Your backyard can help you save and make money in many ways. You can build a small house in your yard and rent it out. This can bring in $1,000 to $2,500 each month. It can also make your home worth more money.
Plant trees and flowers that grow well in your area. These plants need less water and care. When you sell your home, these plants can make it worth twice as much.
Growing your own food can save you money too. A garden can cut $500 to $2,500 from your yearly food bills. You can also turn an old shed into a home office. This costs between $5,000 and $15,000, but gives you a quiet place to work.
These simple changes make your yard work for you. They help you live better and save money at the same time.
Building an ADU for Income
Want to make extra money from your home? You can build a small house in your yard or turn your garage into a living space. This is called an ADU.
People love these small homes because they're less costly to rent. When you build one, you can rent it out each month to help pay your bills.
It takes about $100,000 to $200,000 to build an ADU. But you can make $1,000 to $2,500 each month by renting it out. Your home will also be worth more – up to 30% more! Plus, you can save on taxes.
First, you need to make sure you can build an ADU in your area. Talk to your city office.
Then find builders who know how to make these small homes. They'll help you do it right.
Smart Landscaping Adds Property Value
Your yard can make your home worth more with smart planning. Trees that give shade can help you save money on summer cooling bills. Plants that grow in your area naturally need less care and make your yard look pretty. They also help birds and butterflies feel at home.
Adding stone paths, walls, and lights makes your yard more useful. You can sit outside and enjoy nature more. A small pond or tall bushes can make your yard feel calm and private.
Make sure water flows away from your house with good drainage paths and garden spots that soak up rain. When you sell your home, these yard fixes often give you back twice what you spent on them.
Creating Outdoor Living Spaces
People love making their yards feel like another room in their home. You can make spaces to eat, rest, and have fun with friends. This makes your home feel bigger and worth more money.
Pick strong chairs and tables that can stay outside. Build seats into walls and add lights that work in many ways. Put up a roof or cover to connect your home to the yard. Add a kitchen or fire pit where people can gather. Make sure to use things that can handle rain, sun, and wind.
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Plant trees or put up walls to give you privacy. This helps your yard feel cozy and safe.
Keep a box or shed nearby to store soft cushions and yard tools. This keeps your space clean and neat all year.
Productive Gardens Save Money
Growing food in your backyard helps you spend less money at the store.
When you plant your own garden, you get fresh veggies, fruits, and herbs to eat. You can save any extra food by putting it in jars, drying it out, or freezing it to eat later.
If you take good care of your garden, you can save $500 to $2,500 each year on food. Plus, the food from your garden is fresher and better than what you buy at the store.
Growing Food Saves Thousands
Growing food in your garden helps you save lots of money. Many families save between $1,500 and $5,000 each year from their gardens. Instead of buying fruits and veggies at the store, you pick them fresh from your yard.
You can save even more money when you:
- Keep extra food by freezing or canning it
- Pick plants that give you food all summer long
- Grow the foods that cost the most at the store
- Plant foods that come back every year on their own
When you grow things like tomatoes, herbs, and berries, you spend less at the store.
Plus, you know exactly where your food comes from and how fresh it is.
Preserve Your Garden Bounty
Growing too much food in your garden? Don't let it go to waste! You can save the extra food to eat all year long. This helps you spend less money at the store.
You can save food in many ways:
- Put food in jars (called canning)
- Freeze it
- Dry it out
- Make pickles
- Store roots in a cool, dark place
Here's how long food lasts when you save it:
- Canned food: up to 2 years
- Frozen food: up to 1 year
- Dried food: up to 1 year
- Pickled food: up to 6 months
- Root cellar food: up to 6 months
When you save your garden food, you can eat it all year. Think about having your own tomatoes in winter! You can make sauce from them.
You can also use your dried herbs to make food taste better. Having your own frozen veggies means quick meals without going to the store.
Remote Work Backyard Office
Building an office in your backyard is easier than you think! Take your old shed and make it into a cozy work space.
You'll need to add warm walls, power for your computer, and some basic comforts. Many people have turned their sheds into offices since 2020. Most folks spend between $5,000 and $15,000 to fix up their shed.
You can save money by buying a ready-made shed kit. Add simple desk and chairs that fit well in small spaces. Put in good windows to let in light and keep your bills low.
Your new office will give you a quiet place to work and might even make your home worth more money.
Converting Sheds to Offices
People everywhere are turning their backyard sheds into home offices. This is a smart way to work from home without spending too much money. It costs less than adding a new room to your house.
To make your shed a good office, you need:
- Warm walls to keep heat in and cold out
- Power outlets for your computer and lights
- Big windows and good lamps to see well
- Fresh air and ways to stay cool in summer and warm in winter
When you turn your shed into an office, you get two good things. You get a quiet place to work, and your house becomes worth more money.
Many people want homes with office space these days, so this makes your house more special.
Cost-Effective Backyard Work Solutions
Want to work in your backyard? You don't need a fancy shed!
Start small with a simple tent or pop-up cover to keep you dry. Get some tough chairs and tables that can stay outside. A power pack and WiFi booster will keep you online without big costs.
Stay cozy all year round with a small heater in cold days and a big fan when it's hot. Keep your stuff safe in boxes that won't get wet.
Make sure you have flat ground to work on – you can use snap-together floor pieces or just spread some gravel.
This easy setup costs about $500 to $1,500. That's much less than turning a shed into an office, which can cost $5,000 to $15,000.
You still get a nice spot to work outside!
Entertaining Space Expands Living Area
Your backyard can be like extra rooms for your home when the weather is nice. Picture three fun spaces outside: a covered spot to eat meals, a comfy place to sit and talk, and an area to cook food.
To make these spaces work well, you need:
- Strong chairs and tables that won't break in rain
- Lights so you can see at night
- Covers to block sun and rain
- Built-in seats and flower boxes to make spaces feel special
These outdoor rooms make your home more fun to live in. They also make your house worth more money if you want to sell it one day. Many people love homes with nice outdoor spaces where they can spend time with family and friends.
The best part is that these spaces let you spend more time outside. You can eat breakfast in the fresh air, read a book in the shade, or cook dinner while kids play nearby. It's like having a bigger home without building new walls.
