DiscountMags is having a Sports and Fitness Magazine Sale this weekend.

Get some of the most popular sports and fitness magazines for just $4.99 each through Sunday, May 19, 2013.

Here are the deals:

• ESPN (1yrs: $4.99, 2yrs: $9.98)
• Fitness (1yrs: $4.99, 2yrs: $9.98, 3yrs: $14.97, 4yrs: $19.96)
• Golf Digest (1yrs: $4.99, 2yrs: $9.98, 3yrs: $14.97)
• Men’s Fitness (1yrs: $4.99, 2yrs: $9.98, 3yrs: $14.97)
• Outside (1yrs: $4.99, 2yrs: $9.98)
• Running Times (1yrs: $4.99, 2yrs: $9.98, 3yrs: $14.97, 4yrs: $19.96)
• Tennis (1yrs: $4.99, 2yrs: $9.98, 3yrs: $14.97, 4yrs: $19.96)
• Weight Watchers (1yrs: $4.99, 2yrs: $9.98, 3yrs: $14.97, 4yrs: $19.96)
• Women’s Health (1yrs: $4.99, 2yrs: $9.98, 3yrs: $14.97)
• Yoga Journal (1yrs: $4.99, 2yrs: $9.98, 3yrs: $14.97)
• Prevention (1yrs: $4.99, 2yrs: $9.98, 3yrs: $14.97, 4yrs: $19.96)
• Slam (1yrs: $4.99, 2yrs: $9.98, 3yrs: $14.97, 4yrs: $19.96)

I love DiscountMags’ deals because you get a great price on some of your favorite magazines and unlike other places, you never have to worry about your subscription automatically renewing at full price.

Looking for other magazines?  Save 20% on your DiscountMags.com order when you use the code CHEAPSKATE at checkout.

Note:  This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no additional cost to you. Please read our full disclosure policy for more info.

Written by Christina Brown for Northern Cheapskate © 2013 | Popular Sports and Fitness Magazines for $5 Each

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Looking for low-cost breakfast and lunch ideas?

Get The $5 Dinner Mom Breakfast and Lunch Cookbook for just $6 at Amazon for a limited time.

Written by savvy shopper and author Erin Chase of $5 Dinners fame, this book gives you the tips and tricks you need to create tasty, healthy, and quick meals for your family for less than $5 each.  In addition to the 200 plus recipes for breakfast, lunch, and snacks, you also get advice on saving money on groceries, meal planning, and freezing meals.

This is one of my favorite cookbooks and now that the kids will be home more this summer, I’ll be referring to it even more.

There are a limited number of copies available at this bargain price, so grab your copy now! It would also make a great gift for moms, teachers, or new brides.

Note:  This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no additional cost to you. Please read our full disclosure policy for more info.

Written by Christina Brown for Northern Cheapskate © 2013 | Get The $5 Dinner Mom Breakfast and Lunch Cookbook For $6

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We’re coming up on Memorial Day weekend and graduation party time.  What does that mean for you? Plenty of coupons and savings!

According to Sunday Coupon Preview, there will be three inserts in the Sunday, May 19, 2013, newspaper – two Smartsource inserts and a Red Plum insert.  You’ll find savings on everything from Colgate to Coca-Cola and more.

Visit Sunday Coupon Preview for more details.

I’ve used Sunday Coupon Preview for quite awhile now, and I’ve found that while some coupon inserts and specific coupons listed may vary by region, the site offers a pretty accurate assessment of what you’ll get when you pick up the Sunday newspaper.

Are you new to couponing?  Get our free eBook Guide to Saving Money on Groceries when you sign up for our free e-mail newsletter!

Looking for more coupons?  Check out our coupon resources.

Note: This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no additional cost to you.  Please see our full disclosure policy for more information.

Written by Christina Brown for Northern Cheapskate © 2013 | Sunday Coupon Preview for 5/19/13

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As a parent, we’re often told that we are our children’s first teachers.  We try our best to help our children become human beings – to avoid entitlement – and to enjoy the world around them.

But to a certain extent, I think children are the teachers, too.  There are so many things I learned about myself and my spouse that I never imagined when I first saw that little heartbeat on an ultrasound.

So today, I share with you some of those lessons.

