Get into gardening

Ever increasing costs are making supermarket food more and more expensive. Growing your own fruit and veg could save you a considerable amount of money.

In most cases you can buy a packet of seeds for less than just one portion of vegetables, which will give you many more pounds for your £s! We've put together three projects overleaf to get you on your money-saving way.

Three simple money-saving projects…

1. Herbs and salad leaves

Herbs and salad leaves bought from the supermarket don't normally last very long and rot away in the bottom of your fridge if you don't use them quickly enough. But if you grow your own, you can remove the leaves when you need them, leaving no waste. And what's even better is that they grow back, so as long as you care for your plants,you'll have a never-ending supply.

2. Vegetables

Growing your own carrots, beetroot, radish, spring onions and courgettes is a great way to save money. All of these vegetables are really reliable and have a high yield, making them much cheaper than buying vegetables from a supermarket. By sowing weekly batches you can harvest successive weekly crops and keep your family fed all season.

3. Fruit trees

In the long run, fruit trees are really cost efficient. Once they start to produce fruit, they require very little care and will keep providing over many years. Not only can you enjoy the fresh fruit in season, but you can also try making jams and relishes that can be used throughout the year or given to friends as gifts.