This crispy rice salad with chicken is loaded with crunch, color, and a bright ginger-lime dressing. It’s one of those salads you’ll be talking and dreaming about long after the last bite is gone. It’s THAT good!
Crispy Rice Salad (High Protein)
VEICK Resistance Bands for Working Out, Exercise Bands, Workout Bands, Pull Up Assistance Bands, Long Heavy Stretch Bands Set for Men and Women, Power Weight Gym at Home Fitness Equipment
Price: $17.99 - $11.02
(as of Oct 27, 2025 00:02:04 UTC – Details)
From the brand
Natural Latex
Imported
Durable & High Quality: VEICK resistance bands are crafted from premium natural latex, offering exceptional wear resistance and 30,000 stretch-resistant cycles, ensuring they withstand extreme tension without snapping. The anti-slip leather-textured interior provides a secure grip, so you can train harder with confidence, free from tears or wear
Ideal for Stretching & Warm-Ups: Perfect for relieving stiff muscles pre-workout or soothing soreness post-session. Use thses working out bands to enhance flexibility before deadlifts, squats, or mobility drills, thanks to their tear-resistant latex and steady tension control
Multi-Functional Training: From strength training and assisted pull-ups to basketball agility drills, these stretch bands target every muscle group—arms, back, legs, and more. Their versatile design adapts to warm-ups, resistance boosts, or rehabilitation exercises
Perfect for Home & Gym: Whether you’re mastering pull-ups at home or adding resistance to squats in the gym, these pull up assist bands offer adjustable support. Combine multiple bands or adjust slack to customize difficulty levels effortlessly
4 Progressive Resistance Levels: Color-coded for convenience, each band provides distinct resistance and width to match your fitness stage. Stack them to intensify challenges or use solo for targeted training, engineered for durability and performance
Customers say
Customers find these resistance bands well-made, durable, and effective, working just as well as expensive brands and providing resistance for nearly every movement. They appreciate the great variety for a full workout and consider them good value for money. The stretchability receives mixed feedback – while some praise their great elasticity, others mention they have very little stretch. Customers disagree on the smell, with some noting they don’t have a strong rubber odor.
A health insurance ‘death spiral’ looms if young people drop out as prices spike : Shots
Chloe Chalakani is an entrepreneur who runs a handmade pasta business with her partner in coastal Maine. The government shutdown fight affects how much she’ll pay for health insurance next year.
Selena Simmons-Duffin/NPR
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Selena Simmons-Duffin/NPR
Chloe Chalakani has a lot at stake in the health care fight at the heart of the government shutdown.
Chalakani runs a small culinary business with her partner in the coastal town of Thomaston, Maine. As temperatures drop and the height of her busy tourist season winds down, she’s hitting her list of fall administrative tasks, including health insurance enrollment. She uses CoverME.gov, the Affordable Care Act marketplace in Maine, also known as Obamacare.
Her options for 2026 are looking grim.
“My premium is already $460 a month, and that is for the highest deductible plan that exists,” she says. She’s 31 years old and fairly healthy. Extra financial help with premiums — in the form of enhanced tax credits — expires in December, and rates are going up.
“I don’t plan to get insurance next year,” she says. “I’m just not going to do it — I’ll pay out of pocket.”
The prospect of young people dropping out of the ACA markets worries health policy experts — not just because of their own personal risk of going uninsured, but because of the effect that millions of people making the same decision could have on the whole health system.
How insurance works
Health insurance markets only function when there are lots of people pooling their resources — young and old, relatively healthy and not.
“You need people to be paying into the insurance system when they’re healthy so that they can take out when they’re sick,” explains Cynthia Cox of KFF, a nonpartisan health research organization.
Younger, healthier people tend to pay more into the system than they consume in health care. Older, sicker people often consume an amount of health care that costs more than the amount they pay in. That dynamic creates a stable insurance system.
Right now, the Affordable Care Act markets seem to be pretty balanced. A record 24 million people are enrolled, and brokers report their clients are generally happy with their plan options and find the premiums affordable.
That may be about to change. Premium costs will soon explode for many consumers because of the expiration of certain federal subsidies that kept those monthly costs low. It’s the issue at the heart of the current federal shutdown — Democrats want the subsidies to be extended, Republicans say those negotiations shouldn’t be part of the government funding debate.
The dreaded ‘death spiral’
If Congress does not extend the federal subsidies set to expire in December, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that 4 million people will become uninsured in the next several years.
The people who opt to go without insurance will probably be younger and healthier, Cox says, “because sicker, older people will be more motivated to keep their coverage, even if that means paying a lot more each month.”
