Did somebody say the “R” word? I hope not…who knows what financial catastrophe it may invoke. Oh, we’re already in a financial catastrophe! Well I guess we better not be the one they point out for causing this mess…let’s slip away quietly and not use the “R’ word again, shall we?

Nah, stuff it! Let’s face facts. The economists don’t want us to get all miserly and start saving money or turn from our credit spending ways. Otherwise banks will have to drop their credit rates even lower and fat-cat CEO’s will miss out on their multi-million dollar bonuses. And we can’t have that, can we?

Maybe we can! Maybe us resilient gardeners can actually enjoy our hobby WITHOUT the glossy catalogues, big-box sales and over-priced PBR new releases.

So, I’ve put together a few posts, from here and others, on ways to keep gardening without having to fork out big dollars. Check these out;
<ul>
 	<li><strong><a href="https://gardeningtipsnideas.com/2007/02/gardening_tools_on_a_tight_budget.html">Gardening tools</a></strong> – obtaining cheap garden tools can be an exercise in humility for some of us, but once you’ve found yourself an incredible bargain you’ll balk at paying top dollar again. And, in most cases I’ve found that finding older garden tools are much better quality than their brand new upstarts.</li>
 	<li>Or, how about starting a <strong><a href="https://gardeningtipsnideas.com/start-a-beautiful-flower-garden-for-less-than-5/">flower garden for less than $5</a></strong>? It doesn’t get much cheaper than that and with a little frugality and creative thought you could create a wonderful garden without a heap of mullah.</li>
 	<li>For those gardeners who live in confined quarters, here’s a post from Fern at <strong>Life on the Balcony</strong> titled <strong>10 Dirt Cheap Ways To Have a Gorgeous Balcony Garden</strong>. These should have your apartment brimming with life quicker than you can say “Will this be another Great Depression?”</li>
 	<li>Then there are ways to save money by making your own <strong><a href="https://gardeningtipsnideas.com/how-to-build-a-cheap-greenhouse/">greenhouse</a></strong>, installing a cheap <strong><a href="https://gardeningtipsnideas.com/cheap-garden-fence-ideas/">garden fence</a></strong>, and even making <strong><a href="https://gardeningtipsnideas.com/cheap-newspaper-seed-pots/">seed-starters out of newspaper</a></strong>.</li>
 	<li>With Christmas just around the corner, finding gifts for your friends without having to dive into your purse or wallet for the plastic is a welcome relief. Gayla, from <strong>YouGrowGirl</strong> has come up with some great Cheap n’ Easy Plant-related gifts that you can either source from your own garden or buy inexpensively.</li>
 	<li>Cheap gardening books? Sure, Margaret Roach from a <strong>Way to Garden</strong> has a few tips on <strong><a href="http://awaytogarden.com/books-cheap-but-priceless" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bargain garden books</a></strong> to keep you enthused and energised in your gardening endeavours.</li>
 	<li>And, if that’s not enough to stimulate the frugal juices within, here’s another <strong><a href="https://gardeningtipsnideas.com/saving-money-in-the-garden/">49 tips to save money in the garden</a></strong> that will surely pique your interest.</li>
</ul>
In fact, when it pertains to gardening, saving money is not an arduous task. Sure, we can enjoy it when we have it but when the belt needs to be tightened a little it doesn’t make our hobby any less enjoyable – it just makes us more creative.