Here's part 5 (and last) of a Money Central piece on how you can save big on a small income:
A big way to save on a small income is to embrace DIY as your financial salvation. Making gifts and homemade cards, cooking at home, and baking everything from scratch are some creative ways to save:
"We've made lamps, a window seat, a bar, our headboard, a corner sofa and various tables and shelves," writes Kelly. "It's saved us a fortune."
"There is little that can't be cleaned with (a mix of) vinegar and baking soda,” writes ylm23. "We use the mix throughout the kitchen, bathroom, dining room -- and have scrubbed pots and pans with it."
"Don't forget gardening as a money-saving venture," writes a green-thumbed reader. "One year, I fed the four of us and a neighbor for almost four months from a 10-by-15-foot garden."
My thoughts:
1. My wife makes her own cleaners. They do as well or better than regular products and are a whole lot cheaper.
2. Our kids often make cards for birthdays and special events. It saves us a ton of money plus adds a nice heartfelt sentiment to the event.
3. My rose garden is a cheap way to keep my wife in flowers all summer. I have 20 bushes that only need food, water, and an occasional spraying. They provide entertainment for me (taking care of them), beautiful scenery for the front of our house, ready-made gifts for all occasions (it's simple to buy a $1 vase at Wal-mart and cut off a dozen roses for a special event), and on-going decorations for our home. (This past summer I grew about 2,000 flowers on those 20 bushes.) The bushes themselves are 3 years old. Yes, I lose a couple every year (I live in Michigan after all and winters are harsh), but the cost to replace them is only $15 each and they pay for themselves quickly.
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