It’s easy to find people who fit these profiles. Chalakani, the 31-year-old in Maine plans to skip coverage, while a 64-year-old in West Virginia who needs expensive medications tells NPR she’s saving up money now to pay $2,800 every month for her coverage next year.
“If you only have sick people buying health insurance plans, then the average cost of that plan is going to be very high,” Cox says. “The concern is that the least sick person in that group is going to drop their coverage because it becomes unaffordable, and then the next year, the least sick person in that group might drop their coverage because it becomes unaffordable and on and on.”
This is what’s called a death spiral for an insurance market, she explains. “Premiums get so high that only the sickest of the sickest people are enrolled, and eventually insurance companies just are not going to want to participate in a market like that — it’s just not going to function.”
Although it is a relatively small portion of Americans who buy these plans, it has the potential to hurt everyone, regardless of how they’re insured. If more people in the country become uninsured, that’s hard on hospitals and health care access.
“If hospitals face a lot of financial strain from having a lot more uninsured patients coming through their doors, then they might start changing the services they offer,” she says. “They may have to close the maternity ward. They might have to close down altogether.”
That’s already starting to happen in Maine and other parts of the country, where health care markets are under financial pressure. And that pressure is increasing with looming cuts to Medicaid from President Trump’s budget law that are expected to increase the number of uninsured people by millions more.
Open enrollment is Nov. 1
Weeks into the shutdown, federal lawmakers have apparently not started negotiations to overcome the stalemate. The two sides have been at an impasse since Oct. 1.
Meanwhile, open enrollment is coming on Nov. 1 — in Idaho, it’s already begun. Unless Congress acts quickly, enrollees will likely have sticker shock when they log in to find a plan for 2026. On average, consumers will have to pay double next year for the same plan.
Entrepreneurs like Chloe Chalakani are among the 24 million Americans who get their insurance through the ACA.
Selena Simmons-Duffin/NPR
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Selena Simmons-Duffin/NPR
Chloe Chalakani says she plans to go uninsured even though she knows that car accidents and serious illnesses can happen. “Should a catastrophe happen, I’ll probably say, ‘Wow, I should have had insurance,'” she says. “But at this point, I don’t have the financial ability to plan for that.”
If lawmakers do overcome the impasse and extend the enhanced subsidies so her premiums stay about the same, she says she might reconsider her plan to go without health insurance in 2026.
Adriana’s California Container Garden in Late Summer
Happy Friday, GPODers!
We’re wrapping up the week in Northern California as we head to the San Francisco Bay Area for another stunning submission from Adriana Porter Felt. In her previous submissions Adriana has highlighted two plants signature to her garden’s design (check out those submissions here: Adriana’s Pride of Madeira in Spring and Drifts of Pink Heuchera Blooms), but today she is giving us a full tour of one container-filled section of her landscape.
We bought a house with a large, fenced pool-deck area that was almost entirely hardscaped. For safety reasons, we had to keep the fence, which blocked the sight of the surrounding gardens. I brought in greenery and flowers with a large container garden.
We used three kinds of containers: large metal planters for our primary planting beds, blue ceramic pots, and large raised planters that added height. We continually add to the collection. It brings light and charm to our back deck.
These photos were taken in late summer, when our dahlias, passion vines, and Japanese anemones (Anemone hupehensis var. japonica, Zones 5–7) are in bloom. I also caught the tail end of our Russell lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus ‘Russell hybrids’, Zones 4–8) in bloom. Earlier in the year we have blooms from purple Jerusalem sage (Phlomis purpurea, Zones 8–10 or as an annual), clematis, and scabiosa.
We live in the Berkeley Hills, California, where frost isn’t a concern but dry summers are our way of life. I water deeply by hand every three days.
Upon entering the pool patio from Adriana’s backdoor, you’re immediately immersed in a plant paradise. An arbor covered in passion flower welcomes you with the colorful group of blue ceramic containers Adriana mentioned in her introduction.
Dahlias and lupine are gorgeous additions to these artful pots, which would make a statement even if nothing was planted inside. I really appreciate that while all of the pots are blue, none are exactly the same; this makes for an interesting group of pots that also doesn’t steal too much attention from her beautiful flowers.
A bubblegum pink dahlia is a lovely complement to the blue pottery as well as the bright greenery behind.
Even more blue pots add so much to this corner that would otherwise be devoid of color. The color theme continues with some funky chairs at an outdoor dining table, and all of that blue is paired with the most wonderful palette of pink and purple blooms.
To break up all that blue, metal raised beds allow for bigger planting possibilities but still connect to the rest of the design. The tall, arching Japanese anemones in the background are perfectly mirrored by the much shorter ‘Butterfly Blue’ pincushion flower (Scabiosa columbaria ‘Butterfly Blue’, Zones 4–8) in the foreground.
