Becky Davis

I’ve found that even a tiny setup can take the edge off rising costs. I grow greens in old buckets on a balcony and swap extras with neighbors, which turns into its own little safety net. If space is tight, sprouting beans or lentils on a windowsill gives quick, cheap calories. It’s not a magic fix, but it adds up faster than I expected and feels a lot less stressful.

I found that breaking jobs into tiny chunks helped me more than anything. I used to push through a whole garden row in one go, and then I'd be wiped out for days. Now I set a timer, do a bit, rest, and come back later. I also swapped a lot of bending work for rolling seats and long-handled tools. It feels slower, but I get more done in the long run without feeling wrecked.