrease or erase credit card debt. It can be done through negotiated lower rates, refinanced homes, or even a budget that can keep you on the right track.

Credit Counseling

These services are usually offered for free – or a small fee — by nonprofit organizations. With this approach, certified counselors help you gain the skills to lower your debt and handle a doable budget, which they’ll help you create. They often offer financial literature and other resources such as workshops. Overall, credit counseling offers a clear-eyed view of your financial situation as well as available options.

Make sure you do your research or ask for referrals from family or friends, so that you get a reputable agency that will likely be a good fit. You’re also going to need patience and persistence; don’t drop out, as too many do.

Debt Management Plan

If your situation will take more than a new budget, your credit counselors may suggest a debt management plan, commonly known as a DMP. The aim is to erase debt via lowered interest rates and fees, while yielding a decreased monthly payment. With this solution, you pledge to repay the total amount due over time.

How it works is, you make a singly monthly payment on your consolidated obligations, streamlining your finances. The program does take three to five years, though, and there are fees. Also, if you leave the program, your rate will increase, and you may have to make late payments.

Debt Settlement

Here, you can get credit relief by hiring a debt settlement company such as Freedom Debt Relief to go to your creditors to see whether they’ll let you pay just a portion of what you owe to settle each of your unsecured debts. Creditors usually agree to negotiate since they understand that if you file bankruptcy – your likely next step – they stand a good chance of getting zero.

Rather than pay your creditors directly, you’ll deposit funds monthly into a savings-type account that you control. Once each settlement is reached — and you sign off on it – the creditor is paid from your account, which will be marked as “settled” on your credit report.

Debt Consolidation

With this strategy, you roll your unsecured debts – monthly credit cards – into a single payment, hopefully at a reduced rate. This makes bill paying easier, since rather than having multiple bills to deal with of various amounts and due dates, you have just one bill to concern yourself with.

The key is to get a loan that has an interest rate that’s lower than what you’re paying in the aggregate on your current debt. Otherwise, the strategy doesn’t make sense. You’ll need good credit to get a good rate, however.

You can consolidate your debt using a personal loan or a 0%-interest balance transfer card. With the latter, you shift your high-interest credit debt onto the new card. The proviso is that you must pay the transfer card off before the promotional period ends and your interest rate goes back up.

So, what’s the best form of debt relief? It does depend on your case. However, the good news is that you have several options. Choose carefully and get going.

Filed Under: saving/money Tagged With: ,

How To Save Money On Wrapping Christmas Presents

October 9, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Giving gifts to special people in your life on Christmas Day doesn’t stop at buying the best gifts ever. Typically, you need to wrap your presents so they look nice and presentable when given to the receivers. This means you may have to spend some money on buying gift wraps for your Christmas presents. 

Luckily, holiday gift-wrapping doesn’t need to be costly. There are a few ways to keep gift-wrapping costs down and save money. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Reuse Wrapping Paper

Reusing gift wrappers is becoming increasingly popular. While some people have no problem buying new wrapping papers, many others are still looking at the idea of recycling the wrapping papers used during last year’s holiday season. After all, reusing these papers can be a great way to cut down on the number of wrappers you need to purchase. 

Therefore, if you happen to have leftover wrapping papers from previous Christmases, then, you can use these to wrap this year’s Christmas presents. Consequently, you can save more money in the long run. 

Buy Wrapping Paper In Bulk

With the Christmas season fast approaching, you may find yourself in need of some great wrappers and decorations for your home or office. However, if you’re looking to save some money on these Christmas expenses, buying wrapping paper wholesale can be a great idea. When you buy wholesale, you’ll be able to buy larger packages at a lower price, helping you save more money.

To find the best deals at the most affordable prices when it comes to bulk wrapping paper, you’ll want to search the Internet. There are many sites out there that offer wholesale wrapping paper, and you won’t even have to worry about their quality. 

Make Your Own Gift Wrap

Ideally, you can make your own gift wrap to help you save more this Christmas. The best part about this money-saving idea is that you can make your own Christmas wrapping paper, which means that you can customize it any way you want. You can inject your personality into it, making your presents feel more personal and sincere.

You’ll be surprised at how quickly you can put together some great-looking gift wraps all by yourself.  All you need to do is take some extra time to do some research and look through the different stores that offer the materials you need for your DIY project. On the other hand, if you have lots of leftover papers in your house, you can make use of them to come up with your own wrapping papers. 

Buy Gift Wraps From Clearance Sales

Now that you have the best gift ideas in mind, the next step is to plan out your packaging without overspending. Hence, if you’re looking for affordable gift wraps for the holiday season, it’s best to consider buying them from clearance sales. In most cases, stores will have their items on sale due to inventory shortages or to simply bring in more customers and generate more sales. Regardless of the reason, it should be in your best interest to shop for gift wraps at these events. Because you’re paying less, you can save more money, which you can use to buy more gifts or keep in your savings account!

Make Wrapping Part Of The Gift

Instead of buying a gift wrap, why not make the wrapping part of the gift itself?  This means buying something that can both serve as a packaging and a gift at the same time. For example, if you’re planning to gift your father with a gourmet coffee bag and a mug, you can place the mug inside the bag and, then, add a bow—it’s like you have two gifts in one. By doing this, you no longer need to worry about wrapping an awkwardly-shaped gift for your loved one. 

On the other hand, you can also buy baskets, dish towels, and throw blankets that can be used as packaging. Instead of buying a wrapping paper that will be tossed afterward, you can use these items as your packing. Aside from being able to save money on your wrapping needs, you’re also able to gift something that will last longer and bring happiness to your receiver. 

Look For Free Gift Boxes And Wrapping

During this holiday season, there are plenty of stores who offer free gift boxes and free wrapping services when you buy items from them. They usually have a wrapping station where you can utilize their supplies and get your gifts wrapped without spending anything. 

Hence, if you’re on a tight budget this Christmas, why not avail of some stores’ free wrapping services. If you don’t know anyone who offers this, try to go to Google and find one near your area. You might have to spend some money on your holiday gift, but you can save money on your wrapping needs. 

Buy High-Quality Gift Wrap 

Although this tip might sound counter-intuitive, it’s important to note that saving money on wrapping Christmas presents begins with a high-quality gift wrap. Realistically speaking, you might love to buy wrapping papers at a cheaper price without any regard to quality. Unfortunately, you end up getting frustrated, knowing that the paper is torn, ripped off, or looks horrible by the time you’re finished with wrapping. Not only that, but some low-quality wrapping papers are see-through, which means you need to use up more supplies to come up with a great packaging. 

For these reasons, it’s a better idea to buy a high-quality gift wrap from the start than buying more supplies in the long run. When you choose a high-quality wrapping paper, you can make sure that the product is thick and easy to work with. Hence, you can finish wrapping Christmas presents without getting your gift wrap torn or wrinkled. This can be one of the best ways to get more savings on your wrapping needs. 

Conclusion

If you want to make your life a little easier and reduce your holiday spending, keeping the tips mentioned above is the way to go. It will help you save on wrapping costs, as well as give you the convenience of having extra money in your pocket even after Christmas. 

Filed Under: saving/money Tagged With: ,