Another seating area, right outside the back door, is equally lush. A beautiful mix of green and purple plants, including purple Jerusalem sage, gives this area a calm and cool vibe.
A close-up of the purple passion flower (Passiflora incarnata, Zones 5–9) growing over Adriana’s entryway arbor
This must be Adriana’s back patio before the addition of most of her plants. A couple of very stylish raised planters add a little bit of color, but overall it’s a pretty blank slate.
And the impressive entryway in all its glory, today: While the “before” is still an attractive back patio that many would dream of, the “after” takes the space to the next level and transforms blank hardscaping into a garden oasis.
Thank you so much for introducing us to more of your amazing garden, Adriana! What we’ve seen before was dazzling, but this submission really shed light on your incredible designs and the fantastic landscape you have crafted.
When I think we’ve seen it all from our fabulous contributors, they always have a way of surprising me with hidden gems and never-before-seen aspects of their gardens that absolutely blow me away. If you have any secret treasures in your garden that you haven’t gotten around to sharing yet, please make 2025 the year that you show them off. Follow the directions below to submit photos via email, or send me a DM on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad.
We want to see YOUR garden!
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!
To submit, send 5–10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter with #FineGardening!
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ARS Telescoping Long Reach Pruner
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Telescopes from 4 to 7′. Cut and Hold (160) Blades. Drop forged blades for unsurpassed long lasting sharpness. Lightweight, 2.3 lbs., for continued use. Perfectly balanced for easy pruning.
Buffalo-Style Gardens: Create a Quirky, One-of-a-Kind Private Garden with Eye-Catching Designs
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Buffalo-Style Gardens is a one-of-a-kind, offbeat garden design book that showcases the wildly inventive gardens and gardeners of Buffalo – and offers readers “the best of the best” ideas to use in their own small-space gardens.
Monarch Butterfly Rescue Wildflower Seeds 4 oz.
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Resistance Bands with Handles, 175lb Exercise Bands for Working Out, Fitness Bands, Workout Bands with Door Anchor and Ankle Straps, Physical Therapy, Yoga, Strength Training Home Gym Equipment
Price: $25.99
(as of Oct 26, 2025 11:58:28 UTC – Details)
From the brand
COOBONS FITNESS began as a social experiment that dedicated itself to doing business in a different way. We wanna help bring about positive change for people, their communities, and the environment.We are committed to make fitness easy, whether you’re in the gym ,at home ,or on the road,you can squeeze in an effective total body workout with COOBONS FITNES.Open a New Chapter of Healthy Life.
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High-Quality, Durable Heavy Resistance Band: Designed for home fitness, our 175 lb resistance bands are crafted from natural latex, featuring ultra-durable ABS handles and high-density nylon straps with metal metal buckle. The non-slip, sweat-resistant foam handles maximize comfort, making these workout bands perfect for anyone serious about their fitness journey. Get all your strength training in one set of fitness bands, designed to target every muscle group effortlessly.
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Customers say
Customers find the resistance bands to be of high quality, easy to use, and good value for money. They appreciate the versatility, with many options for how to use them and good variety of exercises. The effectiveness is positive, with one customer noting they work well for yoga, and customers consider them a great addition to home workouts. The durability and resistance receive mixed feedback – while the handles are sturdy, some report the bands breaking easily, and while the resistance is great, some mention it’s not constant.
Medicaid cuts could hit Southern states like Louisiana hard : Shots
Rosie Brown, executive director at East Carroll Community Action Agency in Lake Providence, La., said many people in the area struggle to make ends meet. Medicaid expansion was a lifeline for the town. Now, she said, President Donald Trump’s tax and spending bill could snatch it away.
Shalina Chatlani/Stateline
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Shalina Chatlani/Stateline
LAKE PROVIDENCE, La. — East Carroll Parish sits in the northeastern corner of Louisiana, along the winding Mississippi River. Its seat, Lake Providence, was once a thriving agricultural hub of the region. Now, charred and dilapidated buildings dot the small city center. There are a few gas stations, a handful of restaurants — and little to no industry.
Mayor Bobby Amacker, 79, remembers a time when “you couldn’t even walk down the street” in Lake Providence’s main business district because “there were so many people.”
“It’s gone down tremendously in the last 50 years,” said Amacker, a Democrat. “The town, it looks like it’s drying up.”
Now, East Carroll residents stand to lose even more with the pending cutbacks to Medicaid, which covers many low-income people in the region.
