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Eco Grass
Eco Grass – the art of Growing a Frugal Lawn!
What is Eco Grass and how does it compare with a normal lawn? Can an Eco Grass save you money? If you have a garden then the top of the “wish list” is usually a green lawn that both looks good and provides a nice place to sit out in the summer. Well, if you follow the text books and gardening programs on TV then that green lawn is going to cost you a lot of time and money to maintain. Lets examine the Eco Grass alternative and see if we can create a Frugal lawn that delivers the same impact but at the fraction of the cost!
What Makes a Lawn Look Green?
This is what Eco Grass looks like…a complete mixture of grasses and flowering plants…keep it short and it stays green…let it grow longer and it flowers!
The first thing we need to think about is “impact”…..a lawn looks great because it is green, and this is a very relaxing color. A conventional lawn grown like a football pitch or cricket square will just contain grass…and lots of time, effort and money is used to eradicate the “weeds”. In our gardens do we really care as long as it looks green?
- Grass – this is the main element that makes a conventional lawn green. There are many varieties to choose from if you are starting from scratch…but if you already have a lawn then the frugal choice is to just keep what you have
- Clover – this is a very common growing companion to grass in both natural and managed pastures. The clover will withstand cutting well and the nitrogen fixing roots help enrich the soil. Since clover can fix its own nitrogen it tends to start to take over in lawns that are not fertilized on a regular basis…ie the grass needs loads of nitrogen to grow strongly so if there is less then the clover will start to proliferate. But who cares…it is green and has nice white or purple flowers if you leave it grow longer
- Dandelions – these are actually pretty bad news in both a conventional and an Eco Grass. They grow quickly from seed and if the lawn is kept fairly short they form a flat “rosette” which eventually shades out the grass and other plants completely. Go out and dig up five a day with a pen knife and they will soon be gone!
- Moss – this starts out green in the winter but turns a nasty brown in the summer when there is less rain. Moss grows when the soil is not free draining. It can be removed by raking and prevented by improving the drainage …eg by spiking the lawn with a fork every autumn.
- Weeds – there are literally hundreds of other plants that can be found naturally in a lawn if no weedkillers are used. Daisy, Ajuga and Birds Foot Trefoil being some of the most common. Leave the grass slightly longer than normal and you will be rewarded by a carpet of flowers!
This is what Eco Grass looks like…a complete mixture of grasses and flowering plants…keep it short and it stays green…let it grow longer and it flowers!
The first thing we need to think about is “impact”…..a lawn looks great because it is green, and this is a very relaxing color. A conventional lawn grown like a football pitch or cricket square will just contain grass…and lots of time, effort and money is used to eradicate the “weeds”. In our gardens do we really care as long as it looks green?
- Grass – this is the main element that makes a conventional lawn green. There are many varieties to choose from if you are starting from scratch…but if you already have a lawn then the frugal choice is to just keep what you have
- Clover – this is a very common growing companion to grass in both natural and managed pastures. The clover will withstand cutting well and the nitrogen fixing roots help enrich the soil. Since clover can fix its own nitrogen it tends to start to take over in lawns that are not fertilized on a regular basis…ie the grass needs loads of nitrogen to grow strongly so if there is less then the clover will start to proliferate. But who cares…it is green and has nice white or purple flowers if you leave it grow longer
- Dandelions – these are actually pretty bad news in both a conventional and an Eco Grass. They grow quickly from seed and if the lawn is kept fairly short they form a flat “rosette” which eventually shades out the grass and other plants completely. Go out and dig up five a day with a pen knife and they will soon be gone!
- Moss – this starts out green in the winter but turns a nasty brown in the summer when there is less rain. Moss grows when the soil is not free draining. It can be removed by raking and prevented by improving the drainage …eg by spiking the lawn with a fork every autumn.
- Weeds – there are literally hundreds of other plants that can be found naturally in a lawn if no weedkillers are used. Daisy, Ajuga and Birds Foot Trefoil being some of the most common. Leave the grass slightly longer than normal and you will be rewarded by a carpet of flowers!
How to Grow Eco Grass Quickly
The Eco Grass in our garden rewards us with literally thousands of violets every spring. If we used weedkiller there would be none!
To create a frugal Eco Grass that looks nice and is both cheap & easy to maintain just follow these steps:
- Stop using all weedkiller – this will save you time and money as well as creating a safer & healthier garden. Yes some more weeds will grow in your Eco Grass but the overall effect will be green…and the wildlife will flourish. Who wants to use toxic chemicals in their garden anyway?
- Raise the Blade on your Mower – stop cutting the grass so short! Short grass needs much more water in the summer to stay green and needs mowing more often to stay neat. Aim for an Eco Grass around 2 or 3 inches long ( up to 6cm)…this way you will also get some pretty flowers as well.
- Leave the Clippings on the Lawn – stop using the grassbox every time you mow. By taking the grass cuttings away you are removing nutrients so the grass will get weaker. Of course the clippings are great for the compost heap….but the best option is to remove the clippings at the start and end of the season when the grass is longer and leave them on during the summer to help fertilize the Eco Grass you are growing.
- Reduce Fertilizer Use – unless the grass looks really yellow and sickly don’t bother with any expensive fertilizers. For a small lawn you can get away with a folia feed made from fermented nettles or even diluted urine watered on (yes really…the uric acid contains a lot of nitrogen…one pee per watering can full of water if you dare try it!!)
- Hand Weed a Little and Often – every time you walk across your Eco Grass try to pull out a Dandelion or some other undesirable weed….use a penknife to cut out the root below ground level. Just do this every time you can and you will soon see a big improvement!
- Do not Water – if you water your lawn on a regular basis then this will encourage the kind of grass and plants that grow well with plenty of moisture. If you stop watering then you will encourage the plants that can survive in harsh conditions. In a really hot summer the lawn will get scorched anyway no matter how much you spend on watering…..come the Autumn and Fall everything will be green again!
Eco Grass Video
Checkout some real examples of Eco Grass in this video……
The Eco Grass in our garden rewards us with literally thousands of violets every spring. If we used weedkiller there would be none!
