Postage Stamp Gardening

Postage Stamp Garden

As the term implies, postage stamp gardening is a means of growing abundant flowers and/or vegetables in a very small space, and you don’t even have to have a garden. Pots and hanging planters can be used on patios and balconies. Sunrooms are great for growing citrus and the kitchen can be ideal for some herbs.

Years ago, when I was just a little sprout (note the vegetable analogy) my dad not only cultivated a postage stamp garden, he was so successful at it that he was asked frequently to give talks about his intensive gardening methods. Our tiny backyard provided everything from apples to oranges (literally). Excess harvest was bottled or frozen or exchanged for other commodities amongst friends and neighbors. Things like apples, potatoes and onions were stored by hanging them in my mother’s old stockings. A knot was tied between each fruit or veg so that, if one went bad, it didn’t spoil the others.

According to the US Department of Agriculture the weekly food cost of a nutritious diet for a family of four in 2007 ranged from $129.60 to $254.10. (These figures are based on the assumption that all food is eaten at home). Food prices, of course, have risen in the last two years but, if you assume that only 15% of your food budget is for fruits and vegetables, you could save $1000 to $2000 a year by growing your own. Add to that the benefits of a little outdoor activity and better quality food than you’re likely to find elsewhere and why wouldn’t you get your hands dirty?

Kitchen Garden

There are two books that are great resources for both the budding and the established gardener. Both are by Duane Newcomb but don’t buy them new! They’re expensive. Go to AbeBooks.com and search for The Postage Stamp Garden Book and Postage Stamp Kitchen Garden Book. I’ve seen the first book there for as little as $1.

Container Gardening

The most miniscule of urban areas can still boast a crop of vegetables in planters. Tomatoes, peppers, green onions, beans, lettuce, squash and radishes are some of the plants that can thrive in containers.

Nowadays, there are complete systems available to get you started easily, such as this one from EarthBox. But the cheaper way to go is from scratch. Go back to AbeBooks and do a keyword search for “container garden” and a bunch of helpful choices will pop up at the $1 mark.

Another great resource can be the cooperative extension center. Check to see if there’s one in your county. They often offer lots of free advice and information and may even have educational programs that could be of help.

If you do nothing but grow a few herbs and tomatoes you’ll still save a little money. Then savor your horticultural success with creative and inexpensive recipes from Truckstop Gourmet.

“You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt”.  ~Author Unknown

1. Browse these sites for everything from free food, free samples to free services and contests:

http://www.justfreestuff.com/

http://www.totallyfreestuff.com/

http://www.thefreesite.com/

2. Use SwagBucks as your internet search engine and win bucks to spend online.

3. Watch movies and some of your favorite TV shows, absolutely free, at Hulu.com.

4. With Skype you can talk or video call your friends for free. And for a small fee you can call worldwide.

5. On the subject of phone calls, you can get free directory assistance from 1-800-FREE-411 or Google’s service, 1-800-GOOG-411.

6. Call 1-800-411-SAVE to get free advertiser’s discounts.

7. Your favorite restaurant may offer freebies when you register to receive their newsletter. Here are just a few:

Sweet Tomatoes – regularly sends discount coupons, including buy one get one free deals.

Zaxby’s – get a free meal coupon.

The Longhorn Steakhouse gives you a free appetizer.

T. G. I. Friday’s Give Me More Stripes program gives you a free dessert or appetizer, then you can earn credits for more free food.

Old Country Buffet gives you a free meal for joining and ongoing perks for birthdays and special occasions at any of its restaurants – Old Country Buffet, Hometown Buffet, Country Buffet, Ryan’s, or Fire Mountain Grill.

At Romano’s Macaroni Grill you get a free appetizer.

8. Every Friday through September you have a chance to get a free bar of your favorite Mars chocolate.

9. You can still get music for free. It may not be the most current hits but some of the oldies are still the best.

bearshare.com

yourfreemusicdownloads.com

mymojo.com

10. And don’t forget to get your free credit report every year at AnnualCreditReport.com.

I have fibromyalgia and with it comes a lot of pain. With the pain can come a lot of expense – doctors’ visits and pain medication can quickly eat up thousands of dollars.

One of the things that has helped me far more than any doctor or medication has been a hot tub. In our old home I had a jetted tub, which was wonderful. Our present home has no such luxury. So, in order to save my body and save some money, I decided to get a hot tub.

