4 Things to Stop Doing with Your Email

by Miranda Marquit · 0 comments

My email account is my lifeline to the world. I negotiate with clients, receive bank statements and notices, and accomplish a great deal via email.

The fact that there is so much information about you in your email account can be a liability. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission says that email is the most common mode of attack used by fraudsters. If you want to reduce the chances that a hacker will get into your email and make off with valuable information, here are 4 things you need to stop doing with your email:

1. Staying Signed In

I admit that I’m guilty of this one. I often remain signed in because it’s just so much easier. However, if you are always signed in, a hacker can more easily access your account. However, you need to sign out.

And, really, now that I think about it, signing out of my email account could actually be of benefit to me because it would force me to be more productive. I could return to my old practice of only checking email at scheduled times during the day. So, fixing this problem not only helps protect your information, but it can also make you more productive during the day.

2. Using the Same Login Information Elsewhere

One of the biggest online security problems is when you use the same login information for multiple sites. Each site should use different information. I’ve made it a point to have different logins for each of my sites, and my email login is different from everything else. This is important, since if a hacker gets a hold of the login information for one of your other accounts, he or she is most likely to try the same info at other places. If you have the same login info, all of your accounts are vulnerable when just one is hacked.

3. Checking Your Email on an Insecure Network

Again, guilty. While I don’t log in to my bank accounts or other similarly sensitive sites while using public Internet, I do sometimes check my email while I am using free Internet at a cafe or even the public library. This is a no-no, though, since you can be vulnerable while you are using these networks. Even a password-protected network can be a problem, since hackers can get the same password when it comes to WiFi.

4. Keeping Old Emails

I keep a lot of old emails; I refer to them when needed. However, there are some emails you shouldn’t be keeping. They need to be properly deleted. When you send tax forms to others (I send W-9 PDFs all the time) and other forms with sensitive information, you should delete them. This means “deleting them forever” out of the sent box, as well as other mailboxes.

If you want to keep some documents, such as an electronically sent benefits statement, set up a password-protected/encrypted folder on your computer. Safe the information there, and then delete it out of your email. If a hacker gets access to your email, you don’t want him or her to see sensitive personal information that can be used to steal your identity.

Tips for Dealing with Marital Money Conflicts

by Jessica Sommerfield · 0 comments

For many couples, the topic of money management is a delicate one, and at the root of many marital conflicts. After all, marriage brings together two unique individuals with often very different upbringings, financial standards, and habits attempting to share everything and run a household — no small undertaking! Unfortunately, incompatibility in handling money is a common source of the ‘irreconcilable differences’ often cited as the reason for a divorce. How you and your spouse handle finances is an important aspect of your relationship that can carry over into many other areas of life. Being on the same page financially increases unity and the ‘oneness’ that marriage represents; disunity in money management creates financial instability, conflicts, and barriers to your relationship and growth as a couple. The following are suggestions and tips on ways to deal with financial stress in your marriage before it causes larger problems.

Make finances a topic of discussion early on. Premarital counseling that includes personal finance is an excellent step for engaged couples. Problems arise when couples (1) fail to understand how their spouse handles money and/or (2) choose to ignore warning signs or address potential issues about money management. Many failed marriages may have had a chance if couples had gone into them with a solid understanding of the good, bad, and the ugly about their spouse’s financial habits. If you didn’t discuss finances before your marriage, it’s not too late. When conflicts arise because of differences in how each of you handles money, sit down and talk about it. Don’t choose to ignore or avoid the topic just because it causes conflict. Conflict isn’t necessarily bad. It can show you what you need to work on. If you can’t work out your differences between the two of you, you may need to seek professional help to facilitate real communication and find ways to compromise.