To create a frugal Eco Grass that looks nice and is both cheap & easy to maintain just follow these steps:
- Stop using all weedkiller – this will save you time and money as well as creating a safer & healthier garden. Yes some more weeds will grow in your Eco Grass but the overall effect will be green…and the wildlife will flourish. Who wants to use toxic chemicals in their garden anyway?
- Raise the Blade on your Mower – stop cutting the grass so short! Short grass needs much more water in the summer to stay green and needs mowing more often to stay neat. Aim for an Eco Grass around 2 or 3 inches long ( up to 6cm)…this way you will also get some pretty flowers as well.
- Leave the Clippings on the Lawn – stop using the grassbox every time you mow. By taking the grass cuttings away you are removing nutrients so the grass will get weaker. Of course the clippings are great for the compost heap….but the best option is to remove the clippings at the start and end of the season when the grass is longer and leave them on during the summer to help fertilize the Eco Grass you are growing.
- Reduce Fertilizer Use – unless the grass looks really yellow and sickly don’t bother with any expensive fertilizers. For a small lawn you can get away with a folia feed made from fermented nettles or even diluted urine watered on (yes really…the uric acid contains a lot of nitrogen…one pee per watering can full of water if you dare try it!!)
- Hand Weed a Little and Often – every time you walk across your Eco Grass try to pull out a Dandelion or some other undesirable weed….use a penknife to cut out the root below ground level. Just do this every time you can and you will soon see a big improvement!
- Do not Water – if you water your lawn on a regular basis then this will encourage the kind of grass and plants that grow well with plenty of moisture. If you stop watering then you will encourage the plants that can survive in harsh conditions. In a really hot summer the lawn will get scorched anyway no matter how much you spend on watering…..come the Autumn and Fall everything will be green again!
Eco Grass Video
Checkout some real examples of Eco Grass in this video……
Alternative Ideas:
Migrating to an Eco Grass will certainly save you both time and money year after year…it’s a no brainer. But you can go further and create some other habits in your garden that are low cost/maintenance, look good and are great for attracting wildlife……the Eco Grass is just the first step!
Create a Meadow Area: Find an area of lawn that you do not need to walk on regularly and stop mowing all together. Just wait and see what happens…you will get really nice wild flowers popping up and statuesque grasses as they go to seed. Cut the area down to 3 inches (6cm) in the Autumn and just mow once in the spring. Wow…think of the time that will save!
Here is an Eco Grass with a section left completely uncut….it looks stunning and the birds love it!
Sow a Flower Carpet: Remove the top layer of turf altogether and sow either wild flower seeds or the special “carpet” mixtures that are available. The Carpet mixtures contain up to 50 different flowers and you can get special mixtures that are just for really dry areas. In the Autumn and Fall the birds will peck away at the seeds and really enjoy this area. Many seeds will be left to come up the following year as well…or just save some of the seed (link to seed saving) and re-sow the next year after removing the weeds.
Here is a really colorful Eco Grass….you can collect the seeds and continue growing it year after year!
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You can also make your eco grass more diverse and interesting through the seasons by planting some bulbs….
Eco Grass and the Future:
As fertilizer & weedkillers become more expensive…and drought becomes more common the only viable route forward for the home gardener is experiment with Eco Grass and find out which method works best for your lifestyle and climate. However, whatever your final choice…going down the Eco Grass route will save you time and money as well as benefiting the environment! If you search around there are plenty of suppliers for the seed you will need……here is one that gives plenty of practical advice: www.wildflowerfarm.com
Primroses & Cowslips will seed themselves very quickly in your Eco Grass if you stop using chemicals and raise your mower blade height
A Case Study from Dorking England:
Two years ago mowing was stopped on one part of the lawn since it was thick with moss and clover….mowing just turned it bald and brown in the summer…..with no mowing the clover flourished and apart from providing plenty of flowers for the bees looked lovely! This year the eco grass experiment was continued and extended to another area with practical paths cut between the longer areas of grass. The overall effect is really pleasing with much lower maintenance and a richer habitat. The proof of the improvement was the discovery of a lovely orchid that rose up once the regular grass cutting had been stopped. What a reward for a dedicated eco grass enthusiast!!
Here paths have been cut in the Eco Grass to allow easy access to parts of the garden while still maintaining the longer habitat rich longer grass areas in-between
An unexpected visitor to an Eco Grass in Dorking….a lovely orchid!
Take a Frugal Tip from the MeanyGoat and start growing an Eco Grass today! Start adding up how much money you spend on irrigation, fertilizer and weedkiller…then work out how much time you spend mowing. Creating an Eco Grass really does save you time and money…it creates a diverse and natural habitat that is safe for both your family and the local wildlife!
Stop Mowing Today!With thanks to Anne & Pete for the pictures & story from Dorking……..
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Home Made Screen Wash
Home Made Screen Wash Ideas – Do they Work?
If you spend any time behind the wheel of your car then you know how important it is to have a clean windscreen. But how can you achieve this cheaply and what happens if the garage has sold out of regular screen wash? Home made screen wash is simple to make but does it work and is it safe to use without damaging your car?
Car Cleaning Mentality:
Home Made Screen Wash can be a good way to keep your windshield clean and so help optimize your visibly for safer driving.
Generally there are two kinds of car owners…those who spend all Sunday morning cleaning and polishing their car (is this really a substitute for masturbation?) and those who only clean their car the day before it is due to be sold. It has to be said that the Meany Goat does fall into the latter category! However, when it comes to car safety then if you clean nothing else then always make sure that your car windows, number plates and headlamps are all gleaming. This makes common sense from a road safety point of view but will also keep you clear of unwanted attention from the local traffic police…who can also fine you! Equally, if you are involved in any kind of car accident and there is the possibility that you had reduced vision due to a dirty wind screen then you could also run into problems with your insurance claim. All ways round it makes sense to keep your windshield clean, but what is the best way to do this without spending a lot of money on the commercial products? Well, home made screen wash is cheap and easy to make so lets check out the options!
