Consider Your Needs

Moving beyond appearance, keeping your lifestyle and culinary needs in mind when shopping for appliances can help save some bucks. If most of your meal preparation consists of plating takeout or heating prepared foods, a multi-burner, high-BTU cooktop or double oven will likely offer way more firepower then required. This could be a good place to scale back.

Keep an eye out for appliance options and extras, and skip the ones you won’t use or don’t need. For example, a lot of refrigerators come equipped with external water dispensers—some even offer a choice of cubed or crushed ice. It’s a neat feature, but one that wouldn’t get a daily or even weekly workout in some households. Finding a model without these goodies would benefit your bottom line.

Mix it Up with High-Low

When it comes to cabinetry, home remodelers can learn a lesson from clothes-conscious fashionistas, who have always found ways of making a statement with a kind-to-the-budget blend of high and low. Just as the well dressed and the beautiful can make headlines by pairing a Gap T-shirt with a couture skirt, savvy kitchen remodelers can create a stir at home by mixing and matching items from big box stores and boutiques.

Architect Mark R. LePage, AIA, president and partner in charge of operations at Fivecat Studio in Pleasantville, NY, recommends dressing up simple, budget-conscious IKEA cabinets with decorative high-end knobs and pulls.

Pairing IKEA cabinet boxes with custom wood doors and drawers is another of his money-saving strategies, as is using open wooden shelving in place of the lower cabinets. LePage likes to shop at commercial kitchen supply houses for open stainless steel shelving and rolling carts, which make versatile and smart-looking storage units. Though low cost, they tend to play nicely with upscale kitchen elements.

Plywood Can Be Beautiful

Sealed plywood cabinets are an affordable option, according to LePage. Made of wood veneer layers from trees like spruce, birch, or tropical hardwood, plywood often has a bold, distinctive grain and can be decorative as well as durable.

Cabinet savings can go more than skin deep. Instead of ordering units equipped with built-in rollouts and dividers, consider retrofitting them from the array of less-expensive ready-made items available through storage specialty shops, catalogs, and big box stores. It’s also fun to improvise your own in-cabinet storage solutions: Stamp your kitchen with personal style by combining storage bins, boxes, and baskets in a mix of sizes, colors, textures and materials.Photo: formica.com

Resist Temptations

Cutting cabinetry costs may make it tempting, and possible, to splurge on an extravagant countertop. Resist the temptation. There are lots of ways to get good-looking and well-functioning counters at a smart price, especially by aiming for that high-low blend. Use pricey materials such as stone or wood sparingly; focus them on specific workstations for tasks like baking or chopping. Topping the remainder of your counter space with less expensive surfaces (e.g., laminates).

LePage suggests dressing up laminate countertops with wood or stainless steel edging for a custom look. He also likes to create counters by repurposing salvaged materials such as stone, stainless steel or wood.

Consider Tiles over Slabs

For those who love the look of natural stone like granite, marble, and even alabaster, tiles are typically more affordable than the bigger, thicker slabs that must be custom cut to fit. Ranging in size from petite mosaics to 12-inch squares to even larger rectangles, and available in a seemingly unlimited variety of colors and patterns, stone tiles are a versatile option for counters, floors, backsplashes and elsewhere. Again, there are almost endless mixing and matching options, with the luxe-looking natural stone employed sparingly as accents, borders, or to create a pattern in a surface otherwise dominated by wood, ceramic tile, or another less expensive material.

DIY Your Backsplash

The backsplash can be a place to let your imagination—and your do-it-yourself chops—run wild. Applied to the walls, sheet metal such as copper, galvanized aluminum, stainless steel or traditional tin ceiling panels can add a touch of bling to the room. LePage likes using broken colored glass for a lively and nontraditional backsplash mosaic. Or recycle your broken pottery shards, tile scraps, and other ceramic odds and ends into a pique assiette pattern, reminiscent of the playful works of the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi.

With a combination of careful shopping, imagination, flexibility and creativity, you can plan your way to an affordable new kitchen.

1. Cooking Oils

Any chef knows that cooking oils are among the most important ingredients in the kitchen. But pantry staples like canola and olive oil have a pretty short shelf life, lasting only about three to six months on the counter before turning rancid. If you don’t fry or sauté too often, stick with smaller bottles of oil to avoid frying your wallet.

