| Investing in high quality lawn and garden equipment | | | | and BJ's. Their yard equipment markups tend to be |
| makes sense. Durable, top quality tools make for an | | | | lower than what you'll find in hardware or home |
| easier job of taking care of your landscaping, and will | | | | improvement stores. And when they start clearancing |
| save you money in the long run. | | | | these items at the end of the season, you'll be able |
| The problem, however, is how to pay for them in | | | | to purchase them at rock-bottom prices - if you're |
| the short run. | | | | lucky enough to get one before they're gone. |
| Here are six frugal ways you can save a substantial | | | | - Check the Internet. Many items are cheaper, even |
| amount of money when you buy a lawn mower, | | | | with shipping and handling charges included, if you buy |
| edge trimmer, chainsaw, leaf blower, or any other | | | | them from an online supplier. Thanks to their low |
| yard care tool: | | | | overhead costs and broad customer base, |
| - Choose basic models, without the fancy gadgets. | | | | website-based suppliers of lawn and garden |
| Bells and whistles raise the price on anything, usually | | | | equipment often have much lower prices than |
| by a significant amount; and they're also the features | | | | brick-and-mortar businesses. |
| that malfunction the soonest, resulting in costly | | | | - Buy used, reconditioned lawn and garden equipment. |
| repairs. So go for the basic, stripped-down models of | | | | Check the classified ads of your local newspaper, and |
| top-quality brands and you'll be making a smart | | | | in lawn mower / small engine repair shops. If these |
| investment in equipment you'll use for years. | | | | places don't have what you're looking for, they're |
| - Shop in February. Lawn and garden equipment | | | | usually very helpful in suggesting other places you can |
| dealers need to move out their remaining stock of | | | | try. Also check your phone book's yellow pages |
| last year's equipment to make room for this year's | | | | under such headings as "lawn mowers", "garden |
| models, and February is one of the slowest months | | | | equipment", etc. for businesses selling used yard |
| of the year for their sales. However, from March | | | | equipment. |
| through June is peak season for this industry, and | | | | Once you've purchased your yard care items, you |
| accordingly prices will be at their highest then. | | | | can save even more money by taking proper care of |
| - Look for sales just after July 4. The | | | | them. Follow the manufacturers' maintenance |
| yard-and-garden sector typically hits another slump in | | | | schedules listed in the instruction booklets. Take care |
| sales once summer has peaked, and you should be | | | | to thoroughly clean, dry, and oil everything before |
| able to find discounts of around 20% on most lawn | | | | you put it away, and store all tools and equipment |
| and garden items. | | | | out of the elements. |
| - Check warehouse stores such as Sam's, Costco, | | | | |