Home Made Screen Wash Options:
The first practical consideration is the season. In the summer most of us don’t have to worry about our home made screen wash freezing up, but what about in the winter?
Summer Screen Wash Recipe
When temperatures are above freezing then home made screen wash is really easy to make…
- Use Clean Tap Water - Fill the screen wash reservoir nearly to the top with water
- Add Vinegar - Just tip a tea spoon full of regular or spirit vinegar into the screen wash reservoir
- Add a Few Drops of Dish Soap - Just a small squirt….too much and you will end up with froth everywhere
Simple as that! Cleaning the wiper blades with a cloth and some vinegar will also stop them from squeaking! There are scare stories that the dish soap can damage the paintwork of your car since it contains salt. Well, a few drops of highly diluted washing up liquid will only contain a minute amount of salt compared with the spray from the road which will contain huge amounts of salt residue from the winter salting.
Winter Screen Wash Recipe
Once there is a risk of low temperatures then you need to use a slightly different recipe for your home made screen wash…..
- Use Clean Tap Water - Fill the screen wash reservoir nearly to the top with water
- Add Vinegar - Just tip a tea spoon full of regular or spirit vinegar into the screen wash reservoir
- Add a Few Drops of Dish Soap - Just a small squirt….too much and you will end up with froth everywhere
- Add Meths - Tip a few tea spoons of Methylated spirits into your mixture. You can also use Vodka if you live in an area where you can buy it really cheaply (eg Poland)
Most commercial winter grade screen wash contains alcohol based chemicals to reduce the freezing point so meths or vodka will do just the same job…the colder it is the more you need to add. Cheaper screen wash will show acetic acid in the ingredients instead…this is our friend vinegar which will also work but does not have such a low freezing point so you still run the risk of blocked jets.
Other Considerations:
Bacteria and algae can build up in the screen wash reservoir and this can have some serious consequences:
- The Slime from Bacteria and Algae can block up your washer jets
- The Dirty Water in the Reservoir may harbor the dangerous legionella bacterium
Commercial screen wash usually contains additives that will kill bacteria and algae. If you only ever use water as a screen wash then there is a risk of nasty stuff growing in the reservoir that may block the washer jets. Usually it is pretty easy to unclip the reservoir and wash it out thoroughly once a year or whenever the water smells bad. Research from the UK does indicate that there is a credible risk of contracting legionnaires’ disease from contaminated screen wash water. The disease is spread in water mists or droplets and can easily thrive in warm stagnant water…hence the risk. So the general advice is to use plenty of screen wash since this prevents it going stagnant and so also reduces the possibility of the jets getting blocked.
In the winter remember to flip up your wiper blades while you are parked in order to prevent them getting damaged by becoming frozen to the windshield…… |
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| If you leave your wipers like this in the winter then they can freeze onto the windscreen and you may damage them | Always remember to flip up the windscreen wipers if you leave your car outside while there is the risk of frost or snow |
Take a Frugal Tip from the Meany Goat and save a few bucks by using home made screen wash. Use plenty so that you drive safely with good clear visibility….regular use will help keep the jets clean as well!
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Bad Vices
Stay Healthy and Save Money by Understanding Your Bad Vices!
Most of us have been brought up under the shadow of the “7 Deadly Sins”, but in the modern world our Bad Vices have been cruelly manipulated by Marketeers who have discovered that there is big money to be made by giving us what we want and crave most. These bad vices like fast food, that extra beer after work and “social smoking” the odd pack a week not only make an immediate dent in your monthly budget but also carry the risk of serious long term health effects for you and your family. Read on to discover the true cost and how to balance “Good Vices” against “Bad Vices“…..learn about the costofyourvices.com website that will automatically work out the annual cost of your bad vices so that you can instantly see the value of becoming a Quitter!
Bad Vices
Bad Vices We Can Easily Live Without:
On our sophisticated modern world we are completely surrounded by vices and temptation, and of course this isn’t by accident. Corporations like McDonald’s and the big supermarkets spend huge sums of money every year understanding our buying habits and analyzing how we make buying decisions and choices. Actually it’s pretty simple..we eat chocolate because we like it, we smoke because we think it is cool and we play the lotto every week because “somebody has to win”! These are basic factors of human behavior that we all have to some extent or another.
- Smoking - There is no such thing as “Social Smoking”…you either smoke or you don’t. If you smoke then you are literally burning money and stacking up long term health issues like heart disease and cancer. Each year smoking costs the US economy $196 Billion health related spending while only $22 Billion is spent on Education….
- Junk Food - Eating bad food and snacks between meals not only costs you a fortune can also help explain why your pants don’t fit you any more; The bigger you get the more potential health problems you will encounter…particularly things like Type 2 Diabetes and high blood pressure. Currently ONE THIRD of Americans are considered to be medically overweight.
- Gallons of Soda - Mega Gulps, Pepsi, Coke…whatever, they are all pretty bad for you. The regular versions are stuffed full of sugary calories and many are loaded with caffeine. You are looking at bad breath like a Komodo Dragon (yuk!), stained and decaying teeth worse than Shane McGowan and a waste-line expanding like the Pillsbury Dough Boy.
- Coffee to Go - Why do you need that paper cup of coffee to go? If you are thirsty drink some water! Caffeine is addictive and can interfere with sleep patterns so too much is certainly bad for you. If you like coffee then treat yourself at home and drink it properly from a nice cup!
- Lotto Tickets - OK, somebody has to win, but the chances are that it wont be you and every time you buy another ticket it is the lotto company that is really winning. Your chances of winning the Powerball lottery are 1 in 175 million. Unless you can afford to waste the money keep it in your pocket or put it in your piggy bank!
- The Booze - Stopping off for a beer a few nights a week after work then? Pretty soon that can build up into a difficult habit to break and it brings with it the risk of yet more health problems in later life including serious liver disease. If you want to drink alcohol then follow the consumption guidelines, enjoy it and keep it for special occasions!