2. Eggs

Buying a 36-pack of eggs at a big-box store is usually not cheaper per egg than buying a dozen at a regular supermarket. And because eggs go bad in just three to five weeks, you don’t want to buy more than you plan on cracking open in a month.

3. Bleach

Bleach is an essential household cleaning product that you might assume never expires. But the active ingredient in bleach breaks down over time (or when exposed to temperature changes), weakening the solution. Bleach will typically be most effective for the first six to nine months after opening, so it is best not to buy too much at a time.

4. Coffee

Enjoying a good cup of joe is a cherished morning ritual, so why would you want anything less than the freshest beans you can buy? Coffee beans are at their tastiest within two weeks of roasting, so skip the bulk bag and opt for smaller servings that were packaged closer to their roasting date.

5. Spices

Dried spices don’t exactly spoil, but they will get stale and lose flavor over time. Ground spices will stay fresh for about six months, while whole spices can last a little longer. To ensure tasty freshness, forgo buying that bulk cinnamon and choose smaller containers that you know you can use up, or at least won’t need to spend a king’s ransom to replace.

6. Ketchup

While ketchup and many other condiments have preservatives that guarantee a long shelf life, once a bottle is opened it shouldn’t stay shoved in the back of the fridge for more than six months. Skip the oversize bottles and watch for seasonal sales around summer holidays like Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.

7. Sunscreen

Stocking up on extra-large bottles of sunscreen can burn more than just your wallet. Sunscreen loses effectiveness over time, especially when the bottle is left baking under the hot sun on the beach. When it comes to sun protection, don’t sweat buying a fresh bottle each summer.

8. Brown Rice

Unlike white rice, which has a nearly indefinite shelf life, brown rice is high in oil, which makes it prone to spoiling in as few as six months. It’s best to buy only as much as you will cook, and be sure to store brown rice in an airtight container kept in a cool, dry place.

9. Pain Killers

Over-the-counter medicines like ibuprofen can be expensive, but it is doubtful that even a large family could finish off a bulk bottle of pills before the expiration date, which is usually a year or two after the manufacture date. Stick to more modestly sized bottles and generic brands to reduce the pain on your wallet.

10. Baked Goods

Unless you are making enough sandwiches to feed a whole soccer team, it doesn’t make sense to buy bakery products like loaves of bread in bulk. No one likes a moldy PB&J!

11. Beer

Beer usually has a shelf life of only four months to a year, especially if stored at room temperature. So, unless you’re stocking up for a big weekend party, stick to cold six-packs for your everyday alcohol needs. Cheers!

12. Detergent

Both liquid and powder laundry detergent can start to lose their potency after a few months on the shelf. In order to maximize the cleaning power of your detergent, buy only as much as you will use in six months. Similarly, dishwasher detergent has a shelf life of just three months.

1. Use your dishwasher

Dishwashers may use electricity, but they save more energy, money, water, and time than hand washing.

According to the California Energy Commission, using an Energy Star-qualified dishwasher instead of hand washing can save you, on average, 5,000 gallons of water and $40 in utility costs each year, not to mention 230 hours of your time.

2. Air-dry your dishes

Opt-out of the heat-dry cycle on your dishwasher. Instead, open the door with just a crack and let your dishes air-dry. Or, if your dishwasher has an air-dry setting, use it.

The air-dry setting can reduce your dishwasher’s energy use by 15 percent to 50 percent, according to the California Energy Commission.

3. Get ’em clean

Of course, these dishwasher tips won’t save electricity if you have to repeat loads because the dishes just won’t get clean. That’s why you need to make sure they’re loaded correctly.

For example, you should place plates in the bottom rack, bowls on the top rack, make sure cups are upside down and larger pots should be washed separately.

4. Use a fan

If you live in an area of the world where the summers are hot, turn on your ceiling fans before you touch your thermostat. Using a ceiling fan can make a room feel 10 degrees cooler and a fan uses just 10 percent of the energy that a central air conditioner does, according to the US Natural Resource Defense Council.

5. Use a smarter bulb

If you haven’t switched to LED lighting, now is the time. The US Department of Energy says that LED bulbs use at least 75 percent less energy — and last 25 times longer — than incandescent lighting. That equals a lot of savings!

