Money Doesn't Grow on Trees...Or Does It?

Guest Contributor: Andrea Schmutz
USU Extension Assistant Professor, Washington County

 At some point in our lives, we’ve all probably heard the saying, “Money doesn’t grow on trees.” Well, it’s time to challenge the status quo and take a close look at the relationship between money and trees. As I contemplate the upcoming leaf raking season, I would like to suggest that money may not grow on trees, but somehow it manages to fall from them. Before you think I have totally succumbed to COVID on the brain, let me explain. The leaves that quickly pile up in the yard every fall may not be green or have a picture of one of the presidents of the United States on them, but they actually translate into financial savings in the following ways:

---

1. Save on fertilizer: Leaves have organic matter that adds good nutrients to the soil and helps the grass grow better. Mulching the leaves with the lawnmower and leaving them to decompose on the grass will reduce the amount of fertilizer necessary to grow healthy grass.  
2. Save on weed control products: Mulching leaves and leaving them on the lawn not only provides added nutrients to the grass, but the decomposing pieces of leaves suppress weed growth by covering the bare spots between the grass where weed seeds might germinate.
3. Earn spending money: Have your kids reach out to friends and neighbors and offer their leaf raking services for a nominal fee. One family who did this found that some people paid them a little extra in the end after seeing how hard the children worked.
4. Cheap gym workout: Not only does raking leaves offer a great opportunity to go outside and get some fresh air, but it is also a perfect opportunity to exercise. Raking leaves is considered a moderate activity similar to brisk walking and helps build upper body strength as well as working your core (stomach and back muscles). 
5. Inexpensive entertainment: Encourage the kids to see how many different activities they can do with the fallen leaves. Rake the leaves into the tallest pile possible and then run and jump into them. Bury each other in the leaves or hide an object in the pile and see who can find it first. Rake the leaves into a leaf maze and time each other running through it. What other fun activities can you do with the leaves?

 
As you watch the leaves fall from the trees in the coming weeks, remind yourself that they are not creating laborious work, they are providing a boost to your budget through various ways of saving. Choose one of the five “savings plans” from the list above and give it a whirl!

Parting thought: Remember that trees lose their leaves every year and they still stand tall and wait for better days to come.   -Unknown