Start out by taking a critical eye to your current finances. It is most likely that you can make cuts to your grocery budget. Most people can when they stop to think about how much they are spending and what they are buying. Spending less at the supermarket, paying off a payday loan or simply saving money for a rainy day are great reasons to consider growing your own food.
Saving money by starting a garden can depend on many factors. The first is the climate of where you live. Harsh winters (and even spring) can make growing your own food difficult but if you live in a subtropical climate like Florida and many parts of Texas, you have a great chance of growing and maintaining your own garden. All you need is some seeds, a a few gardening tools, and the right space to plant. Stocking your fridge with your own fresh food is one way to payday off your payday loan lender and save the borrowing for a true financial emergency.
First decide where you are going to build your garden. You need not have a big back yard to do so although the more space you have, the more you can plant. But in reality, it only takes a few square feet to get started. It is an option to create a vertical garden which means you will grow your plants in containers. Garden centers and home improvement stores are filled with isles of equipment and supplies to help you maximize the space you have to work with.
Next, find out what grows best in your location. Think about what fruits and veggies you have enjoyed living in your area. Different seasons will determine what you can plant as well as "zone" you live in (you can find that in a gardening book or on the back of the seed packet). If you are set on growing plants that aren't supported by your area's climate, you can always build a greenhouse if your resources permit. This can get costly though and remember, you are trying to save money. Don't go out and borrow with a payday or car title loans just to build a greenhouse. That will defeat the purpose of building a garden to save money and payoff your short-term payday advance.
You may consider planting fruit trees if space allows. Not only do they provide shade in the hot season but you will be only steps away from delicious home grown fruit. Be patient, fruit trees need time to grow and some may only bare fruit every couple years. You will see a significant savings to your grocery bill, though, once you can cross fruit off your shopping list. You can also do this with herbs and seasonings as these can get costly to buy fresh.
Growing your own food is not by any means an easy task but is one that is not only healthy for you and your budget, but can be personally rewarding for you and your family members. Get your kids involved and make this a project you work on together. Take it a step further by learning to can and/or preserve your own produce. Having the space to store your canned items means you can have future gifts for others, a food supply for emergencies, and the opportunity to sell at a farmer's market in which you can turn a profit. Farmer's markets and food co-ops are very popular now being a means of providing healthy and organic fruits and veggies as well as saving money and becoming a home-based business for many growers.
0 comments:
Post a Comment