The first place I looked was Craigslist and was I ever surprised. A lot of these sellers need to get a reality check. They’re asking about as much for used as I can get for new. For instance, a basic hot tub, two years old, was listed at $1000. The exact same model, brand new, can be purchased right now on sale at Rec Warhouse for just over $1200. From Rec Warehouse I also get a one year warranty and a supply of chemicals at no additional charge.

Then there’s ebay. With the exception of one dealer (who only dealt in units that are too big for my patio) the prices were uniformly higher than places like Samsclub and Rec Warehouse.

I’ve also been looking for a large chain link dog run (not for the dogs but to create an outside area for our inside cats). A 10′ x 10′ x 6′ bought new can cost $700 or $800. For a long time the best deal I found (on Kijiji) was $400. That’s still too much for used. Then today I saw one at $100 on Craigslist. I emailed right away but don’t know if it’s still available. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

Anwyay, the point to all this is don’t assume it’s a deal just because it’s used. Take the time to shop around, even for new. As with the hot tub, I think I’m better off to pay an extra $100 or so to have brand new with a warranty. And, as an old friend used to say, “There’s always another train coming in to the station.”

Start at the internet. Go straight to kayak.com. Pass Travelocity, Expedia and all those other travel sites. At kayak one search will compare prices from all those sites, including airfare, hotels and cruises as well as package deals. Or, if you like gambling a little (I’m not talking about Vegas) try priceline, where you can “negotiate” the price you pay for airfare, car rentals and hotels.

Last minute deals. If you’re the daring type and you’re not set on a particular destination, you can find some great bargains if you book last minute and pick up surplus hotel rooms or cancelled cabins on cruises. See what you can find at SkyAuction or Moments-Notice or LastMinute. You might also find some real bargains at cheapcaribbean.com.

Book a package. By bundling air and hotel and even car rental you can really save, especially on last minute bookings. And consider meals, if they’re offered. Eating out is often one of the biggest expenses when travelling so including breakfast and dinner at your hotel can help the budget along in a big way.

Try Bed and Breakfast. The humble B&B was long ago elevated from a basic bedroom where you shared a bathroom with six other people to elegant lodging in historic dwellings with luxury suites and gourmet meals. Well, sometimes! In fact, bed and breakfast lodging can run the gamut of quality, location and price. Still, many times they afford a cheaper alternative to standard hotels and can be found where no hotel chain would dare to go. So take a look at the options on bedandbreakfast.com.

Live dangerously. Go hostel! OK, dangerous is a little exaggeration. Hostels have come a long way since my youthful days but they’re still the environ of the young and not necessarily for the faint of heart. Hostels.com gives you a world of choices, which can indeed be very cheap. Normal lodging is dormer-style, though some properties now offer private rooms for families. Bathrooms may still be communal, however, as will kitchens and laundries.

Buy a tent. Seriously. For just $100 you can get a three room tent. On ReserveAmerica and camping.com you can find campgrounds for as little as $20 a night and all the information you need to enjoy being in the great outdoors. I must admit, my idea of roughing it is a hotel without room service, so camping is definitely not for me. But many of my friends love the life, particularly the camaraderie of fellow happy campers.

Impose on family. OK, if it is an imposition, don’t do this but, hey, if family will welcome you then why not visit?  It’s one of the cheapest ways to vacation and you get to enjoy being with people you love.

Stay close to home. With tough schedules and a limited budget, my husband and I are big on day trips, overnights and long weekends. Searching online I’ve found everything to do from riding the Chattanooga choo choo, mining for diamonds, white water rafting, wine tasting at local vineyards to musuems, flea markets, hot air ballooning and even an alpine village. We watch for local festivals, go antiquing (not that we buy much!) and, sometimes, just take a picnic into the mountains.

Get a vacation rental. This can really be a bargain for a large family or small group vacation. HomeAway and ResortQuest have the largest selection of privately owned homes, with detailed descriptions, maps and photographs to help you choose.

Vacation Rental

I found this new Mediterranean-style 3-bedroom home in Sarasota, FL with a community pool, lots of nearby amenities, even a 42″ plasma TV in the living room for just $99 – $119 a night. Split that between three couples and you have a cheap vacation. You can choose to eat-in and save on restaurant bills and, if you drive to your destination together you’ll dramatically cut travelling costs.

Ask for a better deal. You can’t afford to be shy and the worst that can happen is you get a “No”. A hotel with empty rooms may be glad to give you an extra night free rather than lose you to its competitor down the street.

