Tightwad

Save money by growing your own organic produce

Looking for ways to cut down on costs without sacrificing quality of meals? Extreme couponing is a hot trend, but if you eat healthfully, you’ve probably noticed that most of those coupons are for processed foods. If you’re a fruit and veggie lover, you may feel like there’s no way to win the grocery budget war. Thankfully, there is a way to win: by planting your own garden.

If you’re not convinced, take the time to do a little math. Keep your grocery receipts for a month and add up home much you spend on fruits and veggies. Then go visit your local hardware store or nursery and calculate out what you’ll spend on good soil, compost, and packets of seeds. You can fertilize your garden with compost you create from your own veggie peels (not mention egg shells and coffee grounds, where appropriate). The price difference is astounding. Yes, it is undeniably cheaper to grow your own produce. But how can you do this? What if you don’t live out in the country? The following tips will help eliminate your excuses and help you save money—and eat healthier, too.

Finding the right space Many new gardeners think they simply don’t have the space to create a garden, but these options may open your mind to the possibilities:

Plant a balcony garden in pots on your patio or balcony
Convert a piece of your lawn or flowerbeds into a garden
Build a raised garden if the yard is not level
Ask your apartment manager if you can start a coop garden space in some of the apartment-owned land
Rent a coop garden space from your town or city
Advertise online for home owners who will let you use part of their land to garden in exchange for a portion of your produce

If you really want to start a garden, you’ll find the space. People have gardens in New York City, LA, and Las Vegas, so you certainly can find a space to start your garden.

Preparing your garden Before you stick a handful of seeds in the ground, you have to properly prepare the soil. Invest in a soil testing kit or simply prepare your garden area with a combination of top soil, compost, and a little bit of sand and peat moss. Be sure to till the soil well (or mix it well, if you’re starting with all new soil in pots or a raised garden).

Planting wisely When planting, be sure to pay attention to the needs of the specific plants. Shade or full sun? Water-loving or acid-loving? Needs how much room between plants?

Plant such that you will capitalize on the produce you most enjoy eating, but also coordinate with a fellow gardener or two. It’s common in coop garden settings for gardeners to share produce and exchange a little of this for a little of that. Depending on what part of the country you’re in, you may be able to grow produce year round. Look into green house and cold frames for winter gardens and early starts in spring.

Enjoying the fruits (and vegetables!) of your labor Once you start harvesting your fruit and vegetables, you’ll realize the long-term benefits of growing your own produce. Network with other gardeners for variety and growing tips. If you can connect with enough people, you may be able to set up a weekly produce exchange or coordinated efforts that will result in more variety and healthier lifestyles.

About the author: Bridget Sandorford is a grant researcher and writer for CulinarySchools.org. Along with her passion for whipping up recipes that incorporate “superfoods”, she recently finished research on culinary schools and culinary schools in California.

Shopping for office supplies online yields convenience and savings

It seemed like a crazy idea when it first started. During the dot.com bubble of the late '90s, there was a web-site for buying everything online. Pets.com may have been the most interesting, helping you mail order your pet food or kitty litter, as long as you didn’t mind waiting several days to get it. As one writer put it, “let’s face it, when you need kitty litter, you need kitty litter.” When the bubble popped the idea of ordering basic supplies became questionable in many people’s minds.
But a few things have changed in the last ten years. With the proliferation of the mobile internet, just-in-time inventory, and the restructuring of supply chains, consumers are learning that it is actually possible to save money by buying online. Just look at the number of brick and mortar retailers that are either struggling or have declared bankruptcy. Materials with high margins or costly storage are prime candidates for buying online.
So what about your office supplies? You might be surprised to discover that buying materials online can significantly cut your costs. Retail suppliers have to make so many varieties of paper and other materials available, that the storage and retail costs can be significant. By ordering the specific kind you need, you avoid all of those costs.
But these savings are even more pronounced when it comes to ink cartridges and printer supplies. These are high-margin items, because manufacturers and retailers recognize that you have to buy their cartridge (or replace the printer). The almost endless number of printer models available makes this worse, since buying and keeping all of the toner cartridges in stock is rather involved. If your local office supply store stocks the specific cartridge you need, expect to pay for all the time it sat in storage!
This is why internet retailers are generally the best source for printer cartridges and other office supplies. Rather than simply hoping that your local source might be supplying the right cartridge, choose exactly what you need and have it delivered to your workplace. The convenience and ease you enjoy will be matched by a real and meaningful financial savings.
The real factor that makes internet suppliers the better supplier (and the major change since the dot.com bubble) is that shipping is generally fast and costs little or nothing. Many suppliers offer free shipping on toner cartridges or other supplies.
Many people have wondered how these kinds of prices are realistic or sustainable. In actuality, internet retail is simply the next development in a truly efficient market system. Free shipping makes sense, as long as the cost of shipping is less than the cost of storing or stocking the same products on store shelves. More importantly, these products usually have to be shipped from a distributor to the retail stores where they will be sold. Internet retailers simply eliminate an unnecessary step, creating greater efficiency and passing the savings on to their customers.
As a consumer, make sure that you aren’t losing money by unnecessarily paying higher prices for the same products. It is important to take advantage of cheaper prices and better selections for office products by shopping and purchasing online.
This article is a guest contribution from Joel Arnold of Inkpal.com.

Finally! The secret to happiness

Finally, author Leo Bormans has studied and compiled the research of one hundred experts around the world to discover the secret of being happy. His findings, although not really a mystery, are list a great reminder that daily joy, which might contribute to a longer life, isn't inaccessible. Happiness is yours to choose! The following "how to be happy" list is found in Bormans' book, The World Book of Happiness:
1. Accept what you have 2. Enjoy what you do 3. Live for today 4. Choose happiness 5. Relationships 6. Stay busy 7. Don't compare 8. Be yourself 9. Stop worrying 10. Get organized 11. Think positive 12. Value happiness

About... parsnips

Parsnips are a root vegetable and, like carrots, are often sold without their green leafy tops. Choose small to medium sized creamy white roots with are smooth, firm and blemish-free. Winter parsnips are often sweeter than their fall counterparts because the cold weather converts their starches to sugar - so sometimes a touch of frost is a good thing. Parsnips will keep in your crisper drawer for up to a month, unwashed. These unsung kitchen heroes are perfect for roasting or mashing - and that's not all! Here are some recipes to inspire you - root you on, so to speak:

Ting Urban Kitchen Batalli's squid ink pasta with parsnips and pancetta
The Family Kitchen parsnip potato soup
Jenn Cuisine herb roasted celeraic and parsnips
Scrumptious parsnip, potato and cumin pancakes with creme fraiche and chives
Penne and Olive mini root vegetable gratin
The Guardian roast parsnips with honey and thyme

Money tips for women

Tightwad loves Suze Orman. She's no-nonsense and tells you what's what. Here are some Suze-style tips to help you get your financial house in order:

Don't rely on anyone else for financial security Educate yourself about money management and investing.

Set goals They are key to financial success.
Don't use money to make yourself feel good That short term fix will make you feel worse! Nurture self-respect and creativity so you don't seek those feelings through spending money.
Spend less than you earn It's the secret to creating and maintaining wealth.
Get an education People with degrees make significantly more money than those who don't.
Build an emergency fund Losing your job or incurring an unexpected bill could force you to take on heavy debt and could seriously compromise your financial well-being.
Be involved in the day-to-day management of your family's finances.
Talk about money with your family and significant other.
Wait to tie the knot until you are both debt free.
Don't let fear of losing money, failure or the unknown stop you from investing.
Learn from your money mistakes
Remember everyday is a new day and a chance for a fresh start!