Don’t let your emotions get the best of you. If you are the ‘responsible one,’ frustration with your spouse’s stubborn, irresponsible, lazy, or selfish behavior with money can cause resentment and anger to drive a wedge in your relationship. Choose to distance your emotions, see the actual problem, and remember that your spouse’s upbringing and lack of good training on how to handle finances many be partially to blame. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t hold your partner accountability for decisions that affect joint finances; just try to be patient. Correcting poor financial habits is difficult and can take time. If you’re called out for poor money management, don’t become defensive. Try to take an objective look at your habits and be honest about your need to change. Spouses can bring out the best and the worst in us; in other words, they allow us to see how we really are, which is the only way we can take steps to improvement.

Consider your options and compromise. Before you either choose to ignore money problems (they’ll come back to haunt you) or decide they are irreconcilable, consider ways your can find an acceptable compromise. Many couples have experienced so many conflicts with joint checking that they decide to keep separate accounts. Some share one joint account for household expenses with separate accounts for personal spending. Still others provide an ‘allowance’ for each partner’s personal spending within the household budget. Some may criticize that keeping separate checking accounts is a way of avoiding financial conflicts rather than working through them, but that’s not always the case. For some it may indeed be an avoidance technique, but for others it may be a statement that harmony in their relationship is more important than money and fighting over it.

The former security we felt when we were the sole masters of our finances can feel threatened when we begin sharing our money with someone else. It’s an eye-opening process that can help us re-examine our priorities, eliminate selfishness, and become better at handling our money, together. The most important thing to remember as you tackle joint money management is that your relationship is more important than money…always.

Do You Pay Attention to Product Recalls?

by Miranda Marquit · 0 comments

What would you do if a product you use every day has the potential to harm you — or your loved ones?

The best way to prevent this type of harm from affecting you or your loved ones is to pay attention to product recalls.

What is a Product Recall?

Every now and then, a product presents a safety hazard. It makes it through the processes, and is put on the shelves, and the people start getting hurt. Once the dangers are made known, companies post a recall, asking for consumers to return the affected items. When items are returned, you either receive a refund, or you end up with a safe version of the product.

This is a way for them to try to prevent more injuries due to a defective product, or some other sub-par issue. When you pay attention to product recalls, you can keep from getting hurt, and protect your loved ones.

A product recall cues you in to the fact that something might be dangerous. And, if you already bought the item and have experienced injury, a recall can cement the fact that this was not your fault. From recalling the Prius due to problems with acceleration and stopping, to recalling a baby seat that can potentially cut off a child’s finger, a recall can help you avoid injury, since you can turn in the product before it causes problems (or find the information you need to get appropriate compensation if you have been injured).

How to Get Information about Product Recalls

In some cases, product recalls are shared in the media. If enough people have been injured, the information makes the news, including TV and newspaper. Information can also usually be found online.

The problem is that it takes something big to make the news. A lot of people need to be injured, or something dramatic — like death — needs to happen before the mainstream media picks up the story. If you get all of your product recall information from the news, you might miss something.

You want to make sure that you have access to the information you need, when you need it. If you are concerned about whether or not a product is safe, you don’t want to wait until it garners enough attention to make the news; you want to know as quickly as possible.

Instead, you can sign up for email alerts from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). You can get information on the latest recalls from the CPSC. If you are interested in a specific company or product, there is an easy to use search feature on the page. That way, you can check the products that you have, without having to scroll through products that might not apply to you.

What If You or Someone You Love is Injured by Product?

While it’s ideal to avoid an injury in the first place, in some cases you might not see the recall notice in time. Or, perhaps, a recall notice wasn’t even sent out. In either case, when you are someone you love is injured, it’s important that you receive compensation for the problems caused by a defective product.

If you are injured by a product, you deserve compensation — especially since the injury isn’t your fault. When a product injures you or someone you love, you can incur medical expenses. In some cases, you might not even be able to work for a period of time. Even worse is if you are permanently disabled as the result of someone else’s mistake.

With the help of a lawyer, it’s possible to get your just compensation for your injury. With the help of the right personal injury attorney, you can file a lawsuit and possibly receive a settlement or convince a jury to award you enough money to make up for you injury, as well as your loss of income if you are unable to work.