Ten Money Lessons I Learned From My Kids

Preparing to have kids makes you do smart things with your money.

The thought of having a tiny human who is entirely dependent on you for survival is a bit humbling.  It makes you think about what’s most important in your life.  When we found out we were having twins, we made the decision for me to become a stay-at-home mom, and that required some major lifestyle changes. You want the best life for your child, so when you find out you’re expecting, you start doing smart things with your money like paying down debt, saving money, taking better care of your health, and getting your personal affairs in order.

Having kids sometimes makes you do dumb things with your money.

For every smart money move you made while you were expecting, there are at least two stupid things you do once those kids have arrived.    It’s really easy during those early months of parenthood to throw money at problems.  How many pacifiers did you buy before you found the one?  How many different parenting books, Baby Einstein CDs, and white noise machines did you buy in a desperate attempt to get your child to sleep at night?

And then when they’re older, and you get to really know your kids, you are moved by wanting to do whatever you can for your child.   Soccer camp?  Sure!  A new Nintendo 3Ds?  Yep.  An expensive birthday party for your child and all his friends?  Of course!  The priciest prom dress on the rack?  You only get one senior prom!

I’ve made my share of rash decisions when it comes to spending money.  Which leads me to my next lesson.

The hardest words to say to a child are “No.”

When those adorable faces look up at you and ask for something it is really hard to say, “No.”  But the truth is, someone has to be the grown-up, even if you don’t want to be the one.  Sometimes you have to be the worst parent ever in order to raise someone the rest of the world can live with.

Expect the unexpected.

I have always been a person who plans things.  Friends used to tease me that I had to plan to be spontaneous.  Having a set of twins really through all that planning all the window.  Kids are great at throwing you (and your finances) for a loop.  You never know when you’ll end up with a doctor bill from stitches or your child will outgrow his shoes overnight.   And don’t forget to check those backpacks -  there’s probably two birthday party invites and a school fundraiser form in there!

Buying multiples of the same item will not stop children from fighting over them.

I was an only child, so sibling rivalry is strange and fascinating to me.  I don’t like conflict, and when the boys were little, I would try to keep the peace by making sure everything was fair.  Well, life is not fair.  Even if you buy three identical toys for three boys, one of them will try to take them all.  One will find a way to ruin the experience for at least one of the others.  So stop trying to make everything equal and treat your kids as the individuals they are.

Every kid has their price.

I expect my kids to do what they’re asked, but I will admit, I’m not above bribing my children for a desired behavior.  Figure out what motivates your child – cash, later bedtimes, special treats or priviledges – and use that strategically.  Just don’t use this strategy too often, or you’ll end up with a spoiled brat.  Instead, learn what inspires your child and use it to steer them toward the behavior you want.

Splurges can be good sometimes.

You may think that because I’m the Northern Cheapskate, that I’m a bit stingy when it comes to spending money on my kids.  But I’m not.  I’m strategic in my spending on my kids.  I think when you have room in your budget, that it’s good to spoil the kids every once in a while.  Watch a child walk through the toy aisle with a pocket full of birthday money.  It is fun to be able to treat yourself to something you want without worrying about it.  It makes all that scrimping and saving worthwhile!

The best things in life are free.

When I ask my kids what some of their favorite memories are, they’re rarely involve spending money.  They remember trips to visit family, afternoons at the playground, and going fishing.  They talk about riding bike and swimming and taking walks in the woods.

Don’t get me wrong: My boys love a trip to the LEGO store as much as the next kid.  But the majority of the things they love doing don’t cost any money.  And that’s a great lesson to carry with you throughout life.

Never stop learning.

My boys are constantly asking questions about how things work.  They’re fascinated with coins.  They ask lots of questions about careers.  They want to know what mom bought at the store and they know to ask me what kind of deals I got.   They have an endless thirst for knowledge – not just about money – but about life, and it is a great reminder to me to never stop learning.  I’ve learned a lot about life and money, but there is so much more to know.  My kids inspire me to keep asking questions.

There’s nothing more valuable than the love of a child.

They say that it costs more $200,000 to raise a child from birth to college.  I don’t doubt that it’s true. But when you have the unconditional love of a child, none of that money matters.  I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to be a mom to my three boys.  They bring me more joy than I ever thought possible.

