Tips like these helped us pay off $127K in debt. You can read our story in Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After.
Hooray, it’s officially spring. The flowers are starting to poke their little heads up from the ground and before we know it, the green grass will grow all around. After a very long winter, I rejoiced just to push mow again. The newness of the spring beckons many us to yard work and curbside beautification. However, our well-intentioned lawn dreams can easily morph into un-budgeted, overspending nightmares. You can still keep your yard beautiful this spring and summer without breaking the bank. Here are some simple tips to keep your spending and your flower beds under control.
Begin With the Clean Up
One of the easiest traps to fall into each spring is to head to your local home improvement store without thinking about what you actually need. Rather than gaining inspiration in the aisles, begin by endeavoring in a spring clean up. Gather sticks, rake leaves from the flower beds, and clear away any unwanted trash. Once your yard is a clean slate, then you can get a better estimate of what you actually need instead of making impulse buys that go to waste. Don’t forget to knock the dust off of your tools and lawn care equipment, too.
Seek Out Free Mulch
Live within city limits? Some cities offer a branch collection service. These branches are then chopped up and turned into mulch that is absolutely FREE for its citizens. Typically, supplies are not available until after Memorial Day weekend because the mulch needs to properly cure. You’ll need to bring along a utility bill as proof of residency and a vehicle that you don’t mind having mulch dumped into en masse as it is not bagged. Our family also has space for open air compost that we turn into mulch. While not for everyone, the process is easy and much less smelly than you might assume. Our bin, which has lasted for years, was constructed from chicken wire and boards we had our garage.
Go Perennial & Plant Bulbs in the Fall
While more expensive in up front costs, perennial flowers grace your flower beds with longterm beauty. Either purchase perennials or see if your friends, family, or neighbors will give you a “start” of one of these plants. Bulbs planted during fall months also bring spring beauty without extra costs and little effort. Both will simplify the landscaping process as well.
Set a Cash Budget & Stick to It
I might sound like a clanging cymbal, but you must, must, must set a cash budget when it comes to landscaping (and every other category of your finances). It’s simply too easy to overspend in the springtime on flowers, mulch, yard ornaments, and more. As our hearts yearn for warmer weather, we want everything on display. From a new gas grill to a cute little gnome, from beautiful daisies to fresh herbs – there are so many wonderful “things” you can purchase. But let’s fact it, you can’t afford it all. So set a cash budget before you leave your yard and commit to sticking to it no matter what you might see.
Think About the Work Involved
Your time is money. While an ornately landscaped yard adds value to your home, it also adds hours of effort. Be sure you calculate the upkeep and maintenance involved with your outdoor projects. Fish ponds need to be cleaned. Flower beds need to be weeded. What is exciting and fresh and new in April might be grueling in July. Count all of the costs when it comes to your investment.
Get a Local Tune Up
Work your social media channels to see who has had an excellent experience with a local business who tunes up lawn mowers and sharpens blades. Your friends and neighbors have valuable opinions on where to go and where to avoid, along with an approximate amount you’ll spend annually for such services. Tune ups might have an upfront cost expense, too but they will guarantee your equipment runs efficiently. Efficient use means less gas to purchase and a longer life for your mower, both resulting in fewer overall dollars spent.
Keep your grass nice and green without spending too much green this spring. You’ll enjoy your outdoor space even more knowing that you haven’t overspent.
My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out Inspiration to Pay Off Debt: 30 Days of Encouragement from the Queen of Free
This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal or maybe even something for free, you also help our family pay off our mortgage early. And for that, we royally thank you!