House Swap. That’s right. While you stay in someone’s home in, say London, they stay in your home in the US. With hotel prices in London an easy $300, $400 or more, staying in the city for free sounds really tempting. Home Exchange and ExchangeHomes both provide lots of swapping opportunities and helpful information for a modest annual fee.

Use frequent traveler points. You should already be using a rewards credit card. My recent trip to England cost me only the taxes and some minimal fees on my plane fare and rental car. As I pay my credit card in full each month it really was like traveling for free. WebFlyer is a comprehensive site that offers information on many hotel and airline rewards programs.

Go off-season. Assuming you can choose when you travel, plan your vacation at off-peak times. Not only will you find lower prices all around, avoiding the crowds can be an added benefit.

Here are some hints for the gardener gleaned from a couple of marvelous old books, “500 HOUSEHOLD HINTS by 500 HOUSEWIVES” and “HOUSEHOLD ENCYCLOPAEDIA” (both printed around 1920), with a few notes from me.

Weeds. From HOUSEHOLD HINTS: To kill weeds in a gravel path, pour boiling water over the gravel and leave for about twenty-four hours, after which the gravel can be raked over and the weeds removed.Vinegar also works, though both methods are best used on new growth. For established weeds, nothing beats getting down on your hands and knees and pulling them out by the roots.

Green Fly. From HOUSEHOLD HINTS: “Nothing is better than a pair of soft brushes joined together with a cane bow, so that by pressure of the hand they are brought in contact and the bud between them is cleared.”

Bugs. Boiling water is quite effective. I can attest to this, especially for ants in the garden. The HOUSEHOLD ENCYCLOPAEDIA also suggests some rather ghastly mixes of petroleum and benzine or brimstone and saltpetre, but I definitely don’t recommend these. For ants, however, I do recommend orange oil. I save all my orange peels and blend them with a little water, strain the mix, then use the liquid as a spray.

Composting. From HOUSEHOLD ENCYCLOPAEDIA: In a corner of the plot, well away from the house…if possible, that the most prevalent winds do not carry aromas toward the dwelling, dig a substantial hole, and in it put all garden refuse, mowings from lawn, cabbage and other leaves…….and all such vegetable material….makes what is known as compost……it can be hastened by throwing salt, soda (ash) and lime …….and a few buckets of water poured over the heap……Fork over now and again to let air and damp get in….

Earwigs. From HOUSEHOLD ENCYCLOPAEDIA: The best and simplest trap is that of a small flower-pot, stuffed with a little dry moss and inverted on the top of a stake. It should be examined every morning and evening and its catch of earwigs destroyed by plunging into hot water.

Cabbage caterpillar. From HOUSEHOLD ENCYCLOPAEDIA: Hand pick the young caterpillars and crush the egg clusters.

Potato Blight. From HOUSEHOLD ENCYCLOPAEDIA: To prevent blight, spray the foliage with Burgundy or Bordeaux mixture. I don’t know about this; seems like a waste of good wine to me.

Slugs. My grandmother used to pour salt on them. This effectively causes them to dehydrate. I think it’s kinder to just squash them.

Wasp stings. From HOUSEHOLD HINTS: If…you should get stung….rub a cut onion on the spot. It will ease the pain and cause the swelling to go down. My mother used to use this remedy on me but I don’t recall if it actually worked!

Cut flowers. From HOUSEHOLD HINTS: Fill the bowl with sand to within an inch from the top, and soak with water. In this the flowers will keep fresh twice as long …… and will stand up. From HOUSEHOLD ENCYCLOPAEDIA: An aspirin or a little starch dropped into the water…..will keep the stems upright. ……cut a small piece off the stem every day and split hard woody stalks about 1 inch from the bottom. Add a little soda (ash) and salt to the water to freshen the flowers.

Well, I hope some of these hints will be of use to you. At the least, it’s fun to look back and get a glimpse of life in the early 1900s.

I started thinking about this when both my printer and fax machine decided to depart this life together a few days ago. Not surprising, really, as they’re both five or six years old – eons in today’s technological era. My scanner, the granddaddy of them all at eight, is ready to head for the retirement home, too. Dreading what this was going to cost me I started researching replacement equipment and was happily amazed.

