Hi all. Kind of new to the forum but I've been enjoying and using the tips. Thanks! My cheap containers: scrap plywood [free from a friend] screwed together into a 4'* 2' box to use for a raised bed; flea market galvanized tin containers, various shapes and sizes, drilled holes for drainage, most expensive one was $5 for a good size one; old bureau, recycled into a potting bench, used the leftover drawers to make a flat for bunching onions, added an unused window screen on the bottom so I could use it on the deck; tires from my mechanic [free, he was happy to get rid of them since they charge him to dispose], used to make a composter and planters; freecycled white plastic barrel, cut into 8" slices for raised bed, planted peas in them; flea market wire fencing [$5 for 50'] made a cage for planting potatoes out of 10'[about 3' diameter]. My neighbor never recycles anything so I've managed to get all kinds of pots from her, she finally got sick of me taking stuff out of her trash and now saves them for me!

I just got lots and lots of seed packets at our local Dollar General stores in September (I'm in SW IN). They are regular price 2/$1 or $3/1. They put the garden stuff on clearance in September. We paid $0.02, or $0.03, or $0.05 a packet for seeds! Yippee. Got lots of vegetables and even more flower seeds. Way more than we can plant. But, my kids really enjoy gardening, and I'm not great at it. So, I figured, it won't cost me much for us to try and fail with all these. I'm planning to let the kids help me trying them different ways, like inside, winter sown outside, planting after the frosts, starting in the greenhouse. I figure we'll probably learn a lot and if I keep track of it okay. Then, the year after that I probably will make better use of the money I spend on gardening, cause I'll have made lots of mistakes with my super-discounted seed collection! PS. I fully intend on searching for more seeds next year, too. But, the awesome prices I got will help me have the willpower to wait til September not waste $$ paying full price when the displays start popping up in early spring! :)

One rule I've always followed is my grandmother's - "Never bake an orphan." Before visions of the witch in Hansel and Gretel start forming, she meant that it's a waste of electricity to bake only one item in the oven. If I'm baking a nut bread, I'll put in some acorn squash for that night's dinner or potayoes to make twice-baked ones for another night. If I'm baking a chicken, I can add a pie crust for a chiffon pie. A meat loaf will mean baked potatoes instead of mashed or a casserole of peas cooked with lettuce leaves or some other baked vegetable.

Another idea, particularly for weddings, is to think brunch instead of dinner. Much less expensive and can actually be far more elegant. In smaller cities, "brunch" does not book up as fast as evening events. Also for flowers (this is self-serving!) -- purchase flowers from local flower farmers instead of florists. Much cheaper and often far more unique. Bud -- your idea of prime rib sandwich with the bread on the side was great! We eat too much as Americans anyway and with the antipasta tray -- a perfect meal. Great thread! Cathy