Tending your garden is great fun and even better therapy.
But it isn’t always cheap! Indeed, people in the US spend a whopping $52 billion or more on their gardens every single year. Many gardeners reading this might be all too familiar with such expense. The list of costs can seem endless sometimes. You’ve got seeds, bulbs, soil, compost bins, trellises, and fertilizer to purchase, to name just a few.
However, of all the costs involved, home gardening tools are undoubtedly some of the most expensive. Even the basics (shovel, fork, secateurs, mower, and so on) can set you back hundreds of dollars. All up, the shed-full of tools you accrue over the years are worth a small fortune!
But there’s good news: the internet offers numerous ways to save some cash. Are you on the hunt for new gardening gear and equipment?
Read on for 7 essential tips for finding discount gardening tools online.
1. Check eBay
The online auction website, eBay, is an amazing source of budget gardening goods (as well as anything else, for that matter). This site literally sells everything under the sun. People from all over the world list new and used products for you to peruse and purchase.
Head on over to the ‘Home and Garden’ section to find the gardening tools you need. You can then filter the results to find the price range, product type, materials, and condition (among others) that suit your requirements. Here’s a big list of gardening tools to check for ideas and shopping inspiration.
Bid on that item (or buy it outright in some cases) at a price you think is reasonable. With any luck, it’ll end up yours!
2. Head to Craigslist, Facebook marketplace, or local online markets
You can buy almost anything on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or a location-specific online marketplace. Be sure to check these spots out, especially if eBay doesn’t prove fruitful.
This time you’ll need to navigate to the Farm and Garden section for your location. You can also try Home & Garden as well as Home Improvement or Tools. From there, it’s a matter of hunting down the items you need. With a bit of luck, you might even find what you need at no cost whatsoever.
No joy on your initial search? Think about posting to the ‘wanted’ list. People selling that item can then find and contact you if they have the item in question available.
“Getting the tools you need to start out with doesn’t have to be a budget buster. Watch for neighbourhood yard sales, moving sales, or estate sales, where it’s possible to find good quality used tools at a fraction of their original cost. Online classified sites like Craigslist or the Freecycle Network may point you to people in your area with used tools for sale or to give away.”
Rodale’s Basic Organic Gardening: A Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Healthy Garden, by Deborah L. Martin
3. Leverage rebates
This tip applies to all online shopping- including purchasing gardening goods.
Basically, sites like Rakuten (formerly Ebates) provide cashback when you purchase something from particular retailers through their site/service. In other words, you get money back to put toward future purchases. You might also be provided with coupons/discount codes.
It’s a win-win! You end up with the same items that you would have purchased anyway, but with extra money in your pocket. People save hundreds of dollars with these rebates every year. Don’t expect major cashback each time. But it’ll soon stack up if you continue using these services.
You can then put that cash toward anything you want- including garden gear….or….more plants!
4. Collect coupons
Coupon sites and mobile apps are well worth checking out too.
Of course, the practice of couponing is nothing new. However, it’s found a recent resurgence in popularity with the rise of the internet! Anybody who’s cash-strapped or simply loves a bargain has started collecting digital (and physical) coupons to save money on their shopping.
You could do the same for your gardening tools! With a bit of luck, websites like Groupon.com will deliver discount codes that you can use against the equipment you need. Here’s a quick tip: try to combine manufacturer coupons with in-store sales for the best bang for your buck!
5. Benefit from returned goods
Buying anything on the internet sometimes feels like a bit of a gamble.
You don’t know for sure that the item you’re purchasing is right for the task. You can’t hold it in your hands and “feel” how heavy it is, et cetera. For that reason, some shoppers end up disappointed and use return policies to claim a refund.
In any case, if you’re willing to put up with minor defects or opened packaging, their dissatisfaction can work in your financial favor! Amazon, for example, sells these returned products under the ‘used’ section of each listing. You can sometimes buy the item you want at a fraction of its retail price!
Do your best to leverage returned goods in your bid for an online bargain.
6. Use Freecycle.org
Many people have never heard of Freecycle.
But it’s the perfect site for finding all manner of household (and garden) items. Even better, the site lives up to its name- the products are all available for free!
People might be downsizing their homes, clearing space, or simply doing a good deed. Whatever the case, they make their unwanted goods available at no cost for anybody who wants them.
Head to the site, join the group for your local area and take a look at what garden items are being advertised. Find something you like? Contact the creator of the listing to inquire about it.
If it’s still available, then you can go to view the item and, assuming that it’s all okay, take it off their hands! Do be wary of the product quality, though, and never feel obliged to take anything that’s unfit for purpose.
Make sure you subscribe to the newsletters of your favorite garden retail sites. The emails they send will be full of the best deals and discounts that they have in store. Many have a limited-time coupon just for new subscribers in addition to their regular newsletter promos.
You’ll be the first to hear about sales on the home gardening tools you need, which means they’re less likely to have sold out. Keep an eye on your inbox and you can save oodles of cash on your garden supplies throughout the year.
Find and save on your home gardening tools
Gardening is a wholesome, healthy, life-giving pastime. But it can also be an expensive one- especially when you’re buying home gardening tools all the time! Thankfully, the internet offers numerous ways to save some money on them. With the right approach, you can find discount gardening tools that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Hopefully, this post will help you do exactly that.