Good Vices
Good Vices We Can Cultivate:
But there are actually good vices and bad vices…many things that we are told are bad can actually be good for us in certain circumstances or in moderation. So what are some of these “Good Vices” that we should be searching out?
- Gambling - Yes, gambling! Recent research from the University of Salford has found that recreational gambling, like a monthly poker night or a group visit to a casino, is actually good for us! Early days in this research but it seems that the positive health impact is most for the over 65′s. Just keep it under control and don’t lose your shirt!
- Video Games - Hmmm, spending all that time alone blasting people to bits can’t really be good can it? Research work from the University of Rochester found that regular action gamers could make decisions 25% faster than non gamers without losing accuracy. In addition they found that experienced gamers could do six things at the same time without becoming confused…while for you and me the average is four or less…Time to drag that old Nintendo console out of the loft?
- Beer - A recent study from Italy has looked at beer consumption and found that people drinking a pint a day had a 31% lower risk of heart disease when compared to those who drank nothing at all. It seems that both beer and red wine carry similar beneficial health effects if consumed in strict moderation!
- That Take Away Curry - OK, we know fast foods are generally bad choices, but some “take aways” could be good for us after all. US research from Oregon State University has shown that regular consumption of Curcumin, which is the active ingredient in the spice Turmeric, carries big health benefits. It seems that this standard ingredient in curry helps boost the body’s immune system meaning fewer infections and quicker recovery.
Remember This….
Conclusions
STOP the “Bad Vices” that you know are really damaging to your health & pocket
Eliminate things that are just a waste of money
Cut down on “treats”
Cultivate & Manage your “Good Vices”
Live life to the full and enjoy yourself!
Quantify the True Cost of Your Vices:
Bad Vices – Discover The True Cost of Your Vice§
Ok, so you already know what you should and shouldn’t be doing, but like many of us you simply lack the motivation to get started and make those first difficult changes. Well, this is exactly where the costofyourvices.com quiz can help you out. This is a really helpful micro-site with only one aim….to help you improve the quality of your life by discovering how much all that bad stuff is really costing you. Hit the “Start to Save” button and you will be guided through a series of informative and educational screens covering the major vices of smoking, coffee, alcohol, fast food, the lottery and soda. Select your average weekly consumption of each and your total annual saving is automatically calculated on the last screen. The annual total is broken down into sections so that you can identify and attack your most expensive vice first! This is a really useful tool that could help kick-start some lifestyle changes that have a huge potential impact on both your health and your bank balance.
The MeanyGoat Bad Vices Test Drive:
Bad Vices – Wow, look how much I could gain if I became a “Quitter”!
I tested the site as a non-smoker who drinks a few coffees a day and some wine a couple of times a week…I flagged up 2 or 3 fast food meals a week and some lotto tickets, but gave the soda a swerve….and guess what that very modest set of vices is costing me a massive $2716 a year. Come on, get real, just think what better uses you can put that sort of money to! And you don’t have too far too look because eBay Deals always has a great selection of bargains to delight even the most hardened Frugalista! This handy quiz really is packed with information and will act as a real eye-opener for you…full marks to the creators at the eBay Deals Blog for taking the time to bring this to us!
Take a couple of Frugal Tips from the MeanyGoat: Discover the true cost of your bad vices and then look for better ways that you can use that money! How about telling your own money saving story concerning Bad Vices in the comments below?
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Frugal Easter Ideas
Frugal Easter Ideas that Won’t Break the Bank!
You need to take care when you are out shopping at Easter because the latest statistics show that Easter has become the “New Retail Beast”. If you are not careful you will soon be splashing a lot of unnecessary cash and eating a lot of unnecessary calories, so thinking about some Frugal Easter Ideas could really help you out this year. Why not read on to find out about the real origins of Easter…
The Origins of Easter:
Frugal Easter Ideas – Hot Cross Buns actually have a Pagan origin….
We all think of Easter as a religious festival, but then somewhere along the line chocolate eggs, egg hunts, Easter bunnies, Hot Cross Buns and loads of candy got added…so what is really going on? Historically eggs have been associated with fertility and re-birth since pagan times, and these beliefs pre-date Christianity. For the early Christians the egg was used to symbolize the empty tomb of Jesus…with the idea in the background of a new life coming out of the egg. Early Christians in Mesopotamia started the practice of staining eggs red to symbolize the blood shed during the crucifixion. By 1610 Pope Paul V had recognized Easter Eggs as a symbol of resurrection. Egg hunts on the other hand hark back to the ancient idea that an egg is like hidden treasure and have no direct historical link with Easter. Similarly, Hot Cross Buns were a Pagan celebration unrelated to Christianity and were originally marked with a cross to celebrate the Greek Goddess Eostre….after whom Easter is named…..
In modern times these early, and deeply religious, motives have become widely embraced by Christians and non-Christians alike. Enter the world of commercialization, the chocolate Easter Bunny and Egg Rolling on the White House Lawn!
When you are thinking about Easter try to keep it in perspective, so if you are religious focus on the deep emotional aspects…while if you are not, don’t kid yourself and just enjoy the concept of hidden treasure and fertility as winter bows out and changes into spring!
Facts About Our Modern Easter – The Retail Beast:
Frugal Easter Ideas – Give the Calorie laden eggs a miss this year…unless you are going to spend at least half an hour walking briskly for every tiny one you eat!
So whatever the origins, and whatever we think, the Modern Easter is here to stay and the main objective is of course to move the money from your wallet into the cash tills. Along the way you might get some entertainment and will certainly be tempted by thousands of extra calories lurking behind the bright and enticing wrappings of the Easter Eggs and Bunnies. This is what Easter has now become:
- Over $14 Billion of Retail Sales Occur over the Easter Period making it the Fifth biggest spending date in the annual calendar coming just behind Mother’s Day
- Around 80% of Americans Celebrate Easter with the average spend of $118 EACH!
- 75% of the money is spent on “food” items like candy and eggs with the remaining being spent on gifts
- A Cadbury Cream Egg weighs 34 grams and contains 150 calories…over 300 million are sold every year!
