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