If you live in or plan to visit New York you might want to check out the special double issue of New York magazine. It’s all about cheap eats…everything under $25. I don’t live there, but I get a subscription to the magazine through one of my freelance writer memberships, so unfortunately I won’t be able to check out some of the bargains.

One story I enjoyed reading in this issue was The Great Cheapavore Challenge. Three chefs had to create a three course meal using the cheapest locally grown food. Even on a budget they were able to use expensive sounding foods like lavender perfumed cheese…which goes to prove that if you use expensive items creatively you can fit them into just about any budget.

Speaking of local grown fare, I’ve been meaning to visit the new market at my local arboretum, but either haven’t had time to drive there, or it’s just been too hot to drag myself into the car. In fact, last week I got a little more incentive to head there after I watched Emeril Live. He was bottling pickles and making homemade thousand-island dressing. It got me thinking about doing some preserving this year. My late mother in law gave me all her canning supplies, and so far I haven’t used them. These last couple of summers it’s been too hot to stand in the kitchen all day. I was even thinking about soup the other day. No, not to eat, but with all the great veggies that are in abundance, it makes sense to buy them and make soup to store in the freezer for fall and winter eating. Maybe when the weather gets a little cooler I’ll get around to it.

I was thinking about some of the projects I plan to do this fall. One stares me in the face every time I go into the basement to do laundry. No, it’s not to decorate the basement, but there’s a can of paint that’s been sitting there…I’m ashamed to write this… for two years. It’s a custom color I picked out to paint the walls in the entryway. And okay, I do have a perfect excuse for procrastinating. The entry way has high walls and the regular ladder can’t reach all the way to the top, and as I’m short…well you get the picture. And it looks like the only way to reach the top is to rent some scaffolding. Then I’ve got to find someplace that rents scaffolding…see why I’ve been putting it off? Anyway, my point is paint is one of the least expensive ways to change the look of a room. And a Budget Smart Girl know, you always go with what gives you the ‘biggest bang for your buck’.


For money saving tips visit www.gardenandhearth.com/Bargain-Shopping.htm and www.gardenandhearth.com/EatingWellonaBudget.htm

I’ve been working on the Eating Well on a Budget book and testing some of the recipes I want to include in it. Potato salad, roasted veggies with feta cheese in puff pasty, my own version of ranch dressing, and a roasted chicken and vegetable pizza.

A couple of years ago I was all set to teach a class on promoting your business at my local community education center, but it got canceled due to low enrollment. I kept all the notes I’d written for it and thought rather than waste them I’d turn them into a book, well, an e-book. I’ve also decided to add some budget saving tips too.

I’ve been a cable subscriber for more years than I care to remember, but just recently I’ve not been too pleased with the service. The price went up and it seems like every week they’re taking another channel away from our plan. First of all it was AMC, then Lifetime Movie Network, then Oxygen and the Soap Channel, last week it was WE. They’re the only cable company in our area, and I suppose that explains the cuts and the price increase. We looked at switching to satellite TV, but we also get our high speed Internet service from the cable company and had a note saying if we don’t get cable service from them, our Internet Service will cost $5 per month. I guess some companies know they’ve got you right where they want you.

The gas tank in my car was almost completely empty the other day. I usually top it up when it’s getting close to the E, but just got too busy. I watched in amazement as the price went up and up and I discovered that these days it takes close to $40 to fill up the car. Okay, I’ve had it for some time…well actually back in the days when gas cost under $2. If it wasn’t so hot and humid these days I’d run ‘close to home’ errands on my bike.

For money saving tips visit www.gardenandhearth.com/Bargain-Shopping.htm

When is a bargain not a bargain? When you have to throw it away. That’s exactly what I had to do last week. I fell for the buy one get one free deal in the produce department. This time around it was cherry tomatoes in those little red net bags. You can’t check them out when they’re bunched together in a bag. And I forgot one of the golden rules, lots of produce is reduced because it’s close to its sell by date and ready to spoil. Most of these tomatoes had already spoiled, some had mold on them, others were so wrinkled that they looked like they were in urgent need of some Botox.

Seems like no matter how cautious you are about keeping all your personal and financial information safe these days, someone else can come along and spoil it. Last week I received a note from a company I’d never even heard of, or done business with, telling me they do check clearance for retail merchants and one of their employees had sold information, including mine, to a data broker. Obviously I’d shopped at a store that had sent my check to this company for clearance. Thinking it was better to be safe than sorry I headed down to the bank the following day, closed my checking account.