Like many people in Louisiana, they received a lifeline when the state expanded Medicaid in 2016. Expansion drove Louisiana’s uninsured rate to the lowest in the Deep South, at 8% in 2023 for working-age adults, according to state data, despite it having the highest poverty rate in the U.S. that year.
State health data show the number of people on Medicaid in East Carroll Parish increased from about 53% in 2015 to about 64% in 2023, according to state health data.
Many now worry those gains in coverage could disappear. The tax and spending bill President Donald Trump signed into law this summer includes nearly $1 trillion in cuts over the next decade to Medicaid, the joint state-federal health insurance program for poor families and individuals.
Researchers from Princeton University estimate that 317,000 low-income Louisianans could lose health coverage because of the new law. More than 30,000 Mississippians too; that state has refused to expand Medicaid.
Lake Providence Mayor Robert “Bobby” Amacker. Without Medicaid and Medicare, he says, many people in his town “wouldn’t have any kind of health care at all.”
Shalina Chatlani/KFF Health News
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Shalina Chatlani/KFF Health News
The tax and spending law now imposes new work reporting requirements on Medicaid expansion enrollees and will make them verify eligibility every six months, instead of yearly. This requirement, among others, won’t kick in until 2027, after the midterm elections. It also limits a key financing strategy — known as a provider tax — that states rely on to give more money to health providers.
Nationwide, about 10 million people are expected to become uninsured over ten years because of the law, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Across the deep South, Louisiana was the only state that expanded Medicaid.
“The way I’ve described this [law] right now is we know there’s a hurricane out in the Gulf,” said Richard Roberson, president and CEO of the Mississippi Hospital Association. “We don’t know exactly what the category of the storm is going to be at landfall. But we know we need to be prepared for it.”
Struggling rural communities brace for impact
In the Delta region, which includes communities in both Louisiana and Mississippi, the impacts are expected to be damaging.
Louisiana, where almost half of the state depended on Medicaid in 2023, could lose up to $34 billion in federal Medicaid dollars in the next decade, according to KFF, a health policy research group. Mississippi could lose up to $4 billion.
“The physician community spoke out pretty heavily against this,” said Dr. Brent Smith, a physician at Delta Health System in Greenville, Mississippi, about 50 miles northeast of Lake Providence, across the river. “The fact that it still went though…was a real sense of disconnect with what our legislators are doing and what we as a health care community feel like is the reality on the ground.”
Residents of the Delta say they feel similarly distraught and are wondering how Congress could be so blind to how much they are struggling.
Dr. Brent Smith, left, a physician at a primary care clinic at Delta Health System in Greenville, Miss. laughs with a co-worker.
Shalina Chatlani/Stateline
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Shalina Chatlani/Stateline
“Why do you wanna knock someone who doesn’t have anything and you already got everything,” said Sherila Ervin, who lives 20 minutes up the road from Lake Providence in Oak Grove and has Medicaid coverage. “It’s gonna be real difficult when [the law] goes into effect.”
Ervin, 58, has been working at Oak Grove High School in the cafeteria, serving hot plates to children for 25 years. She says it’s one of the good, steady jobs available in this area, but her income is only around $1,500 per month.
Her job offers health benefits, but she can’t afford the premiums on her salary. She relies on Medicaid for care, including medications for her high blood pressure. She said the new work reporting requirements are completely unfair, and she’s worried she will accidentally lose her Medicaid.
“My coworkers are talking about it every day,” Ervin said. “A lot of people probably won’t even know until they go to the doctor and they don’t have any coverage.”
In East Carroll Parish, finding a job — let alone a good-paying one with health benefits — is difficult, says Rosie Brown, executive director at the East Carroll Community Action Agency, a nonprofit that helps low-income people with their utility bills. Many of the jobs available in town pay minimum wage, just $7.25 an hour.
“We have one bank. We have one supermarket,” Brown said. “Transportation isn’t easy either.”
Even a full-time job doesn’t guarantee health care coverage. Nevada Qualls, 25, earns $12 an hour, working as a cashier at city hall in Lake Providence. She qualifies for Medicaid expansion coverage, which is good because she can’t afford the premiums for private insurance.
Because of the new Medicaid law, the mom-of-two will have to work extra hard to keep her coverage. Qualls will face regular work reporting requirements, more frequent eligibility checks, as well as the quarterly wage checks that Louisiana Medicaid already conducts.
“It’s going to be stressful,” Qualls said. “It’s another thing to add to my load that is already heavy.”
A massive burden for states
States will be required to implement work requirements by Jan. 1, 2027, giving them less than a year-and-a-half to build a reporting system and raise awareness among enrollees. Depending on how Louisiana’s work reporting system functions, researchers estimate up to 357,000 people could lose coverage.