Now it’s your turn:  What money lessons have your children taught you?

Written by Christina Brown for Northern Cheapskate © 2013 | Ten Money Lessons I Learned From My Kids

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Chances are if you live in Minnesota or you have even visited the state you have seen the funny signs and t-shirts that display a large mosquito and says “Minnesota State Bird” (seriously though, our state bird is the Loon.) But being bit up by mosquitoes and gnats is not funny at all and neither is the amount of DEET or other chemicals used in most conventional insect repellents.

Many people can experience serious side effects from prolonged heavy use of DEET such as memory loss, headaches, joint problems, shortness of breath, fatigue and weakness, and muscle pain.

Why not give a natural homemade insect repellent a try and lessen your exposure? Even if you still use products containing DEET when you are going deep into the woods, you could consider using this natural product when you are having an evening BBQ in your backyard or are visiting a playground. You might find that it works as well or better than what you were previously using and make the switch altogether.

Homemade Natural Insect Repellent Recipe

• ¼ C apple cider vinegar
• ¼ C isopropyl alcohol
• ¼ C water
• 50 drops eucalyptus essential oil
• 50 drops citronella essential oil
• 50 drops lemon essential oil
• 75 drops lavender essential oil

Directions: Mix all items together in a spray bottle. Store in a cool, dry place. Shake before spraying on skin. Reapply about every 2 hours when using.

Investing in all those essential oils can be an upfront cost, but you can make the most of that purchase by using those essential oils in other recipes we’ve shared on Northern Cheapskate:

• Honey Bubble Bath
• Natural Cleaning Products
• Sea Salt Hand/Foot Scrub
• Bath Salts

Or if you are not the DIY-type or do not have any essential oils, you could purchase a few of these DEET-Free versions that contain essential oils:

• Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Natural Insect Repellent
• All Terrain Herbal Armor DEET-Free Natural Insect Repellent
• California Baby Bug Repellent Spray

Now it’s your turn: How do you deal with pesky insects during the summer months?

Note:  This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no additional cost to you. Please read our full disclosure policy for more details. Thanks!

Written by Jessica for Northern Cheapskate © 2013 | How to Make Homemade Natural Insect Repellent

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Magazines.com is having a huge magazine sale this week.  And it gets even better when you shop through Ebates.

Get 42 percent cash back on all purchases at Magazines.com at Ebates on top of their 90 percent off sale.

You can get 27 issues of Time magazine for just $9.28 after cash back. Good Housekeeping is just $4.62 a year after cash back.  Sports fan in your life?  Get 28 issues of Sports Illustrated for just $15.08 after cash back.  There is also a big selection of magazines available at 70 percent off.

Note:  Magazines.com automatically renews your subscription when it expires, but it’s easy to cancel the auto-renewal before you renew at regular price.  I’ve used them for years, and you get an e-mail notice before you renew with instructions on how to cancel the auto-renew.  It’s pretty easy and the minor inconvenience is well worth the savings.

Ebates is also celebrating it’s birthday, so you’ll find DOUBLE cash back at dozens of other stores this week, too!

New to Ebates?  Ebates is a site that offers you cash back on purchases you make online. Here’s how it works:

1. Sign-up for an account at Ebates.  It’s free and just takes a few minutes.  After you’ve earned your first $5.01 in cash back, you’ll receive a $5 bonus just for becoming a new member.
2. Search for the store where you would like to shop. There are more than 1,500 great stores to shop. You can also search by item and then select your store from the merchants that carry the item.  If you’re just browsing, you can even search by the percentage of cash back.
3. Once you find the store where you plan to shop, just click on the link for it.  Ebates will create a tracking ticket so it can make sure you get your cash back. Depending on where you shop, you’ll earn up to 42% cash back on your purchases!
4. Place your order. Your cash back will be credited to your Ebates account in just a few days.  Ebates cuts checks quarterly – and you’ll get your first “Big Fat Check” from Ebates after you’ve earned $5.01 or more in cash back from Ebates.  Don’t forget, if you’re new, you’ll also get a $5 bonus for signing up.  Please note, that referral bonuses don’t count towards your $5.01 total.
5. Tell your friends and family about Ebates. For each person you refer to Ebates, you’ll get $5.  So, for example, if you sign up for Ebates through this post, you will get $5 for signing up and I will get $5 for referring you. Win-win!
6. Connect with Ebates. Stay on top of all the latest deals from Ebates by signing up for e-mail alerts, becoming a fan of Ebates on Facebook, or following Ebates on Twitter.