6. Forget the twist

If you’re not a fan of the twisty compact fluorescent lights (or CFLs), there’s good news.

Many LEDs, like the Cree Daylight, Philips SceneSwitch or GE LED Daylight, look just like the old incandescent bulbs. Learn more about choosing an LED bulb here.

7. Use motion to stop waste

If you’re constantly following family members from room to room, turning off lights behind them, you need to update. One solution could be motion detectors, like GE’s LED Plus lineup or Ring’s smart outdoor lights.

They turn on when they sense someone’s in the room and then turn themselves off when no movement is detected.

8. Turn off the burner a little early

According to the California Energy Commission, if you turn off the burner early, the stove will still release enough heat to finish up whatever you’re cooking and will save electricity. This tip works for most dishes, though there are a few exceptions.

9. Keep your oven closed

Every time you open your oven door, the internal temperature can drop 25 degrees. Then, your oven has to use more electricity to bring the temperature back up. To save electricity, peek through the window and rely on your oven’s light instead of opening the door.

10. Go small

If you’re just heating something up or cooking something small, go with a small appliance like your microwave or toaster oven. They use substantially less electricity than your oven.

11. Use a smart plug

You may think that your electronics and appliances are energy-efficient, but are you using more electricity than you think?

The TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini is a little gadget that plugs into your wall that you can use to turn electronics on and off.

12. Put it on standby

Putting your electronics on standby saves more money than leaving them on. Remember, though, standby still uses a substantial amount of electricity.

According to the US Department of Energy, electronics on standby account for 10 percent or more of your electricity bill.

13. Better yet, get a strip

One of the best ways to control these power wasters is by plugging them into a power strip or a smart outlet like the TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip.

Just switch the strip off or use the smart switch’s app to turn off electricity guzzlers when you go to bed or when you’re not home. Learn more about standby energy waste here.

14. Install a programmable thermostat

Still, have that thermostat that looks like it’s from the 1970s? Switch it out with a programmable thermostat such as the Nest, Ecobee, or Honeywell. According to the Alliance to Save Energy, switching to a programmable thermostat can save you save up to 10 percent on cooling and heating costs.

15. Check your thermostat location

While you’re considering a programmable thermostat, check your current thermostat’s location. It could be on the wrong wall.

Drafts, direct sunlight, and other factors can trigger your AC or furnace to kick on when it doesn’t need to. Here’s the perfect place to put your thermostat.

16. Baby your dryer

The California Energy Commission says that dryers use approximately 6 percent of a home’s total electricity usage. You can help your dryer work more efficiently by keeping it clean. Always cleaning the lint trap after every load is one of the most important things you can do. Here’s more on how to deep-clean your dryer and your dryer vent.

17. Go cold

Start using cold water when you wash laundry. Why? Because 90 percent of the electricity used to wash a load goes toward heating the water, according to Consumer Reports.

The Alliance to Save Energy also says washing clothes in cold water can save you $63 a year on your electricity bill. Most detergents are designed to work better in cold water, anyway.

18. Upgrade your laundry room

Older appliances aren’t as energy-efficient as they could be. For example, Energy Star estimates that on average a washer over 10 years old could cost you around $190 a year.

However, we understand that now isn’t the best time to invest in new large appliances due to the unemployment spike caused by the novel coronavirus.

19. Old dryers waste energy, too

Switch out your dryer while you’re getting a washer. Your old dryer could be wasting 20 percent more energy than a newer, Energy Star-certified model.

20. Switch out your shower head

Switching to a 2.5-gallon-per-minute (low-flow) showerhead and taking a 10-minute shower not only saves you 5 gallons of water over taking a bath, but it also saves up to $145 each year in electricity, according to Energy Star.

Round up receipts

Dedicate a box near your front door as the spot where you stash your everyday receipts from the grocery store, fuel fill-ups, clothing purchases, and more. Then, if you need to return something, say that pair of shoes you wore once before the trim started fraying or the bread that went moldy after one day, you’ll be able to easily locate the receipt for a full refund. On a weekly basis, separate out the ones you’ll need for your taxes or expense reports in labeled envelopes inside the box. Estimates show about 50 percent of employees never turn in receipts for reimbursements for personal money spent on business expenses.