The law will now require adults who get Medicaid through expansion to prove they are working or volunteering for 80 hours a month or going to school part-time to keep their coverage, unless they qualify for an exemption.
But, data show most Medicaid enrollees are already working, KFF reports. When Arkansas implemented Medicaid work requirements in 2018 — the first state to do so before a court struck it down — about 18,000 people were disenrolled in less than a year, many for ‘paperwork’ reasons, says Benjamin Sommers, a health economist at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
And there was no evidence that work requirements had a positive impact on employment, he said.
“We are leveling this bureaucratic red tape on people, the vast majority of whom are already doing the things that we supposedly want them to do,” Sommers said.
Courtney Foster, senior policy adviser for Medicaid with the nonprofit Invest in Louisiana, said it will be a “really big lift” for states to administer the new Medicaid work reporting systems.
“The hope is that [Louisiana] really engages with people on the ground, as well as with community-based organizations that work with people who are covered by Medicaid to create a system that actually works,” Foster said. “Let’s make sure that we can mitigate as much harm as possible.”
Mississippi is also getting ready, said Roberson at the Mississippi Hospital Association. Without Medicaid expansion, the state’s enrollees won’t be subject to work requirements, but the law’s financing changes to the Medicaid program could strip hundreds of millions of dollars away from hospitals, said Roberson.
‘Why are we going back?’
Jennifer Newton is the executive director of the Family Medical Clinic, a community health center in Lake Providence, La.
Shalina Chatlani/Stateline
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Shalina Chatlani/Stateline
The law did create a $50 billion rural health fund, meant to offset spending cuts and help keep rural hospitals open. Roberson said Mississippi is applying and believes the state will be awarded at least $500 million over five years.
But if those funds don’t make it to struggling hospitals, they could either close or significantly cut back services, he said.
From her small, sunny office in East Carroll Parish, nurse Jennifer Newton, who oversees The Family Medical Clinic in Lake Providence, doesn’t understand the attacks on Medicaid.
The community health center is one of the few providers in town, and half of its patients are on Medicaid.
Newton, who has worked in health care in the area for decades, saw first-hand how Medicaid expansion made it possible for more patients to afford the care they desperately needed.
“It’s absolutely helped,” she said. “Absolutely.”
In 2015, the year before Louisiana expanded Medicaid, the uninsured rate among working-age adults in East Carroll Parish was nearly 35%. By 2021, that number was 12.7%.
“Why are we going back?” Newton asked. “We’ve made so much progress.”
This story was produced as part of a collaboration between Public Health Watch and Stateline, which is part of States Newsroom. It is part of “Uninsured in America,” a project that focuses on life in America’s health coverage gap and the 10 states that haven’t expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
Stateline reporter Shalina Chatlani can be reached at schatlani@stateline.org. Public Health Watch reporter Kim Krisberg can be reached at kkrisberg@publichealthwatch.org.
13 Small Garden Ideas in Your Budget
It’s my dream to have an oasis of greenery outside my home. But, seeing the concreate jungle emerging in urban cities it seems impossible.
Though it may not be a vast green jungle, I can still transform small space in my corridor into a vibrant garden with potted plants.
I started with the most common houseplant pothos, then aloe vera and now am growing vegetables in containers.
Believe me you don’t need a green thumb to have a small garden. Starting with few indoor plants, veggies and flowering plants can change the way you think about gardening.
It’s obvious that we don’t have enough budget for gardening, at-least for beginners. In this write-up, I’ll share small gardening ideas that you can easily afford to start.
13 Small Gardening Ideas on a Budget
Am not a big fan of huge list of ideas.
I believe gardening is more about self-learning. So, I would like to share a bunch of gardening ideas that can help you to build your own garden according to your space.
To keep it short, you can use vertical gardening. Just climbing plants and use wooden trellis to support them. Potted pothos in the corner and hanging baskets in the corridor can really impress your guest.
I’d personally recommend adding flowering and veggies to your gardening space. While ornamental plants fill the space with fragrance, edibles serve you with delicious food.
Without much ado, let’s now explore few interesting gardening ideas.
1. Upcycle Containers as Pots
You don’t need to drop cash on fancy planters when you’ve probably got perfect ones sitting around your house. Old tires, tin cans, wooden crates, mason jars, wine boxes, teacups, or worn-out boots can become super cool plant homes. It’s a win-win because you’re saving money and keeping stuff out of the landfill while giving your garden personality.
Just grab a drill and make drainage holes in the bottom (seriously, this is important). Paint them bright colors or leave them rustic and weathered. These makeshift planters work great for herbs, succulents, flowers, and small veggies.