Could Situational Car Rental Instead of Ownership Save You Money?

by Gina Blitstein · 0 comments

Despite the popular myth that most Americans own a own car, it’s common for urban residents to be non-car owners. With the convenience and affordability of mass transit in large metropolitan areas, it’s not surprising that city-dwellers choose to let someone else do the driving the majority of the time. When they need automotive transportation, urban dwellers do what many people do only when they travel: They rent.

It’s becoming more common, however, for residents of other-than-urban areas to forego buying and rent a car when needed, thereby incurring a car expense only when they need wheels.

Consider these scenarios to determine whether renting a car may be a cost-effective option for you:

Temporary ride – When there are multiple drivers in one family, there may not always be enough cars to go around. Even in multi-car households, temporary or short-term situations could arise when another car is necessary. Another car payment may be deemed unrealistic and unnecessary but renting a car for those particular occasions may prove to be the perfect solution.

Try before you buy – Test drives answer a few initial questions about a vehicle but renting a model for several days or weeks can give you decision-making experience with a car. Things like seat comfort may not be easily determined during a half-hour test-drive. By renting the car, you’ll have the opportunity to experience driving it in a variety of situations and locations, e.g. city, highway or long distance driving, providing intel that will help you make an informed purchase.

The right vehicle for the situation – You may need a sedan that seats the family and handles well in inclement weather most of the time, so that’s what you own. But maybe you’re planning a second honeymoon cross-country trip during the summer and would prefer driving a two-seater convertible. Renting a SUV might be appropriate for taking the kids and their friends skiing. Renting a vehicle you want or need situationally is the practical solution.

Avoiding car ownership expense – For some people, incurring the expenses associated with owning a car is simply not practical. Those expenses include its initial cost (which, for many people translates to a monthly car payment for a number of years), auto insurance, license and registration, maintenance and repair, and possibly even parking/storage fees. If these costs exceed the cost of renting a car situationally (and you have reliable alternatives available for emergencies) renting may be something to investigate in the interest of saving money.

If you do decide that car ownership is something you can forego, it’s important to still take the issue of auto insurance into consideration. While it’s true that you don’t need auto insurance when you don’t own a car, if you frequently rent or borrow vehicles, you may want to look into “non-owners car insurance.” This type of policy provides additional liability insurance to protect your assets from being at risk in the event that damages caused by your accident exceed the liability limits of the rental policy or that of the owner of the vehicle. Non-owner car insurance policies generally cost about half the premium of a standard car-owner policy.

In a country where it seems that car ownership is more a “right” than either a necessity or convenience, the concept of non-ownership can seem foreign. There’s no escaping the fact, however, that owning a car is an expensive proposition. It’s an interesting exercise to really assess the cost vs benefit of car ownership. Renting is an option that could, in some situations, prove financially wise.

Could situational car rental (as opposed to ownership) work for you?

5 Tips for a Successful Job Search

by Miranda Marquit · 0 comments

One of the most frustrating things out there is the job search. When you are looking for a job, especially in a touch economy, it’s difficult to stay motivated — and it’s hard to compete against everyone else out there.

If you want to improve your chances for a successful job search, here are 5 things you can do:

1. Notify Your Network

Sometimes, it really is about who you know. If you are looking for a job, notify your network. Don’t be afraid to let your Facebook friends and Twitter followers know that you are looking. Even your offline social networks might be able to help you when you let them know that you are looking for a job.

You never know when someone in your network will be able to introduce you to someone who is looking for just the right employee. Start out by letting your network know you’re looking, and you’ll boost the number of jobs you hear about.

2. Update Your Social Media Profiles

Surveys indicate that an increasing number of employers are performing online searches of potential job candidates. That means that your online presence — including what you post in social media settings — matters. You don’t want the boss to see nothing but pictures of you partying, and see updates that might put you in a bad light.

