Kitchen Garden Forum

I'm using a spreadsheet to calculate money saved on veg, & money spent on seeds, containers, feed, etc.

I have a question:- if I purchase bags of compost (as I mostly grow in containers) using 'birthday/Christmas' money, do I record it on the spreadsheet as a cost.

I'm thinking 'NO', 'cos if the gifts had been ACTUAL bags of compost then I wouldn't be recording it. What do you guys reckon?

p.s. Can't wait for the weekend - going to stock up on compost & get sowing. Year 2 here I come!!

Evening Piglet6, i'm not very good at the paperwork side of gardening, but i suppose if you want the real costings, you should include the price of the compost, and if the figures don't look very good, take it off again.

Enjoy your second year.

oldherbaceous wrote:Evening Piglet6, i'm not very good at the paperwork side of gardening, but i suppose if you want the real costings, you should include the price of the compost, and if the figures don't look very good, take it off again.

Enjoy your second year.

I think the treasury are looking for people of your calibre,OH.

I await the official looking envelope then, WestHamRon.

oldherbaceous wrote:I await the official looking envelope then, WestHamRon.

Morning OH,

It will probably be marked HMRC, if they think that is how you worked out your tax return

Funny you should say that, PJ.

Sorry for going off topic Piglet6, but i'm easily led.

Piglet6

Back on topic after OH's mind-wandering

My answer would be: definitely you do include the cost of the compost. After all you could have spent the money on something entirely garden-unrelated. And don't forget to add the fuel cost involved in going to get the compost

Like Alan I would account for the compost because then you will get a true reflection of the savings from growing your own.

I have long reconciled myself with accepting that veg growing is my hobby, not for financial savings. I doubt there are any savings, and if I cost it in a straight financial terms I really ought to cost my time, because I could be spending it doing more work I suppose. That would make my veg really rather expensive. On the other hand, as hobbies go it is pretty cheap - well, unless I have to cost in the greenhouse !

Like Tony, I grow vegetables as a hobby and not for the cost saving. The biggest benefit for me, apart from vegetables that are as fresh as they can possibly be, is that because I live 12 miles from the nearest market/supermarket, the savings on petrol are significant. Fortunately for me I have a local supplier for compost etc so the cost of getting supplies is not so high. Happily, i inherited the greenhouse and two polytunnels from the previous owner of the house so I don't have to factor in that cost either

If you factor in the cost of bought compost this year, you can see more of a saving next year if you just top it up with home made compost or a bit of fertilizer.

You can also make good savings by saving seeds, shallots and potatoes from this year's crops, to grow next year if you've room to grow a few extra.

I think if we added all the costs plus labour, we would order from Harrods. Most of us do it as a hobby and the satisfaction of knowing what been sprayed or not on our crops, plus they don't come no fresher.

Shallot Man wrote:I think if we added all the costs plus labour, we would order from Harrods. Most of us do it as a hobby and the satisfaction of knowing what been sprayed or not on our crops, plus they don't come no fresher.

Too true.

I did the sums a few years ago and it's definitely cheaper to buy from those four letter supermarkets and my nearest Saturday street market. The difference is the enjoyment and the exercise. If I factored in gym membership and alternative hobbies or groups, the scales moved in the opposite direction, not least because I hate aerobics and weight lifting but don't mind lugging bags of compost or digging.

I completely agree that the allotment and garden are a hobby and therapy and exercise. Of course once we don't cost the time then there are savings to be made (although I would like to exclude the cost of tools too!)
The freshness, particularly of the leafy veg helps enormously too, there is something special about nipping into the garden, harvesting a few bits and eating them within minutes.