- It will take you over half an hour of brisk walking to burn off the extra calories from each egg you eat
Frugal Easter Ideas don’t really get a look in when stacked up against the huge mega industry out there trying to get us to buy more stuff every day…and eat more junk! Aggressive marketing has relentlessly connected Easter as a family event but focusing on the children. Little surprise that it is so hard to resist buying those eggs when everybody is saying “oh, it’s so nice for the children”.
Frugal Easter Ideas:
If you want to buck the trend this year, and think you can resist eating a single Easter Egg until they are in the half price sale in April, what sort of things can you do that won’t break the bank?
- Grow Sunflowers – Easter is a great time to start sowing a few sunflower seeds in the kitchen windowsill so they are ready to plant out when the weather warms up. Great for kids and adults alike. Just like eggs, the Sunflowers are full of promise and surprises!
- Make a Miniature Easter Garden for Your Dining Table - Use moss and fine gravel to cover a block of Oasis flower arranging foam and then decorate with small twigs from the garden and one or two crocus bulbs and primrose flowers if you have them.
- Paint Some Eggs - Blow the eggs first by making a hole at each end and blow the contents out so that you can make scrambled egg or an omelet for your breakfast. Then paint the eggs with some nice traditional designs
- Spend Time Together - This costs nothing and is the best Easter gift ever…just spend quality time with your family and turn your back on the retail frenzy going on behind you!
Click on this link to read how to recycle and create a whole host of Easter goodies and decorations:
Take a Frugal Tip from the MeanyGoat and make Easter a family event on your terms this year…don’t give way to the peer pressure and emotional blackmail out there…leave those calorie laden eggs on the supermarket shelf and keep the bucks in your pocket! Frugal Easter Ideas really do make sense whatever your beliefs……
Frugal Ways to Save Money
Quick Frugal Ways to Save Money!
Looking to kick start your money saving plan? Need some extra inspiration? Here is list of really quick and easy frugal ways to save money. Like any checklist most of it is not rocket science…the trick to cutting down your expenditure is simply to zoom in on your lifestyle and start changing small things. If you don’t change anything in your life then the money tree isn’t suddenly going to appear over night in you back yard. So read the list and start doing as many of them as possible, and you will soon notice the difference in your bank balance at the end of the month.
Checklist of Frugal Ways to Save Money:
One of the best frugal ways to save money is simply to stop burning it…you burn money by smoking, having your heating set too high and by driving too fast!!!! All easy things to change!
- Start Breathing Fresh Air & Stop Smoking Now - Not only is smoking bad for your health and will knock years off your life but it is literally burning money. Don’t bother trying to cut down just cut it out. If your cigarettes are costing you around $6 a pack and you have “cut down” to around 3 packs a week then that adds up to close to $1000 a year.
- Drink More Tap Water - Water from the tap is treated to a high standard and is always the number one choice when you are thirsty. Cut down on all other types of bought drink like cola, energy drinks, beer and wine. The more water you drink and the more you cut down on the other beverages the more money you will save….and also the less calories you will consume so that should also help with your weight loss. If you are paying $1.50 a pop for your beverages and having two or three a day then that adds up to over $1500 a year and plenty of calories that have gone straight to your butt!
- Make a Brown Bag Lunch - Honestly, it takes literally two or three minutes to put together a really cheap and healthy packed lunch that should save you at least $5 a day… so that is another $1200 a year in your pocket rather than in McDonald’s! All it takes is a tiny bit of forward planning to make sure you have the ingredients in stock and then just a couple of minutes work either the night before or first thing in the morning…job done …curching! This just shows that frugal ways to save money can be really easy!
- Turn Down Your Heating Thermostat and Put on a Sweater - Almost every house has a programmable thermostat to regulate the heating but many people simply don’t use them. The idea is to program your heating to run at a lower temperature when you are out of the house or asleep. Spend 30 minutes reading the instructions for your thermostat and programming it for your lifestyle and this could knock up to 30% off your heating bill. The average annual heating bill in the USA is currently around $1000 so that 30 minutes of puzzling over the instructions could save you $300 a year. Get real, if you can program the TV and the DVD player then you must be able to figure out the heating!
- Reduce Your Water Temperature - Lowering your domestic hot water temperature will save you between 3% and 5% for each 10F. Each heating system is different, but just search out the hot water temperature either in your heating programmer or directly on the hot water tank. Reduce the temperature to around 120F to achieve a good saving, remove the scalding hazard and reduce the “scaling” effect in hard water areas. Five minutes work could save you $50 a year!
- Learn to Drive Economically - To get maximum MPG from your car then leave it in the garage and bum a lift with your neighbor or buddy. The optimum speed for maximum mile per gallon varies from car to car and also depends on the road surface, your tire pressures and the weather. However, everybody knows that the faster you drive and the harder you accelerate the more gas you burn. Try to drive at a constant speed around 60mph for maximum fuel economy. This little bit of patience while you are driving will also reduce your “road rage” and enable you to arrive at your destination feeling much more relaxed…plus you could be saving up to 20% on your annual fuel bill. To help get such a big saving also look at removing all unnecessary “drag” from your car…like the roof rack when you aren’t using it…getting rid of extra weight like your spare sports equipment. The average driver in the USA uses around 700 gallons of gas a year so at $3.70 a gallon that is $2590……reduce that by 20% and you save a cool $518 a year.
So if you have a crack at just these six frugal ways to save money then you should have over $4500 a year extra..from doing almost nothing apart from modifying your own behavior.
Frugal ways to Save Money…..every penny counts and small regular changes can add up to a lot of money over a year!
Take a Frugal Tip from the MeanyGoat and start checking out these simple frugal ways to save money right now…these are all simple positive steps that anybody can make right now to give you more cash in your pocket!
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The Best Way to Germinate Seeds
What is the Best Way to Germinate Seeds?
These days a packet of seeds can cost several $’s, £’s or €’s….and you don’t get many seeds in a packet any more either! Due to this it is important to discover the best way to germinate seeds so that so don’t waste any. The gardening books are full of conflicting advice and many methods seem pretty complicated for the novice. Then there is the problem of watering….to dry and the seeds never germinate….too wet and they just rot away. So what is the best way to germinate seeds? Read on to find out how to save yourself time and money as well as taking the guesswork out of the process!