2. Prioritize Low-Maintenance Plants
Let’s be honest—nobody wants to babysit high-maintenance plants that die the second you forget to water them. Stick with easy-going varieties like basil, rosemary, mint, succulents, pothos, and spider plants that basically take care of themselves.
These plants are super forgiving if you’re still figuring out your green thumb, and they don’t need fancy equipment or expensive fertilizers.
Low-maintenance options save you money in the long run because you won’t constantly replace dead plants or buy specialized products. Perennials are especially budget-friendly since they come back year after year, unlike annuals.
Native plants are another smart move—they’re already adapted to your area, naturally resist local pests and diseases, and need minimal water once established.
Also Read: 12 Low Budget Backyard Designs with Gravel
3. Propagate Plants from Cuttings
Want to know a gardening secret? You can basically get unlimited plants for free just by sticking cuttings in water.
Grab some cuttings from friends, neighbors, or plants you already have, pop them in a glass of water on a sunny windowsill, and watch the magic happen. This works ridiculously well with herbs like mint, basil, and oregano, plus houseplants like pothos and philodendrons.
Propagation saves you tons of money and it’s a great way to swap plants with other gardeners. One healthy plant can give you dozens of baby plants over time. Most cuttings take about 2-4 weeks to grow roots. This is especially handy for matching plants for borders or containers.
4. Create Your Own DIY Compost
Making compost from kitchen scraps is one of those things that sounds hippie-ish but actually makes total sense. Just set aside a bin or corner of your yard where you can toss fruit and veggie peels, coffee grounds, eggshells, leaves, and grass clippings.
In a few months, you’ll have rich, crumbly compost that’s way better than anything you’d buy at the store—and it’s totally free.
The trick is mixing “green” stuff like food scraps (nitrogen-rich) with “brown” stuff like dried leaves and cardboard (carbon-rich). Give it a stir occasionally and keep it moist but not soggy, and nature will do the rest. Avoid meat, dairy, or oily foods because that’ll attract rats and smell gross.
5. Build Raised Garden Beds
Raised beds are honestly a game-changer, especially if you’re just starting out. They drain better than in-ground gardens and you don’t have to break your back tilling hard soil.
You can build them super cheap using untreated lumber, concrete blocks, or reclaimed wood, and put them anywhere—backyards, front yards, patios.
You get to fill them with good quality soil instead of dealing with whatever crappy dirt is in your yard. They warm up faster in spring for earlier planting and longer growing seasons. They’re also easier on your knees and back. Start small with one or two beds.
Check this: 6 Low Budget Backyard Privacy Ideas
6. Use Vertical Gardening Techniques
When you’re short on space, the only way to go is up. Vertical gardens let you use walls, fences, or stands to grow way more plants than ground space allows. You can DIY vertical setups using wooden pallets, trellises, hanging planters, or gutters mounted along fences.
Plants like beans, peas, cucumbers, and flowering vines are natural climbers that love growing upward. Vertical growing means better airflow around plants, fewer disease problems, and easier harvesting without bending over. Your structures can be simple bamboo stakes or fancy living walls packed with herbs and flowers
7. Add Decorative Mulch
Mulch instantly makes your garden look way more put-together. You can use small pebbles, gravel, shells, pine cones, or whatever looks good. It’s not just for looks—mulch keeps moisture in soil and stops weeds.
Here’s a money-saving tip: you can often get wood chips or bark mulch free from tree companies, city composting sites, or utility companies.
Just spread 2-3 inches around plants. It protects roots, keeps soil temperature steady, and slowly breaks down to improve soil. Gravel or decorative stones last longer and work perfectly for succulent gardens or Mediterranean plants.
8. Paint Your Fence
Want a quick garden makeover? Grab some paint and refresh that tired-looking fence. A fresh coat looks amazing and protects wood from weather damage. Try bold colors like lavender, cream, buff, or burgundy to make flowers pop. Darker colors make small gardens feel bigger by making boundaries recede.
This project is super cheap—just one or two pots of exterior paint and a brush or roller transforms your space. The paint extends fence lifespan by preventing rot. Match your fence to house colors or pick shades that complement your plants. It’s one of the best bang-for-your-buck projects.
9. Install a Simple DIY Bird Bath
You can make a cute bird bath with just three things—a terracotta pot, a glazed saucer, and waterproof glue. Flip the pot upside down, glue the saucer on top (centered), let it dry, and fill with water. This costs way less than fancy store versions and looks just as good.
Birds will hang out regularly, eating bugs and providing entertainment. The terracotta look fits any garden style and handles weather well. Place it where you can see it but near bushes for quick bird escapes. Change water every few days to prevent mosquitoes.