Ebates is a really simple way to save money while shopping online.  I’ve already earned hundreds of dollars in cash back on my purchases since I started using Ebates five years ago.

Note: This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no additional cost to you. Please see our full disclosure policy for more information.

Written by Christina Brown for Northern Cheapskate © 2013 | Get Huge Savings On Magazines With Ebates

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Box Tops for Education is celebrating the end of the school year by giving you 5 bonus Box Tops for your school.

Earn 5 bonus Box Tops for your school when you like “Box Tops for Education” on Facebook and click on “Summer Countdown.” Just enter your zip code and select your school and your school will receive the bonus (a value of $.50).

Then share the news with your Facebook friends so that they can help your school earn even more!  A total of 5 million bonus Box Tops will be given out through May 26, 2013, so get your Facebook friends to help you by liking Box Tops on Facebook, and your school could get a big financial boost!

Box Tops for Education is a program that allows anyone to earn cash for schools to purchase new technology, fund class trips, buy books for school libraries, fund art programs and much more.

It’s super easy to help a school when you sign up for Box Tops for Education.  You can earn money for your school by clipping Box Tops from participating products you buy at your local grocery store and send them to your school. Your school earns 10¢ for each Box Top redeemed.

You can also support your school through the Box Tops program by shopping online through the Box Tops for Education Marketplace. Your school earns a percentage of each qualifying purchase at no additional cost to you.

The best part is that anyone who signs up for Box Tops for Education and participates can help support their school.  It doesn’t matter if you don’t have any kids or how much money you make.  Everyone has the opportunity to raise money for their local schools by collecting Box Tops for Education.

Check out other freebies you can request and be sure to subscribe to Northern Cheapskate for more money-saving tips!

Note: This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no additional cost to you. Please read our full disclosure policy for more information.

Written by Christina Brown for Northern Cheapskate © 2013 | Earn 5 Bonus Box Tops for Your School

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Sorry, this deal is no longer available.

Get a free copy of The Food Allergy Mama’s Baking Book on Kindle at Amazon.

From the description:

The Food Allergy Mama’s Baking Book is a one-stop guide to delicious, everyday baked goods free of dairy, eggs, and nuts — the most common food allergens. It offers timeless, foolproof recipes that are easy to prepare even for kitchen novices. It’s an invaluable resource for home bakers (and their families) who loves sweets and treats. These recipes are more than delicious enough to be enjoyed by everyone who craves great baked treats, whether they have food allergies or not.

This 179-page book is normally priced at $19.95, but you can get it for FREE for a limited time.  Even if you don’t have anyone in your family with food allergies, pick up this cookbook -  you’ll be the hit of the summer potlucks when you bring a sweet treat ANYONE can eat!

Remember, you don’t need to own a Kindle to take advantage of Kindle book deals! Amazon offers a free Kindle app that will allow you to read Kindle books on your computer, tablet or smartphone.  If you don’t want to bother installing an app, you can also read books on your web browser with the Kindle Cloud Reader.

Amazon prices can change quickly, so be sure this book is $0.00 when you add it to your cart.

And don’t forget to check out other options for free reading, including our list of 20 places to find free books online.

Happy Reading!

Note:  This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no additional cost to you. Please read our full disclosure policy for more info.

Written by Christina Brown for Northern Cheapskate © 2013 | Free Read: The Food Allergy Mama’s Baking Book

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Rebates are a great way to save money on the products you purchase and to try some great products for free.

If you’re new to rebates, be sure to check out my post Simple Tips for Getting Rebates for more information.

Top Current Rebates Available

Note:  This list is organized by earliest known expiration date first.