Instead, update your online presence so that your images are (mostly) professional, and be careful about what you post. Instead of posting rants, post thoughtful commentary about issues of interest in your desired industry. Make sure your online presences is ready for scrutiny.

3. Create an Online Portfolio

If applicable, create an online portfolio. You can create an online resume that makes it easy for you to share with potential employers. Additionally, your online portfolio can be easily found by someone researching you. Make sure that it’s professional, and that it is consistent with your recently updated social media profiles.

4. Do Something in the Interim

The fact that you don’t have a job isn’t an excuse to just sit around. In fact, that can hurt you a bit. Show that you’ve been out there doing something worthwhile. You can try to get an internship, or you can even volunteer. Mentioning that you have been working as a volunteer for the last six months is a lot better than having a huge gap in your work history. Whether you work on starting up a side hustle, or you take a part-time job in an interesting field, look for ways to stay busy during the job hunt so that you have something to show for the months you’ve been unemployed.

5. Send a Hand-Written Thank-You Note

If you really want to stand out, send a hand-written thank-you note after any interviews that you have had. Send it your note two to four days after your interview, and offer a reminder of who you are (and create a favorable impression). An email thank-you note can easily just be erased. A hand-written note, addressed to the interviewer, is hard to overlook.

What are your best tips for a more successful job search?

One-Stop Shopping With Sales Ads

by Jessica Sommerfield · 0 comments

Most of us are all too familiar with the concept of extreme couponing and super saving. There are countless ways to get the most out of your money when you visit the grocery store such as taking advantage of coupons, doubling coupons, sales ads, seasonal shopping, and clearance deals. Another savings method many people don’t take full advantage of is price matching. The retail market is extremely competitive as each retailer seeks to lure shoppers into their stores with the items they want at the lowest prices. To the shoppers’ advantage, this usually means competitors will honor other stores’ ads just to get the sales, whether they are taking a loss or not. From the retailers’ point of view, the little amount they lose in profit is more than made up for by satisfied customers who will stay in their stores and buy other items at full markup. If you’ve never been comfortable price matching or aren’t sure if retailers in your area participate, here are some tips to get started.

Make your list before you look at any sales ads. This is important to do because if you look at the sales ads first, you may see items you want in addition to items you absolutely need. A cheaper price on an item you don’t need is still money you hadn’t planned on spending. A good time span to shop for is 1-2 weeks, depending on your paydays and budget. Much less than this and you’ll be wasting time shopping; much more, and you risk spoiled or wasted food.

Gather all the ads from newspapers as well as online. Most stores release a weekly or bi-weekly sales ad of specially-priced items in their stores. Many times these items will be seasonally-focused and are targeted to be items shoppers will want to buy that week. If stores around you don’t release sale flyers, check their company website.

Mark items on sale that are also on your list; copy prices.You may find it necessary to add items to your list, but again, try to avoid adding anything you didn’t need before you saw the ad. In addition to marking the paper, write the sale prices next to the items on your list so you have an easy point of reference.

Bring your sales ads with you to the store and compare them as you shop. If your usual grocery store is almost always lower than its competitors, you may not have much to price match, but chances are you will find ads that feature items significantly lower than your store’s base retail, in some cases as much as a few dollars difference!

Follow the rules. To increase the chance of your price match being honored, notice the brand, size of package, and any special conditions listed on the ad. Some retailers don’t honor buy one, get one ads from other stores, or percentage off ads without original retails. Some stores will even ad match store brands with other store brands, but you should ask before assuming.

Be a polite price matcher. Many stores make a practice of being aware of competitors ads so they are able to better serve their customers and catch potential fraud. In this case, you may simply need to mention the sales price and the competitor advertising it in order to get the reduced price. Other stores may carry stricter policies that require you to bring in the actual advertisement. It’s always a good idea to bring in the sales just in case you’re questioned. If a store refuses to honor your ad match, don’t throw a fit or demand to see a manager. Matching prices to other stores is a courtesy and not an entitlement to shoppers. On the other hand, don’t be afraid to ask. Many people don’t get the best possible price on every item they buy simply because they are afraid to ask for it. Retailers are used to price matching, and the worse they can do is refuse.