Seed Sowing Objectives
Your Seed Sowing Objectives:
Before we look at the best way of sowing seeds it is important to verify our objectives….exactly what do we want to achieve?
- To sow as few seeds as possible in order to obtain the number of plants we need
- Take the guesswork out of watering
- Use as little compost as possible
- Germinate the seeds as quickly as possible
- Achieve a high germination rate
Seed Germination Conditions
The Ideal Seed Germination Conditions:
So now we know what we want to achieve we need to look at a bit of the biology involved so that we understand the best way to germinate seeds. Apart from some specialized plants most standard flower and vegetable seeds require roughly the same conditions for good germination:
- Moisture to hydrate the seed - It must not be too wet or the seeding will rot, and if it is too dry it will die
- Warmth - Most seeds require temperatures of 15 to 20C to germinate, both very high and very low temperatures will reduce the germination rate
- Constant Conditions - Seed germination is most rapid and efficient if the moisture and temperature are roughly constant
- Extra Carbon Dioxide - As soon as a seedling starts to grow then it needs carbon dioxide for metabolic processes
What a seed does not need for germination is light, soil or a pot!
Equipment Checklist
Your Equipment Checklist:
Now you are fully familiar with the best way to germinate seeds here is your checklist of equipment that you will need:
Small Plastic Boxes – Look for small plastic boxes with tight fitting lids. Clear ones are good so that you can see what is going on inside, but old margarine tubs are fine.
12pc Clear Acrylic Bead Display Box Containers – 1-1/4″ x 1-1/4″
Price: $2.69
(4 customer reviews)
1 used & new available from $2.69
A Plant Propagator – A plastic tray with a clear lid is ideal, a heated propagator is best and you can get away with using a standard seed tray and a plastic bag
Price: $19.99
(2 customer reviews)
1 used & new available from $19.99
Seed Tray Modules – The seedlings will grow best if you plant up each one in a small module or pot. You can make your own from egg boxes or yogurt cartons.
Burpee 72-Cell Plant 5 Trays – Seed Starting
Price: $14.94
(17 customer reviews)
2 used & new available from $14.94
A Plastic Plant Sprayer – To make sure that the watering is easy to control, and the seeds are not dislodged, a cheap hand sprayer is the best option.
You will also need the seeds, a few paper towels and some standard seed compost from the garden center.
Books
Grab a Reference Book Now….
The best way to germinate seeds successfully is to read as much as you can on the subject and try it out for yourself. After that you can develop the exact method that suits your local conditions and the kinds of seeds you want to sow. Grab one of these books quickly while you are still inspired!
Price: $8.06
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60 used & new available from $4.17
The Best Way to Germinate Seeds is on a Paper Towel:
You may be surprised to learn that the best way to germinate seeds is simply to spread them on a moist paper towel….which is why this is sometimes called The Paper Towel Germination Method! By pre-germinating the seeds on a paper towel then you can just sow the number that you need and it is really easy to make sure that the conditions are just right. After the seeds have germinated you can simply pot them into individual modules to grow on. So here is the MeanyGoat’s Best Way to Germinate Seeds:
- Get a paper towel, fold it into 3 or 4 and lay it in the bottom of a plastic box which has a lid (eg Tupperware or an old margarine tub
- Wet the towel with warm tap water and carefully drain off any excess…the towel should be moist and not dripping wet
- Gently distribute the seeds from the packet onto the moist paper towel. If you only need 10 plants then sow 12 or 13 seeds
- Only put one kind of seeds in each box since different varieties will germinate at different rates
- Breath into the box to add extra carbon dioxide and then put the lid on tightly
- Put the box in a warm place like an airing cupboard. Avoid window sills since the temperature will fluctuate too much
- Check the box once or twice a day & breath in it each time you close the lid
- Once the seeds have germinated use a paint brush to gently pick up each seed and put it into normal potting compost
- The best option is to use small pots or modules and put one germinated seed in each and just cover with compost
- Water lightly or use a hand sprayer…do not over water!
- If you have a propagator then put the modules in that and place in a warm light location with the lid on or a plastic bag over the top
- After a day or two the seedlings will be up and growing normally so remove the cover or else the seedlings will become leggy or etiolated
Once you have germinated your seeds then you need to learn how to grow healthy organic crops:
Click Here for the Ultimate Organic Food Growing Guide!
Click Here for the Ultimate Organic Food Growing Guide!
Step 1 – Pre-Germination
Step 1: Pre-Germinated Cucumber seeds in a plastic food box…this has got to be the best way to germinate seeds!
Step 2 – Pot Up
Step 2: After germination put the seedlings into small pots or modules in a propagator
Step 3 – Grow On
Step 3: After a couple of days the seedlings will have emerged and will be growing normally
Have a Go and See How Much Time You Save!
OK the instructions look complicated because they are written out so you can follow them...in reality this is a very simple method that will save you time and make sure that a single packet of seed will last two or three seasons. Don’t forget to close the seed packet tightly after opening and store the packets in a cool and dry place. The best place to store your seeds is in another Tupperware plastic box placed in the salad crisper tray of your fridge. Look after you seeds and you will save money by not having to get new ones each year!
Take a Frugal Tip from the MeanyGoat and learn the best way to germinate seeds….try the Paper Towel Germination Method…..your vegetables and flowers will work our much cheaper when grown in this way. Let us know how you get on!
Learn how to germinate tomato seed quickly using this method:
Here is some more traditional gardening advice describing the best way to germinate seeds:
Once you have germinated your seeds then you need to learn how to grow healthy organic crops:
Click Here for the Ultimate Organic Food Growing Guide!
Click Here for the Ultimate Organic Food Growing Guide!
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Snow on Car Roof
Snow on Car Roof – Get it Off Quick!