Also Read: 29 Best Christmas Porch Decor Ideas
10. Grow Herbs in Small Spaces
Herbs are basically the perfect budget plant—they’re super easy to grow, don’t need much room, and you actually use them in your cooking. Grow them on windowsills, in small containers, or in raised bed sections.
Favorites like basil, parsley, cilantro, rosemary, thyme, and mint thrive in pots without needing deep containers. Growing your own means never buying overpriced grocery store packages again.
Most herbs just need good drainage and sun, making them perfect for balconies, patios, or sunny windows. You can arrange them functionally or creatively with different colors and textures. Some herbs like rosemary and thyme are perennials in warmer areas, returning yearly without effort.
11. Use Stepping Stones for Pathways
Stepping stone paths are both practical and pretty—they keep you from trampling plants while adding structure to your garden. You can use natural stone, concrete pavers, or make your own with concrete molds. They guide people through your space and make watering and weeding way easier.
Get creative by adding mosaics, engraving words, or painting designs on plain pavers. Making your own concrete stepping stones is cheap and fun. Space them about 18-24 inches apart for comfortable walking.
Paths help define different garden areas and prevent soil compaction around plant roots. Fill gaps between stones with ground cover plants, pea gravel, or mulch to finish the look.
12. Repurpose a Wheelbarrow as a Garden
An old wheelbarrow makes an awesome rustic planter you can move around wherever you want. Just drill drainage holes in the bottom, fill with soil, and plant away. The mobility lets you follow the sun or rearrange things when you’re having people over.
Vintage wheelbarrows add character without costing anything if you already have one lying around. They’re deep enough for bigger root systems and hold up well outdoors. Paint it bright colors or leave it rusty depending on your style.
They’re perfect for seasonal displays—spring bulbs, summer flowers, fall mums, or winter evergreens. The raised height makes planting and maintenance easier on your back.
13. Add Plant Markers and Labels
You’ll forget what you planted where faster than you think. Homemade markers from painted rocks, craft sticks, broken pottery, or old spoons help track everything. They’re especially useful for different tomato varieties or telling apart identical seedlings, plus they show planting dates and expected sprout times.
DIY markers add decorative flair while being practical. Use waterproof markers or paint so they don’t fade, and this costs basically nothing.
Conclusion
Creating an awesome garden on a budget is totally doable—you just need to get a little creative and work with what you’ve got. These 13 ideas prove you don’t need expensive gear, fancy designs, or pricey plants to have a garden you’re proud of.
By repurposing stuff, choosing easy-care plants, learning to propagate, and going vertical when space is tight, you can grow something amazing without breaking the bank.
Whether you’re dealing with a tiny balcony or a modest backyard, the best gardens come from creativity and effort, not how much money you throw at them.
Khaja Moinuddin, a computer science graduate, finds joy in gardening and homesteading. Join him on this blog as he shares his experiences in homesteading, gardening, and composting
Fit Simplify Resistance Tube Bands 12 Piece Set with Instruction Booklet
Price: $23.98
(as of Oct 25, 2025 23:56:30 UTC – Details)
Product description
Attachments Included
Isolate muscle groups using the included attachments. Two foam handles, ankle straps, and a door anchor are all included for a versatile at-home workout.
Full Body Workouts
Resistance bands are perfect for all fitness levels and a wide variety of exercises for the entire body. The harder you pull, the harder you work!
Exercise On The Go
Our Tube Band Resistance Set comes with an included carrying pouch, so you can easily pack your workout on the go.
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Customer Reviews
4.6 out of 5 stars 4,683
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Tension Level(s)
5 – 35 lbs Extra light – Extra heavy Extra light – Extra heavy 20 – 35 lbs 35 – 65 lbs 100 – 240 lbs
Primary Uses
Full body, low impact workout. Complement workouts and stretching. Physical therapy. Complement workouts and stretching. Physical therapy. Increase the number of unassisted pull ups. Bands with a higher resistance to increase workout challenge. Lower body focus: thighs, legs, glutes, quads, and hips.
Material
Natural latex Natural latex Natural latex Natural latex Natural latex Elasticized fabric
Units included
12 including carry bag 7 including carry bag 7 including carry bag 1 5 including carry bag 4 including carry bag
Premium Resistance Tube Band Set: Perfect for setting up a home gym, this kit has everything you need for a full body resistance work out, Includes 5 tube bands, 2 handles, 2 ankle straps, and 1 door anchor
Great For Any Workout: Our resistance bands are the ideal home gym equipment, Integrate them into your yoga, Pilates, or other routine or use them for stretching and weight training, Storage bag included
Get Fit: Resistance training is a great way to get a full body workout and our premium resistance bands, ankle straps, handles, and door anchors are excellent for home exercise, gym routines, and physical therapy
Quality You Can Trust: We stand by the quality of our premium exercise bands.