Invest in Good Quality Furniture – Not “Investment Furniture”

by Gina Blitstein · 1 comment

I recently saw a television commercial for a high-end furniture store which mentioned, “investment furniture” – meaning, fine furniture in which you invest, with the intention of passing it along to your heirs. The concept struck me as superflous.

It’s not that I’m against the concept of inheriting furniture. In fact, I think it’s lovely. I have a few pieces from my parents’ home and I treasure them. But my parents purchased the furniture they needed – as they needed it – and never once were concerned with it lasting beyond its intended purpose. If furniture was given to us children as we set up our own households, it certainly wasn’t because of its “investment value” but because of practicality.

On a realistic note, by the time most parents are downsizing and ready to give away their furnishings, their children have already furnished their homes according to their own life- and aesthetic style. Their parents’ furniture is just that – someone else’s decor that has little or nothing to do with their needs or preferences.

My ultimate question of the “investment furniture” mindset is: “If we don’t want our parents’ furniture, why on earth would we think our children would want ours?” The world, lifestyles and tastes are changing more rapidly than ever; why would we spend more money than necessary on furniture that will last for generations when future generations won’t want it anyway?

That’s not to say, however, that you should buy cheap, disposable furniture. Cheap furniture will breakdown and need to be replaced. Good quality, durable pieces will provide many years of use and beauty for your initial financial outlay.

Characteristics of Quality Furniture

Overstuffed furniture

Frame – Hardwood (oak, maple, mahogany, teak, walnut, cherry and birch) which has been kiln-dried ensures that changes in humidity won’t cause the frame to warp, weaken or crack. Built-in legs are sturdier than screw-in ones. The wood at the bottom side of the frame should be 1¼” thick to provide stability.
Cushions – They should be substantial and feel heavy.
Spring system – S-type springs are the standard and should run from front to back. They should feel strong and sturdy when pushed down on without the cushions.
Tailoring – Seams should be even and the fabric pattern should have a flow with a seam going down the center of the back of the piece.

Wood furniture

Joints – Mortise and tenon and dovetail joints are the strongest and best-looking way to assemble furniture. Dowels or screws are also acceptable but good joints are never stapled. Any glue used should not be visible.
Drawers – They should be straight, fit well and be smooth inside with dust panels that separate one from another. Good drawers have glides on which to slide and stops to prevent them from falling out when pulled.
Assembly details – Corner blocks add strength and stability to a piece. Back panels face the wall and are generally attached with screws to ensure lateral stability.

Furniture Warranty

Take the furniture’s warranty into consideration as an indicator of its quality. A “better” warranty would be a Five-Year Limited Warranty, warranting the product against defective materials or workmanship for five years, based on reasonable use. Most upholstery manufacturers warranty their cushioning materials for a maximum of five years. A warranty that offers less coverage would indicate lesser quality, and one that offers more would be outstanding.

You don’t have to purchase “investment” furnishings to get lasting beauty and quality. Buy good quality and you’ll have furniture to use and love while it’s yours – isn’t that what it’s for?

What features say “quality furniture” to you?

How to Stop Buying Things Just to Have More Stuff

by Miranda Marquit · 0 comments

Shopping can be an addiction. “Shopping therapy” can give us a bit of a rush when we’re feeling down, and when we don’t know what else to do, it can be tempting to buy something new and fun. On top of that, our society places a premium on having stuff. The more stuff you have, the “cooler” you are.

As a result of all of these pressures, it can be easy to get caught up in a cycle of “needing” to buy a lot of stuff. In some cases, the things you buy might not even be tings that you truly need — or even want. Once you start buying stuff just to have it, things can get expensive for you.