Rearrange the refrigerator

You won’t eat the food you can’t readily see – and worldwide an astonishing 30% of food that gets produced is not eaten, the retail equivalent of $1 trillion every year. Organizing your fridge smartly is key. Keep the food that will spoil first or that lunch you want to remember to bring to the office tomorrow at eye level. Store leftovers and snacks, like pasta salad or cut-up fruits and veggies, in clear containers, so they’re easy to spot.

Purge the pantry

Have dinner at home more and you could save $3,000+ a year, reports the Bureau of Labour Statistics; that’s the amount the average household spends annually on eating out and ordering in. An organized pantry is the first step toward making cooking at home a whole lot easier. First, toss out the old cans of soup that have been sitting there forever and donate the will-not-use items – this will not only make more space for your favorites, it saves you the time and effort of hunting around. Next, group like foods together so you can quickly scan your available ingredients and be able to whip up a meal – and some savings – in minutes.

Set reminders

Stay on top of deadlines to avoid rush charges with this simple trick: add “deadline approaching” reminders to your calendar. For example, make a note to “mail birthday gift” a week before the recipient’s birthday and you’ll have enough time to shop, wrap it, and ship it without needing to pay extra for costly overnight shipping. You can save even more money by reminding yourself to cancel subscriptions, auto-shipments you don’t need, and free trial memberships. You can set up alerts a set amount of days before an event on many electronic calendars, including Outlook and Google. Or if you’re using a paper calendar, simply write it in.

Create a “drop zone”

At the start of each week, look over your calendar to see what’s on tap. Then, gather the items you’ll need – say your daughter’s soccer cleats or a bottle of wine for a hostess gift – and place these in a designated “drop zone” by the door. (This can be a table, shelving unit, or bags on hooks.) This will save you from having to buy new items at the last minute because you forgot to grab the ones you already have at home. You should also check the weather and prepare for it too – this way you’ll never have to spring for a costly new umbrella when there’s a sudden downpour.

Safely store “like cash”

You wouldn’t haphazardly toss a $20 bill in a junk drawer, so why are you doing exactly that with that store gift card? An astounding $1 billion in gift cards go unused every year. To avoid misplacing yours and to make sure its handy the next time you’re at its designated store, start keeping them in a single spot in your wallet. Or if you know you’ll be redeeming them online, go ahead and create an account on the site and enter the gift card info; the credit will automatically be there the next time you shop.

Free up space

Finding extra space in your home pays off in multiple ways. First and foremost, you won’t have to keep shelling out for that self-storage unit each month. Second, you’ll be able to hit up bulk-buying stores (and easily store them) for big savings. Lastly, you might even make enough space to get your car back in the garage, which fewer than 25 percent of us can do. Parking your car in a garage helps protect it from the elements to better preserve its exterior and interior, is better for the engine in colder months, and may even knock a few dollars off your insurance.

Put things away

The average person spends a total of 153 days of their life looking for misplaced items, research has shown. That averages out to ten minutes a day; ten minutes you could be answering emails, cooking dinner, exercising, etc. Then there are the added costs of buying replacement items for things you already own but just can’t find. Phones, keys, sunglasses, and charger cords top the list of regularly misplaced items. Invest in a clear over-the-door organizer for the exterior door you use the most often – and use it. It will pay dividends in extra minutes and money.

Prep for shopping trips

If you’re not already, you should always shop from a grocery list; not only does this help prevent you from spending extra on gas on a return trip for that forgotten item, you won’t pick up those little extras that you don’t really need, like that chocolate bar or bottle of ice coffee, on a subsequent trip. You should also check store catalogs to see what’s on sale before you go – virtually all grocery stores share these online – and search for digital coupons. Having a plan helps curb those impulse purchases, which can cost you an average of $5,400 a year, according to Slickdeals.net.

1. You Don’t Look Down

A lot of people just grab whatever option happens to be at eye level, but that might mean you’re missing out on less expensive options on the lower shelves! Many stores purposely place less expensive items below eye level, so take a few extra seconds to check those lower shelves.

2. You Make Several Small Trips

Frequent trips to the store to buy just a few items can actually cost more in the long run, and not just because you’re using more gasoline to get there. Shopping with an abstract goal in mind (like “get food for the next few days,” for instance) often results in unplanned spending, so making fewer, more goal-oriented trips to the store can help you stick to your budget.