This week on Budget Smart Girl’s Guide I’ve been focusing on summer sales.
I’m looking for a good deal on jeans and as most of my white t-shirts have seen better days I’m on the lookout for those too.

I was just looking at the Michaels arts and craft store flyer. They have their clearance and dollar days sales this week. I recently got back into knitting and I’m trying to figure out what my next project should be. I’m leaning toward knitting myself a sweater. I have some patterns, but when I work out how much wool I’ll need and the price of each skein, it seems cheaper to buy a sweater at the store. (I suppose you also pay for the pleasure of knitting and after all, every hobby costs money, right)

For money saving tips visit www.gardenandhearth.com/Bargain-Shopping.htm

I went shopping for plants and found myself some bargains at The Home Depot. A cart full of perennials for $40. I picked some that are drought tolerant because the suburb while I live has a continual watering ban now. And if there ever was a waste of money it’s buying plants that die through lack of water. I also got a bag of mulch and made sure I packed it around all the new plants. Yesterday was really hot and today is even worse, although some rain is forecast later. I’m thinking about buying a rain barrel to catch the water…when it does rain. My father used one for years and was able to water all the plants without having to turn on the outside faucet. Once again a way to save money and help save a valuable resource.

Speaking of water I have to admit I have a weakness for bottled water, but I’m gradually cutting down on the amount I buy. Maybe one large bottle to take outside with me when I’m gardening, or to put in the car. I did buy a Brita water pitcher with a filter. We also have a reverse osmosis system on the faucet, so at least all the water we drink is going through two filtrations.

If you read my Budget Smart Girl’s Guide you’ll know I’ve been featuring buying and selling on eBay for the last couple of weeks. I do sell my old books on half.com and now I’m thinking about trying eBay. I have a box of stuff I no longer want and if I only get about $50 for everything, it’s money I wouldn’t have had. A garage sale is another option, but they’re a lot of work and then you have to pack everything up and find a way to get rid of the stuff if it doesn’t sell. I’m wondering if more people are going the eBay route these days because I don’t see as many sales in the neighborhood as I once did.

The farm stand close to where I live opens next week and I can’t wait to take a trip there. I usually walk away with a bag load of veggies for around $10 and like to plan meals around them.

For money saving tips visit www.gardenandhearth.com/Bargain-Shopping.htm

I was back working in the garden this week as the weeds were starting to take over the place. While I was cleaning up the flowerbeds I decided to do some more transplanting. This time it was tiger lilies and lilacs. One of my perennial gardens has some space that needs filling in, and now that we’re almost half way through the growing season… you’ve guessed it, I’m thinking about sales. Guess who’s going shopping for bargain priced plants this week?

Speaking of sales, anything related to the great outdoors is going to be greatly reduced after the fourth of July. I have a swing seat with a canopy that my mom gave me. It had a big soft cushion, but one year I stored it in the potting shed and that was the same year a family of squirrels decided to take their winter vacation there. Yes, you’ve guessed it, the stuffing in the cushion made the most wonderful nesting material for them. I tried to repair it, but it was too far gone…or eaten. I’ve never replaced it, but this year I’m going to start looking for cushions at the after Fourth of July sales.

Remember the sandals I was trying to repair and the one store wanted $45? I found another store that’s going to put new soles on for just $10. It pays to shop around and not just throw things away! Oh, and the canvas shoes, remember I got that sneaker wash, worked perfectly.

Items I no longer want I usually donate to a local charity. One tip I’ve learned is if you want to maximize the amount you claim on next year’s taxes, take a sheet of paper and write down every single item you put into the bag and make a note of what it would be worth if you sold it. I used to just take a guess and really shortchanged myself. This year I’m taking this new approach.

Our local DIY store has a special sale on those umbrella style clotheslines. I’ve been meaning to get one, but so far they’ve all been a bit pricey. This week the store is offering a rebate on one, which makes the final cost $19. It’s tempting, not only do your clothes smell great when they’re lined dried, but look at the money you save by not running the dryer… and not heating up the house to do it.



For money saving tips visit www.gardenandhearth.com/Bargain-Shopping.htm