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Invest in your quality of life

As an investment in your relaxation and enjoyment of the season, the cost of lawn care is a real bargain. But if you’re looking for a few ways to make the cost even easier to manage, here are some ideas to consider:

• Eliminate yard care-related costs. First, remember: Hiring lawn care professionals essentially eliminates the often costly expenses associated with maintaining a lawn yourself. You won’t need to own or replace a mower; pay for mower maintenance, fuel or oil; buy new blades and have them installed or pay for blade sharpening; or all the myriad other expenses that a lawn care service takes care of.
• Pay over time. Most lawn care companies let you pay over time throughout the course of the season. That makes it a lot easier to work the cost of care into your regular budget.
• Save a little all year. Open a vacation club if your bank has one, or a no-cost savings account and deposit a little each week. Make it even easier and more hassle-free by having money directly deposited into your account from your paycheck. A little bit taken out each week before it ever hits your wallet won’t even be noticed, and by summer your lawn care costs will be covered.
• Use your tax refund or work bonuses. If you find yourself with a windfall of a little extra cash, set it aside and dedicate it to lawn care expenses. (Just be sure that if you deposit the money in the bank, you don’t end up spending it instead.)
• Set aside money from rebates and coupons. Some people fund entire vacations on their rebates and coupons alone. Like tax refunds, just be sure to set this money aside – preferably in a separate account (or mason jar) to avoid spending it – and be sure to count up those coupons you’re using.
• Have a yard sale or sell items on Craigslist or through your local paper. You’d be surprised how much money you can earn simply by selling items you no longer use. And you’ll have the added benefit of decluttering your home. If you have a storage unit, start there – and save the monthly costs of storage.
• Make little changes for big savings. Even smaller changes in behavior, like making your own coffee at home instead of buying it (or buying coffee from a cheaper source than the local coffee house), packing your own lunch instead of buying it at work and making a menu of meals you can make at home instead of going out to eat or ordering in can result in significant savings – not to mention better taste and greater nutrition.

This list is just a starter; there are lots of ways to save money all year long so you can avoid the drudgery of a summer filled with lawn care responsibilities. Spend some time making your own list and reap the benefits during the long, hot days of summer. When you’re ready, find the closest Gardener location to you and request a quote on your desired service.

Yard Sale photo credit to Daniel Lobo under cc 2.0