3. You Always Buy The Biggest Size

It’s important to know that the largest size isn’t always going to be cheaper! It all depends on the “unit price,” so it’s important to look for it on price tags and compare them closely.

Once in a while, you’ll notice that the smaller item is actually cheaper than the bulk option! Some stores do this on items like cereal and french fries anticipating that shoppers will reach for the larger size by default.

4. You Only Look In One Place

You can find certain items in multiple locations throughout the store, and the prices may vary between locations. For instance, you can often find cheese in up to four different sections, such as a section for specialty cheeses, alongside the salad toppings, shredded or block cheeses at the deli, and cheese sticks by the lunch meats.

5. You Always Choose Convenience

Stores like to display certain items together to make things convenient, but they aren’t always the most cost-effective options. For instance, there’s often a small selection of nuts and candies located in or near the ice cream aisle, but you can find a much larger selection in the baking aisle (along with a more favorable range of prices!)

6. You Don’t Check The Salad Bar

If you need a specialty food item that you don’t normally use, check the salad bar. You can often find items like olives, artichoke hearts, bacon bits, and other ingredients there, and you can save money by only getting as much as you need.

If your store doesn’t have an extensive salad bar, check near the produce or deli department for their “made fresh daily” offerings.

7. You Shop Early In The Day

If you shop first thing in the morning, you may be missing out on markdowns that may appear later in the day. Check the end caps of the aisles for special prices, along with the meat department and bakery.

8. You Don’t Double Check Receipts

Incorrect changes happen all the time, so it’s always a good idea to check your receipt! Common errors include multiple scans, sale prices not being reflected, and coupons not being applied.

Take the time to double-check that everything looks right on your receipt before you leave the store parking lot.

9. You Forget Your Bags

Don’t forget your reusable shopping bags, because most stores now either charge a few cents for each bag you use, or they offer a small discount for bringing your own. That money can add up over time, so it’s worth the extra little bit of effort!

10. You Shop For A Recipe

When you shop for a specific recipe, chances are pretty low that those ingredients will happen to be on sale. A better way to save it to check the store website or circular to find out what’s on sale, then plan your meals around the best deals available.

If you have any tips for saving money on groceries that aren’t mentioned here, feel free to share them with us in a comment at the bottom of this post so that everyone can benefit from your wisdom!

If you are planning to toss your old curtains, then after peeking into these amazing re-purposed curtain ideas, you would immediately change your mind. The old curtains can be cropped and used as a shower curtain to separate the bathing and toilet section. They are also the perfect material to use for slip coves of the DIY sofa and chairs, and if they are pretty printed, they can turn out to be awfully gorgeous wall art pieces as well.

1. Old Curtain and Picture Frame Floating Headboard

You can style up your headboard to make it look a bit more classy and fancy at the same time and that too using the old curtains of the house and thus getting a bedroom restyling and that too so cheaply and feasibly.

2. Old Curtain into Shower Curtain

You can make your bathroom look bigger, adding a shower curtain to it and thus enjoying the bathing and toilet area separately. It requires basic supplies and some old curtains.

3. Old Curtain Bed Canopy

Give your bed space an instant royal feel with this lovely and chic bed canopy having been made out of the old net curtains so damn gorgeously.

4. Easy Old Curtain Napkins

Here is another super cool and functional use of the old curtain leading you to make food napkins put with a little cut and sew work. You can further make table clothes and dish clothes to make the most out of them.

5. Beautiful Old Curtain or Fabric Garland

A garland can instantly beautify the decor of any space, and now you can make a unique type of garland with the fabric, and for that, you can use the old curtains and save your money.

6. Old Curtain Market Bag

Old fabric like the curtains offers many recycling methods and techniques for some useful and functional projects like this exquisite shopping bag has been made out of an old curtain, making your shopping easier.

7. Closet Doors Made of Old Curtains

If you have open closets, then the old curtains can help cover them up with a touch of style and elegance, and that too with no cost and no hard efforts.

8. Cushions Made Out of Old Curtains

If you are a crochet person, you must know the value of fabric yarn, and buying it can be expensive, but if you have old curtains at home, you can cut them and make your fabric yarn to use for the future crochet projects.