We all know that it looks really cool to drive around with massive pile of snow on your car roof, but actually it is pretty dangerous and can cost you money. Left your car parked up for a week…or just heavy overnight snow? Snow on the car roof is bad news and you really need to bite the bullet and get it off as quickly as possible, and certainly before you start driving the car on the road. Read on to discover the risks and what you need to do!
Snow on Car Roof – What are the Risks?
Snow on Car – It is really not cool to drive around like this! Get it sorted!!
Driving around with snow on your car roof and bonnet poses a real risk both to yourself and other road users as well as pedestrians. It is not enough to spend a couple of minutes clearing the front and back windscreens…you need 360° visibility as well as clear headlights….and all the loose snow removed:
- Snow on the bonnet or hood will start to blow onto your windscreen as soon as you start driving and can obstruct your view
- Snow on the roof or boot will fall off bit by bit as you drive and can then fall into the path of cyclists, hit pedestrians or blow onto another car and obstruct the view
- Snow is heavy and can cause damage when it falls off at high speed. A 4 inch layer can weigh up to 35Kg…imagine that landing on you from a passing car!
So even if you are not concerned about your own safety you need to remove the snow in order to make sure that you do not cause somebody else to have an accident.
Snow on Car Roof – What are the Costs?
Ok so it’s dangerous to drive around with snow on the car roof….but surely it’s not going to cost me anything? Wrong!!! Snow is frozen water and that adds weight to the car. The snow sticking up on the roof also interferes with the aerodynamics of the car. The combination of these two factors is bad news for your pocket….the extra weight and the impaired aerodynamics will mean that you use more fuel. Halfords have estimated that this could add up to 2% to you fuel use. Right, I get that now, but 2% isn’t that much right? Well, it could be just the tip of the iceberg….if the police spot you then you could also be up for quite a hefty fine in many countries around the world!
How to Remove Snow from Your Car Quickly:
Snow on Car? Just using a scraper to clear the windscreen is not enough!
- The best option is to avoid getting the snow on your car in the first place…so always park under cover or in a garage if possible
- Remove fresh snow as quickly as possible – fresh snow is much easier to remove that old, compacted and frozen snow that will require scraping
- Invest a few Dollars in a proper snow brush and you can clear the car in just a few minutes. A special plastic broom will not leave scratches!
Look for something like this with a wide blade and a telescopic handle….
Sno Brum Original Snow Removal Tool with Telescoping Handle
Price: $26.18
(295 customer reviews)
10 used & new available from
Take a Frugal Tip from the MeanyGoat and get the snow off your car roof, hood, trunk, headlights and number plates as soon as you can after it snows. Using a special tool will get the job done in just a few minutes and will avoid damage to you car. If you leave the snow then it will often freeze and take much longer to remove. If you try to ignore the snow and just drive off then it is dangerous for you as well as other road users….you will use more fuel and could risk being stopped and fined by the police! Get the snow off, it’s pretty much a no brainer really!
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Frugal Dejunking Tips
Why Frugal Dejunking Makes Sense!
Modern products just last for ages, and since we keep buying all the “latest stuff” our living spaces can soon become cluttered and our cupboards full to overflowing. Enter the MeanyGoat with some practical dejunking tips that will help to get you organized and save you some money into the bargain!
Frugal Dejunking Tips:
First the lecture……
Dejunking is a Lifestyle Choice
If you dejunk as you go along then it takes just minutes
If you do nothing for 10 years then it will take you weeks of heartache and hard work!
……Now the Solution!
The Blitz
All Dejunking starts with a “blitz session” to get things rolling.
- Simply go round each room and look at what you see
- Make a list of what you want to change
- Identify any furniture to move to another room, give away or sell
- Set yourself a deadline (eg the end of the week) and then make the big changes
It is best to tackle one room at a time initially to avoid being overwhelmed. The main objective is to make space and ideally find some furniture you can sell.
Detailed Dejunking
Once you have been round all the main living spaces in your house or apartment it is time to get stuck into the details one room at a time:
- Methodically go through each section of the room and look at each object you come across
- Decide if you need it (eg TV remote!), want it because you like it…or just have it because it was given to you or you bought it as a holiday souvenier
- If you don’t need it and don’t specially like it then put it on one side
- Next go through each cupboard, drawer and storage space and do the same
Chances are that you will end up with a big pile of things that you own but don’t use, need or specially like. Sort out this pile ruthlessly using the “Three Box System”
- Box One: Things you can sell eg on eBay
- Box Two: Things you can give away, eg either to your kids, neighbors or to a charity
- Box Three: Things that really are just trash and you need to dispose of or recycle
Steady State Dejunking
Once you have carried out the “Blitz” and done some detailed dejunking then the main tasks are complete. However, unless you make some lifestyle changes you will end up in the same cluttered state again in a few months time! Steady State Dejunking simply means that for every new item you buy you need to find an equivalent item to sell, give away or put in the trash.
Steady State Dejunking = One in One Out!
Quite simply if you don’t do this “one in one out” then in no time all the possessions will build up again and you will be back to square one!
Aggressive Dejunking
If you really feel that you are a hoarder by nature then a good option to try is Aggressive Dejunking…this takes “one in one out” a step further and becomes “one in TWO out”. Holy cow…one in two out is tough, but if you can really start making that change then little by little your whole living space will start to get condensed so that you only have things that you really need and things that you really like.
Aggressive Dejunking = One in TWO Out!
After a few months of Aggressive Dejunking you can then revert back to Steady State Dejunking which should mean that you never get overwhelmed again. If you find that possessions are starting to accumulate again then you can switch back to “One in Two Out” until you are back in control. Obviously Birthdays and Christmas are the prime crisis points when a whole tsunami of unwanted gifts can arrive!