If you want to stop buying stuff just for the sake of buying it, here are some things you can do to help you break the habit:

Consider the Reason You are Spending

First, think about the “why” behind your spending habits. Notice how you feel when you are shopping. Also pay attention to the reasons you give yourself when you buy something. If it feels like you’re rationalizing your purchases all the time, or if you realize that you shop the most when you feel lonely and down, it might be a good idea to take a step back.

Once you know the “why” behind your purchases, you can address the issue. If you are having trouble with your emotions or relationships, it’s a good idea to work on those problems, rather than try to assuage your feelings with a shopping spree.

And, unless impressing other people is the main priority in your life, buying more stuff to try to get people to like you probably isn’t the way to go. Once you understand that you are engaging in these habits while in a certain frame of mind, you can begin making solid changes.

Institute Spending Rules

Another way you can ease off the buying habit is to institute spending rules. You decide that purchase amounts that exceed a certain value have to be discussed with your life partner, or with someone else you trust. Make sure that your “gatekeeper” asks you questions about why you want to make the spending decision.

You can also try some of these other spending deterrents:

Waiting period: Require a two-day waiting period on “important” and “urgent” purchases. For other purchases, which are more like wants, institute a 30-day waiting period. If you still have to have the item, then you can buy it.
Cash allowance: Give yourself an allowance for discretionary purposes. You can use cash, and when the cash is gone, you have to stop. It’s an easy way to really see when you are spending money.
Get rid of something else: You can make a rule that if you buy something new, you have to get rid of something you already have. This keeps the clutter down, and it also forces you to prioritize.

It’s not easy to break a shopping habit. However, it’s important that you do what you can to prevent yourself from buying things that you really aren’t that interested in.

How do you limit your shopping impulses?

More Financial Reasons to Move to Another State

by Jessica Sommerfield · 0 comments

People move across state lines for various reasons, whether as a requirement of their career, for a job opportunity, to live closer to family, or to better their health. Where you relocate isn’t always a matter of choice, but when it is, it’s a good idea to examine which areas of the country are ranked highest for unemployment, low cost of living, and the best climate –factors that can have a lasting impact on your finances. In addition to these major expense concerns, here are a few more financial reasons to consider when moving to another state.

Reason #4: Better Quality and Affordability of Education
If you have school-aged children, you’ll want to consider which areas of the country have the highest quality public education. Receiving a high-quality education is an important step to being accepted at a equally high-quality university and being able to pursue one’s career of choice. These states are ranked the top 10 for the quality of their education:

Maryland
Massachusetts
New York
Virginia
New Jersey
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Georgia
West Virginia
Arkansas

According to greatschools.org, these cities’ education systems are ranked the highest in the country:

Raleigh, North Carolina
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Mesa, Arizona
Honolulu, Hawaii
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Higher Education is also an important consideration when moving to another state. Some states have higher-quality state as well as private universities, and some are more affordable. Living near high-quality, affordable universities can be important if you’re planning on returning to college to improve your career opportunities, or if you want to keep your college-bound children close to home. As long as you’re not spending too much on transportation, living at home and commuting to college is much less expensive than paying for room and board at any university. While most people don’t need a degree from Harvard (which can cost roughly $52,000 a year!), there is a need for quality education at an affordable price. Unfortunately the correlation is that most of the top-ranking universities also charge higher tuition. If you’re a resident, most state universities are much cheaper to attend. A few of the cheapest state universities are Texas A&M, San Diego State, University of Nevada, and Florida State University.

Reason #5: More Affordable Healthcare
Healthcare is an extremely important expense to consider into your budget, and another good factor to examine when moving to another state, especially if you normally pay high premiums, out-of-pocket, or are considered a high-risk client. According to usa-healthinsurance.com, the states with the most affordable healthcare considering 32 points of criteria are Hawaii, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. The states at the bottom of the list for healthcare costs are Nevada, Arkansas, Texas, Mississippi and Oklahoma.