9. Old Curtains into Fabric Yarn

10. Self-Made Old Curtain Chair Slipcovers

Even the small details add much to the living room decor, and style like these lovely looking sofas has been made to look enchanting with those adorable slipcovers having been cheaply made out of the old curtains.

11. Low-Cost Old Curtain Bulletin Board

If you have a bulletin board in your home office, then an old curtain can really dress it to look really chic, stylish, and decorative, especially those curtains having lovely prints and pretty designs on them.

12. Easy Old Curtain Slipcovers

Old curtains can be used after getting retired for so many fun projects of your home styling like here they have been used as the slipcovers for the chairs and adding so much delight to them.

13. Repurposed Old Curtain Shower Curtain

If you throw an old curtain, look at this amazing idea or create a certain separation in the bathroom between the bathing area and the toilet section.

14. Reclaimed Old Curtain Drop Cloth

If your house is undergoing some wood or paintwork, you can use an old shower curtain as the drop cloth on the floor to save it from any damage and in any section of the house.

15. Recycled Old Curtain Closet Door

If you are looking for new doors for your closet in the bathroom or any other room, you can replace it so nicely with an old curtain as you see in the picture. So now you know what to do with an old curtain, so be clever next time.

Not Taking Care of the Small Stuff While It’s Still Small

Putting off home repairs is a very common—and very risky—mistake. That slow leak or cracked fixture might seem like a minor inconvenience that has little bearing on your daily life, but left unattended, that damage could escalate into an emergency situation. What might have been an inexpensive fix in the beginning could cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in repair costs.

Hanging On to Inefficient Appliances

Are you still using a diswasher, washing machine clothes dryer, or refrigerator from the last century

Paying for Services You Don’t Need

Hiring out services such as pool or yard maintenance, housecleaning, small repairs, or minor home remodeling projects does save you time, but it costs money that might have been better spent (or saved) elsewhere in your budget. Instead of engaging a professional, have your teenage son or daughter handle pool or yard care, and consider tackling small DIY and maintenance tasks yourself.

Buying Extended Warranties

If you’re buying a new major home appliance, the salesperson will probably pressure you to purchase an extended warranty. Although this may sound like a money-wise choice, the truth is that many consumer advocates advise against them. The exclusions and fine-print rejections in an extended warranty can be lengthy, and chances are, if your appliance does need to be serviced, it will be covered under the manufacturer’s warranty. Review your manufacturer’s warranty first to help you decide if you need the extra coverage.

Using Old-School Light Bulbs

If you’re still holding on to your incandescent light bulbs, it’s time to let them go. While CFL and LED bulbs might cost more up front, they ultimately save you big through longer life and superior efficiency.

Doing Unnecessary Improvements

Before hiring a contractor to dig that swimming pool or add a new home office, think long and hard about how much you really need that expensive addition, and how much it will cost to maintain after the initial investment.

Neglecting to Save for Emergencies

Nobody can foresee when household emergencies will strike—whether it’s a hole in the roof, a rusted-out water heater, or a doomed central heating system. But these malfunctions are all part of homeownership and it’s best to be prepared when they do occur. If you don’t set aside a portion of your savings for these types of home emergencies, you’ll end up having to pay for repairs on credit and get hit with a double whammy: the cost of the repair and the interest on your credit card.

Setting the Water Heater Too High

If your water heater is set above 120 degrees, your utility bills are too high. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends a water heater setting of 120 degrees to save money, reduce wasted energy, and lower the risk of scalding your skin.

Not Changing Air-Conditioning Filters

If you rarely—or even worse, never—change the filters in your HVAC system, you’re lowering its efficiency while raising your energy costs. To keep your air clean and your energy bills low, change your filters seasonally. Switch them out more often if you live in an especially dusty area, smoke, have pets, or suffer from allergies.

Not Comparing Insurance Quotes

If you went with the insurance company your real estate agent recommended when you bought your home, or if you automatically signed up with the same company that provides your auto insurance, you may be paying too much. Shopping around can save you a considerable amount on your insurance premiums.

Planting High-Maintenance Landscaping

While every home’s curb appeal can benefit from attractive landscaping, it’s best to pass up on extravagant or delicate plantings that will require a professional’s expensive care. Instead, choose hardy greenery that will thrive with minimal maintenance, and liven up the yard with attractive and affordable annuals planted in pots and window boxes.