• L’Oreal Paris. Buy any L’Oreal Paris product before 5/20/13 and get a free limited-edition cosmetics bag. Offer good while supplies last.
• Johnson & Johnson. Get a free Shutterfly 8×8 photo book when you buy any 2 Johnson’s Baby and/or Desitin products by 5/26/13.  You’ll receive a printout with a special promotion code at checkout that you’ll need to enter online to redeem this offer.
• Elmer’s. Get $5 back by mail when you buy one Project Popperz Accessory and one Elmer’s Foam Tri-Fold Display Board. Offer ends 5/31/13.
• Pur Minerals. Get $3 back by mail when you buy Beautiful Creatures on Blu-ray Combo Pack or DVD and one Pur Minerals Limited Edition Collection inspired by the film. Offer ends 5/31/13.
• Ace Hardware. Save on MiracleGro, Weedblock Landscape Fabric and more with this month’s Ace rebates.  Offers end 5/31/13.
• Target. Get a free $5 Target gift card by mail when you buy $10 or more worth of Ghirardelli Intense Dark chocolate, John Frieda Luxurious Volume Touchably Full Shampoo, and/or Pantene AgeDefy Advanced Thickening Treatment at Target before 6/13/13.  Offer available to first 700 who respond.
• DermaSilk. Get a free Dermasilk product after mail-in rebate and a free eye mask by mail when you purchase a specially-marked Dermasilk product at select Target stores before 6/01/13.  Note: This offer is limited to the first 500 who respond.
• Target. Get a free $5 Target gift card by mail when you buy $15 worth of Iams ProActive Health, Lindt Excellence chocolate, and/or Outshine Strawberry Fruit Bars in a single visit at Target before 6/30/13.  Offer good while supplies last.
• P&G. Get one free adult movie ticket to Disney-Pixar’s Monsters University by mail when you buy $25 worth of P&G products from a participating retailer in a single transaction.  Or purchase $30 of P&G products in a single transaction and get one free adult and one children’s movie ticket to Disney-Pixar’s Monsters University. Offer ends 6/30/13.
• Farnam Horse. Get 25% cash back by mail when you buy any Farnam Fly Control product and any other Farnam product before 6/30/13.
• Olay. Get $10 back by mail when you buy $30 worth of Olay facial skincare products before 6/30/13.
• Bissell. Get up to $30 back by mail when you buy select Bissell products priced at $59 or more before 6/30/13.
• Gold’n Plump. Get a free golf umbrella by mail (a $15 value) when you buy 3 Gold’n Plump Seasoned Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Fillets.  Offer good through 6/30/13 while supplies last.
• Fishing rebates. Save money on all kinds of fishing gear from Berkley, Stren, and more with fishing mail-in rebates.
• Cabbage Patch Kids. Get a free 8×8 Shutterfly photo book (a $29.99 value) when you adopt any specially marked Cabbage Patch Kid before 8/31/13.
• Tyson. Get a free picky-eating themed Scholastic book by mail with the purchase of any Tyson chicken nuggets. Offer is good through 9/30/13 or until the first 2,000 books have been distributed, whichever comes first.
• Spectracide. Get up to $5 back by mail when you buy select Spectracide products before 9/30/13.
• MiraLax. Collect codes from inside specially marked 14-dose MiraLax products to receive free gift cards, beauty treatments and more.  Offer ends 9/30/13.
• Quantum Health. Get up to $2 back by mail on various Quantum Health products including Canker Cover, Elderberry Syrup, Zinc Lozenges, and more. Offer ends 10/01/13.
• Thompson’s WaterSeal. Receive up to $21 back by mail when you buy up to 3 gallons Thompson’s WaterSeal Waterproofer Plus Wood Protectors or Thompson’s WaterSeal Advanced Wood Protectors and/or 3 containers of select Thompson’s WaterSeal Cleaners in a single purchase at a participating retailer from 4/06/2013 to 10/05/2013.
• Bayer Advanced. Get up to $6 back by mail when you buy Bayer Advanced lawn and garden care products before 11/30/13.
• Senokot. Get $7 back by mail when you purchase select Senokot Tablets before 12/31/13.
• Energizer. Get an $8 Gas Reward MasterCard gift card by mail when you collect three (3) codes from specially marked packs of Energizer Brand batteries and enter them  online before 8/30/14.  You can claim this rebate up to three times per household.
• Minute Rice. Get a a Quick & Easy Minute Rice Recipes Cookbook when you buy 10 Minute Rice products. Offer good while supplies last. Note: There is a $1.50 shipping and handling fee.
• Snyder’s of Hanover. Collect UPC codes from Synder’s of Hanover Pretzels and/or Tortilla Chips to earn a free tumbler, magnet, keychain or clip. Offer good while supplies last. Note: There is a $2.50 shipping and handling fee for each item requested.