Reason #6: Ideal Conditions for Retirement
More affordable healthcare leads into another important reason for relocating to another state: retirement. Retirees are often forced to live on a fixed income while at the same time becoming increasingly reliant on certain amenities such as handicap accessibility, public transportation, and proximity of health clinics. Certain states are more friendly toward retirees because they either don’t charge income tax or offer certain allowances for retirement income that make it easier to stretch your paycheck. Of course, warmer climates are generally more popular for retirees, as well as states with many retirement communities and low-cost leisure activities. Here are the most popular retirement states based on their low cost of living, taxes, and other benefits:

Florida
North Carolina
Tennessee
South Carolina
California
Arizona

Looking at these lists, it’s easy to see that some states have more ideal financial conditions for college students or those with children, whereas others are better for people with high healthcare costs or those approaching retirement Among the multitude of factors to be considered when venturing a move to another state, the most important reasons will vary by the individual. The financial repercussions of moving to another state may be overshadowed by more important reasons for moving such as family or personal happiness, but are still wise to consider.

Frugal Container Vegetable Gardening in Action

by Gina Blitstein · 0 comments

I recently wrote about container gardening as a frugal alternative for those without a lot of yard space for growing vegetables. I took my own advice this year and planted vegetables in containers around our yard. My budget was tight for the project – only $100.00 – but I was curious to see what could be accomplished – and grown – with a small investment and some sweat equity.

Containers

I raided the garage for containers. I had several large planters stored in there from previous years’ annuals or long-dead houseplants. Some hanging baskets and old window boxes were returned to service as well. Then I got creative and found additional “planters” that began their lives as cat litter buckets, a dresser drawer and a deep plastic tray. They’re not traditionally “pretty” but we’re after utility for this frugal project. Besides, who’s going to notice the container when the veggies are growing?

To the garden center!

This is where having done some research is a good idea, to inform you about what grows well in your geographic area, the length of your growing season and how long individual vegetables take to reach maturity. As the most critical part of my gardening project, this shopping excursion was thoroughly considered before I set foot in the store. I had created a list of my “wants” (the seeds and plants I would look for) so my mission would have focus.

Buying seeds
I prefer growing from seeds when possible because they’re so much cheaper than plants – so the seed rack was my first destination. I went for variety in my garden, choosing carrot, green bean, radish, parsley, basil, cilantro, lettuces, spinach and green onion seeds at no more than $2.49 for any one packet. Seed packs provide planting instructions, detailing how deep to sow and how far apart; unless you have a multitude of containers, you won’t use all the seeds in the packet at once. Many vegetables can be planted successively several weeks apart to provide a continuous harvest. Others that don’t fare well in the hottest weather, like lettuce and spinach, can be planted once in the spring and again in late summer for a fall harvest. Seeds I didn’t find on my “want” list, like thyme, sage and marjoram, I found in plant form.

Buying plants
I bought established tomato and pepper plants because our growing season isn’t long enough to grow them from seed, which would take longer. I go for the smallest plants available, however, because larger ones are more expensive and all I’m looking for is a headstart on the growing – not a fully grown plant. The two heirloom varieties of tomatoes and the cherry tomato plant were available singly in 3” pots and I found Roma and beefsteak varieties and jalapeño peppers in 6-packs (six well-established, smaller plants) all under $4 per container.

Buying potting medium
I found a terrific potting medium that was clearly labeled as being appropriate for both container use and for growing vegetables which even contained fertilizer! I put five large bags in my cart at $5 each.

To the garden!

The next step was to plant those seedlings! Many of my previous planters had potting soil in them already so, rather than waste it, I mixed it with the new potting medium. I situated the planted containers in various sunny spots around the yard. To save on my water bill, I collect rain in a bucket to use for watering the garden.

Now it’s a matter of time, sun and temperature. I’ll follow up later in the season on the harvest.

How do you garden frugally?

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