All-in-one (print, copy, scan and fax) machines, wireless to boot, can be had for as little as $100. That’s less than half of what I paid for the scanner alone eight years ago! For my needs I settled on the Lexmark X7675 All-in-One Printer, which goes for a measly $103 at Amazon, with free shipping. It’s listed elsewhere in the $300 range.

Complete computer packages, which include monitor, keyboard and mouse, can be had for as little as $400 – $500.  Obviously, if your business is graphic design you’ll need something with greater capacity, but to operate your Bonanzle booth or promote your pet-sitting service, minimal is just fine. Just scout around online for the best deals or check your local stores. And don’t waste money on a new phone system; use what you have until you start making money. Just make sure all your household members know how to answer when the phone rings. You don’t want your four-year old saying, “Hi, Mommy’s changing my baby sister’s diaper”.

For office furniture, if you can’t make do with the dining room table and a bunch of cardboard boxes as filing cabinets, look on Craigslist. I just saw a computer desk, cherry wood-stained, in good condition, for $25. And that’s the asking price! They’d probably take less. Or you could go “a la college days” (30 years ago, that is) and opt for plastic cartons and plywood to create a pseudo desk with storage space beneath and make bookcases from concrete blocks and wood panels.

Another don’t is printed office stationary. Most of you probably don’t even need business cards. I know people who’ve made millions and never had a letter-head or business card in their lives. If you are in a business that relies on handing out cards, then get the free ones at Vista Print. You can go for the gold-leaf embossed after you start making the big bucks.

One of the biggest rip-offs of all is the replacement cost of ink and toner cartridges for your office equipment. Search online to compare prices and look for compatible cartridges, rather than name-brand. My experience has been that they work equally as well. Or, for inkjets, you can try refill kits. This will involve injecting ink into your existing cartridges and can be a bit messy if you’re not careful.

The general object here is to get only what you need, when you need it and save your money for more important things. Believe me, I speak from experience, and an office full of obsolete and excessive file holders, floppy discs, 3-ring binders, floppy disc holders, business cards, printed labels, rubber stamps……..

Bartering is a means of exchanging one service or commodity for another, without the use of money. In times of monetary crisis (like Now!), when cash is in short supply, it can be a means to get the things you need without having to dip into the old piggy bank.

Over the years I’ve bartered for many things. For my part I’ve offered services such as bookkeeping, dog walking, window cleaning….you name it. In return I’ve received technical help on the computer, electrical work, even a chance to go treasure diving. After training as a massage therapist I plied my trade part time for monetary payments but also found it to be a great bartering commodity (And get your mind out of the sewer! We’re not talking about sexual favors here). If I needed heavy work done in the garden, for instance, there was always someone willing to help out in exchange for a massage session or two.

There’s plenty of scope to barter for “stuff” as well; just take a look on Craigslist. You may be surprised that items that no longer have worth to you may well be of value to others.

The thing to do is make a list of what you want (or need) and another of what you have to offer. Don’t sell yourself short; think of everything you might do – sewing, cleaning, errands. Do you have specialized training? Auto mechanic, plumber, computer skills, artist? What might be lurking in the garage or attic that you could exchange? Do you have furniture, a car, a boat that you no longer want?

Once you know what you want and what you can offer, put your own ad on Craigslist or Kijiji. Check the classifieds or you could try approaching someone directly. If your air conditioning needs a serious tune up before the summer heat hits, try asking a local professional if he’d be prepared to do the work in exchange for bookkeeping, office cleaning, hair cutting, yodelling lessons, whatever…..!

There are also a myriad of online bartering services now-a-days. Just search online for barter clubs. Bear in mind, though, that these clubs require fees, however small, for helping match you with other members.

Another thing to consider is that there may be tax implications with bartering. (Oh, yes! The IRS wants its piece of you even when no actual money is involved). To learn more check here.

Well, I’m about to place an ad for an old conversion van I no longer use. I’ll gladly take cash for it but I also need some painting and repairs done around my house. My husband is just not Mr. Fixit, so I’m also going to offer the vehicle in exchange for the work and, frankly, I’ll probably get better value out of it as a barter.

“He who wants to barter, usually know what’s best for him.” – African proverb

Stop spending! In the first quarter of this year consumer spending increased 2.2%. It’s certainly not that Americans are earning more; they simply spent everything they earned, including their tax refunds. So get a grip on your wallet and don’t buy unless it’s absolutely necessary.

Start an emergency fund. Another thing I can’t stress enough. Set aside sufficient money to survive for a least six months with no income. If you hadn’t spent your tax refund you would have had a head start on this!