How to Deal With Crisis Points:
 |
Birthdays, Christmas, family visits, vacations…..these are all potential crisis points when you can suddenly become overwhelmed with new possessions! The first thing to do is to talk to your family and friends so that they all know that you are trying to dejunk. You never know, if you explain the benefits to them they might also start simplifying their lives! In any event you have to make a clear statement that you really don’t want or need any more possessions. There are then plenty of options left open for low value or consumable gifts. Personally I would far prefer a being given a bag of homegrown tomatoes or a home baked loaf than being given the latest novel that I probably won’t get around to reading anyway. Everyone is different, but for sure it is critical that you decide what works best for you and then communicate it to your friends and family in a positive way! You can’t just shove everything in the cupboard and close the door for ever! |
Learn how to dejunk fast without being distracted
The Ultimate DeJunking & DeCluttering Guide
How Dejunking Saves You Money:
Ok, if you have read this far then you have already bought into the idea that you need to dejunk. But apart from more space and a tidier house are there any other benefits….will it save me money or can I make money?
- Use your “Three Box System” and try to identify items that you don’t need but can sell. Use eBay, a garage sale or local free advertising. Anything you get is money in your pocket
- Old Mobile Phones contain valuable gold and other resources so there are special websites where you can check the value…just Google it
- How many times do you come back from shopping to discover that you already have the item you just bought at home? Well, if you dejunk it is much easier to keep track of what you’ve got so you are far less likely to make a mistake.
- Using the “One in One Out” system should make you think about each new purchase more carefully…if you really want that new pullover which old one are going to get rid of? For sure you will buy less and appreciate what you have much more.
Just get into the habit of questioning all your purchases…do I really need this? If in doubt then leave it until next week and see how you feel then…at which time either the item will have been sold, or you will have decided you didn’t need it anyway…..either way you start to save money quickly and easily!
Here is a nice list of practical steps to follow when dejunking your home: Tips to Dejunk Your Home
Take a Frugal Tip from the MeanyGoat and start dejunking your rooms one by one right now…the sooner you start the sooner you can sell some stuff and save money!
Checkout this practical guide right now….
The Ultimate DeJunking & DeCluttering Guide
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How to Store Watercress
How to Store Watercress at Home
Learn how to store watercress correctly so that you can keep it fresh as long as possible and avoid it turning into a pile of green slime overnight! Watercress is an expensive but highly tasty and nutritious addition to any salad or garnish. However, it spoils very quickly and needs treating differently from your other salads.
Watercress Facts and Nutrition:
Watercress is a semi aquatic plant that grows naturally in running water at the edges of streams and rivers. The scientific name is Nasturtium officinale which means it is related to mustard, cress and radish….and this gives us some clues as to why it is so tasty! Watercress is just jam packed with nutrients particularly Vitamins A and C as well as iron, calcium, iodine and folic acid. Basically it is just really good for you and acts a s a powerful stimulant to the digestive system, is a mild diuretic and is thought to have cancer suppressing properties.
Watercress was first commercially cultivated in 1808 in the UK by William Bradbery along the river Ebbsfleet in Kent. It rapidly became very popular and production quickly spread to other countries so that by the 1940′s Huntsville Alabama was regarded by many as the Watercress Capital of the World!
Traditionally watercress is sold as bunches of the freshly cut stems…usually tied together with string or an elastic band (These are good to keep for re-use!!). More recently supermarkets have started selling watercress in plumped up plastic bags in order to protect the delicate leaves from being crushed.
Being such a useful and nutritious plant it is important to learn how to store watercress at home.
How to Store Watercress for as Long as Possible:
Fresh watercress soon wilts if it is left out of water for any length of time. Equally, damp watercress can turn into a nasty slimy mess overnight if you try to store it like other salads…so what is the trick?
Preparation:
How to Store Watercress – The first stage is always to remove any yellow, slimy or damaged leaves!
The first thing to do with watercress when you get it home is to untie the bunch or take it out of the bag and pick it over to remove any yellow, wilted or crushed leaves. Anything that looks even vaguely slimy needs to be picked off immediately other wise it will spread rapidly. Do not wash the leaves or let them get wet!
Method 1 – Store in a Plastic Box:
How to Store Watercress – Method 1 Store in a Plastic Box….it is important to only store dry healthy leaves like this.
After picking over the leaves gently dab them dry with a clean cloth and put them in a plastic storage container, close the lid and and put the box in the salad compartment of the fridge. It is important to NOT ADD ANY WATER to the box! Like this the leaves should keep fresh for two or three days. Each time you use some just check that the remaining leaves are ok and remove any that have gone yellow.
Method 2 – Store in a Jug of Water & Cover with a Plastic Bag:
 |
 |
| How to store watercress – Use a Jug of Water.…only put a couple on inches of water in the bottom so that the stems and not the leaves are submerged. | How to Store Watercress – Cover the jug with a plastic bag to create a humid but not wet environment to ensure maximum storage time. |
Since watercress grows in water it lasts well if the bunch is stored in a jug of water and covered with a plastic bag. With this method it is important to keep the leaves dry…do not mist them….and change the water in the jug every day. If possible store the covered jug in a cool but light place. Like this the watercress should last longer than if stored in the fridge….typically 3 or 4 days.
Checklist for How to Store Watercress:
- Deal with the watercress as soon as you get it home…any delay will reduce the time it stays fresh
- Remove all yellow leaves and slimy bits
- Keep the leaves dry….only wash them immediately before use
- Short term storage in a plastic box in the salad drawer of the refrigerator works well
- For maximum storage put the cress stems in a jug of water and cover with a plastic bag
Can I Grow Watercress?
Look for these tiny roots growing out from the node where a leaf joins the stem.
If you look at the watercress stems carefully you will sometimes see tiny roots growing out from the node between the stem and a leaf. Both commercially and in the wild watercress needs flowing water to flourish. However, you can keep some of these stems with roots and put 4 or 5 into a six inch pot standing in a saucer of water. Every few days completely replace the water. Pinch the tops out of the cress and eat them….then after a few days you should start noticing that side-shoots appear. Eventually the leaves will get big enough to eat and will give you enough for a garnish!
Take a Frugal Tip from the MeanyGoat and learn how to store watercress so that you get the maximum use out of this nutritious but relatively expensive salad crop!
Click this link to discover some really imaginative Watercress Recipes: Watercress Recipes
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Watering Your Plants
Solar Water Fountain
How to be More Frugal