I’ll update this list of my top mail-in rebates monthly, but if you can’t wait that long, stop by here each Monday for a weekly round-up of my favorite picks.

You should also check out my mail-in rebate round-ups  for other rebate offers that are still available.

Written by Christina Brown for Northern Cheapskate © 2013 | Mail-In Rebate Round-Up: Save on Gardening, Fishing & More

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photo credit: arrtx1 via Flickr

Just because our family is going through a financial transition, that does not let us off the hook for when it comes to working in the yard this spring.  We will be having our first graduation open house next summer, so everything we can do this year to keep our yard looking good is a bonus.  Here are some things we are doing that are not expensive or give us a big bang for our buck.

Grass and Yard Areas

We are raking the yard (by hand) to bring up the dead grass and dropping some seeds in the patchy spots to encourage a nice, thick lawn.

Did you know that the best defense to weeds is to keep your lawn healthy?  That will limit the spaces where the weeds can take hold and hopefully save us time and expense down the road.

We are getting out our trusty edger and making the edges look nice.

We are planning to water – but only when necessary.  Particularly if you have a sprinkler system, it is very easy to just set it and let it run – regardless of the weather.   Your lawn needs about an inch of rain per week.  When we have some cooler weather or we are getting rain, we try to turn our system off and just let Mother Nature do her thing.  Usually, we only water a few times until the heat and dry of July kick in.

We have wooded areas and some land, so walking around and picking up any trash that may have blown in is also a quick, free fix to making things look better.

I am so happy to have this one crossed off already – we have cleaned up the dog poo from the winter.  Dog “bombs” are the worst – keeping those cleaned up is a must.

Walkways, Driveway and Patio

We find keeping the these areas of debris is always a huge improvement.  A quick sweep when needed and you are done.

I have a secret indulgence – pressure washing!  I so enjoy it and the results are so satisfying.  Check Pow-Pow-Power Wash at Young House Love to see how addicting it can be.  Since we own a power washer, it just costs us a little gas to run it, but you can rent one pretty inexpensively as well.

Some areas may be stained, and if the power washer doesn’t do them in, cleaning those with a cleaner will help improve the view.

As mentioned above, edging the grass next to these areas makes it look neat and tidy.

On the patio, cleaning up any toys and tools left nearby is essential to having a nice, clean outdoor space.

I have to admit that I am sort of dreading this one, but we will be cleaning the grill.

I will also be sanding and staining our outdoor wooden furniture.  It takes some work, but does not cost a lot and can revitalize your outdoor spaces.

Play Areas

We always give the kids places to store their toys and we try to do a nightly clean up to put everything back in its place.  Everything just looks better when we do.  Plus, the kids know where to find their things and if a storm hits overnight, things are safely put away.

Power washing can help clean up these areas, too.

Taking some time to hang out in the sandbox with the kids and pull any weeds that have been growing is also a free improvement.   Get the kids involved – see how can pull the most weeds in 10 minutes.  In our house, first pick of the Popsicles is a fun reward.

Landscaping

We will be getting our annual load of wood chips to spruce up our landscaped areas.  This does not cost much and takes just a few hours, but it keeps things looking so fresh and neat.

We take a few minutes once or twice a week to walk around and pull any weeds.  When we are consistent, it does not take much time and never gets out of hand.

I am off the hook this year, but if your perennials are becoming overgrown, spring is the ideal time to divide them.  On the plus side – you will have twice as many plants and can use those to help fill in other areas or trade with others for new plants.

Feeding and watering the plants and trees.  We try to feed the plants and trees a recommended plant food and remember to water them during the driest, hottest weeks of summer.

All of these tasks can be done on a very limited budget (most are free!) and make our outdoor spaces a place to gather and enjoy.

What inexpensive outdoor projects do you have planned?

Written by Michelle for Northern Cheapskate © 2013 | Inexpensive Outdoor Spring Projects

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