Put away the credit cards. If you can’t pay cash for it then you most probably don’t need it. So hide the credit cards and avoid temptation.

Live within your means. This goes hand in glove with not using credit cards. Stay home instead of eating out, make coffee to go and give Starbucks a miss, don’t think twice but three times before you buy anything.  Best of all, create a spending plan and stick with it.

Deal with high-interest debt. With a decent credit rating you certainly shouldn’t be paying more than 5 or 6% interest rate on your credit card debt. Transfer to a new card or talk to your current issuing company and tell them you want a lower rate. And if you’re credit rating isn’t so hot you should still request a lower rate. Explain to the issuer that money is restricted and you can’t keep paying the high fees. Chances are they’ll work with you. They’d rather get something from you than risk nothing at all.

Consider a line of credit while you can. Still employed and have equity in your home? It might be worth getting a home-equity line of credit.  But keep it on the back-burner for dire emergencies only.

Network. Now is not the time to become a hermit. Keep more options open by maintaining all your contacts – you might need them later!

Training and education. Does your present company offer any educational programs? Take all that you can. The more you learn the more marketable you will be in the event you find yourself job hunting soon. It might be worth a small expense to educate yourself by checking for online courses or night courses at a local tech college. Consider adding a little diversity to your skills.

Start a home business. Look for ways you can earn a little extra money from home now. Any extra cash can go into your emergency fund, you’ll benefit from additional tax write-offs and you’ll have a leg-up on an alternative income if you suddenly find you can devote yourself to it full-time. (Coming soon – 50 Ways to Make Extra Money)

Don’t forget health insurance. Without your employer’s contribution you may have to extend your coverage through COBRA and that can be very costly. Or shop around for other alternatives. Sam’s Club offers discount medical insurance to businesses but you don’t need to be incorporated to take advantage or it.

“If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as getting.” Benjamin Franklin

Not that I need to know how to wash my ebony hair brush or re-use my old, starched cuffs or use glycerine and egg yolk to get grass stains out of my tennis flannels. But the real message from the book is that absolutely nothing went to waste. Even wood ashes from the fireplace were used to aid in cleaning brick floors, aluminum and tile (which was very modern at the time).  Here are a few more “hints” that you might actually be able to use. Try with care, however. These are untested :

Olive oil. Mix with salt and place on the white marks left by your hot coffe cup on polished tables. (I actually am going to try this on an old aluminum tray table. For all I know it might take the finish completely off but I’ll let you know.)

Tea. Use warm tea to take dirty marks off varnished paint or enamel. (I’m not sure what this says about the effects of tea on your stomach!)

Blood stains. To remove stains, mix a little starch to a paste and spread it on the stains. Leave for a few hours then wash. (I have an easier method that I’ve used with great success – hydrogen peroxide. Just pour it on and let it bubble the stain out. Works on old stains, too).

Washing white silk. OK, you probably don’t have white silk any more than I do but I’m going to try this tip on a white (now off-white) chiffon blouse. Add a little milk into the rinse water and, supposedly, it will keep the silk from dulling or yellowing. Can’t hurt!

Removing an unpleasant odor. One housewife suggests buring coffee grounds in a shovel for a few minutes. A more practical idea is to light a match, though neither of these solutions do more than mask the odor for a while. Still, if like me you’re allergic to all those perfumy, chemical odor eliminators, any alternative is a better option.

Moth prevention. The simplest suggestion in the book is to sprinkle epsom salts among clothing, in closets, under carpets,etc. For something that will also add a pleasant aroma, try this: 1/2 lb dried rosemary, 1/2 lb dried mint, 4oz thyme, 4oz tansy, 2 tablespoon ground cloves. Mix and scatter.

Happy housekeeping!

Here I am in jolly old England visiting family. On the drive from Gatwick airport to the family home I’d been thinking to myself that at least our falling dollar had afforded me a good deal on a rental car. And my initial reaction to the 96 pence sign was that gas prices were pretty reasonable, too. But, as I said…. do the math.

That 96p was for just one liter and that translates into $5.75 a gallon.

For years the Brits have been paying much higher prices (and taxes) than us for lots of commodities. Yet (for the most part) they still manage to live well. Makes you think – it’s all a matter of spending wisely, which is what this blog is all about.

I’ll be in the UK for another 10 days and will be on the watch for any smart ways that people are saving money over here. So check back for updates.