Fit Simplify: From ballet stretch bands and pull up assist bands to resistance tube bands, hip resistance bands and more, we have high quality exercise accessories for men and women of all fitness levels
Customers say
Customers find these resistance bands to be of excellent quality and well-made, particularly suitable for home workouts and Pilates exercises. They are easy to use and provide good value for money, with one customer noting they work well for shoulder recovery range-of-motion drills. The bands are versatile, allowing for a wide variety of workouts, and customers appreciate their solid construction. While some customers report the bands will last many years, others mention issues with them getting brittle and breaking within a month of use.
Tribe Lifting Fabric Resistance Bands for Legs – Workout Bands Resistance Bands for Men and Women – Booty Bands for Working Out – Exercise Bands Resistance Bands Set – Elastic Bands for Exercise
Price: $29.97 - $19.97
(as of Oct 25, 2025 11:50:15 UTC – Details)
From the brand
[Easy to Use] – Each workout bands resistance level is different but they are the same length, so you won’t need to readjust your range of motion. Squat bands are grippy to ensure the fitness band doesn’t slide up or down
[Top Quality] – Work out bands are made from a durable elastic fabric material. With fabric bands, you don’t have to worry about tears or stretching them out and having them snap as our hip bands are sewn with high-quality fabric blended with latex threads
[Versatile] – Elastic bands for exercise such as Squats, Lunges, Crunches, Straight Leg Raises and Leg bands for working out butt, glutes and more. Glute bands for women and men will help with your butt workout, leg workout band build that thick booty
[Small and Light] – Our Exercise resistance bands will fit into your gym bag, backpack or even a purse. Resistant bands for exercise workouts at the gym, at home, at the office or while travelling. They will sure make your body sweat!
[Guarantee] – Tribe Lifting products are designed in North America and manufactured with a great attention to detail. If there is anything at all that is not up to a standard, we will replace or refund the product for you no questions asked
Customers say
Customers find these resistance bands well-made and effective for functional strength training, with three levels of resistance and a non-slip grip that stays in place during exercises. They are comfortable and durable, with customers noting they feel strong and hold their shape well. While some customers find the size perfect, others mention they run small. Customers consider the bands worth their price.
What killed Napoleon’s army? Scientists find clues in DNA from fallen soldiers’ teeth : Shots
Two-to-three thousand soldiers from Napoleon’s army were found in a mass grave in the northern suburbs of Vilnius, Lithuania in 2001.
Michel Signoli / UMR 6578 Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, EFS
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Michel Signoli / UMR 6578 Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, EFS
By 1812, Napoleon was all powerful. Nearly all of Europe was under his control. He had succeeded in forbidding most of the continent from trading with Britain in an effort to bring the island nation to heel. And he was married to Marie Louise, daughter of the emperor of Austria, a major superpower at the time. (The dazzling emerald and diamond necklace that he gifted her when they were wed was one of the objects stolen in last weekend’s heist at the Louvre.)
But the Russian Empire had been resisting his efforts to cut off all trade with Britain. That summer, he ordered his army, some 600,000 strong, to invade Russia. It would prove to be a terrible decision.
“This is one of the most infamous military campaigns in the last centuries,” says Nicolás Rascovan, the head of the microbial paleogenomics unit at the Pasteur Institute in Paris. “He believed that he was going to be able to conquer the whole world, more or less. It was probably the beginning of the end.”
In October, Napoleon called his soldiers back after barely engaging the Russian army. It wasn’t a defeat, but it was no win either. And during the march home, winter arrived early.
“They started to die of cold, hunger, and also infectious diseases,” says Rascovan. All told, hundreds of thousands perished.
And in a new study published in the journal Current Biology, Rascovan and his colleagues say those diseases likely include two unexpected pathogens that would have helped hasten the soldiers’ demise.
Napoleon’s retreating soldiers suffered from the bitter cold, hunger, and an onslaught of disease.
Michel Signoli / UMR 6578 Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, EFS
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Michel Signoli / UMR 6578 Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, EFS
Combined with earlier work, it’s become clear that these men were under microbial assault on all fronts.
“These wars were anything but glamorous,” says Michaela Binder, a bioarchaeologist with Novetus, an archaeology company based in Vienna, who wasn’t involved in the study. “For some of them, the death in battle would have been a relief.”
A rich and bloody history, reconstructed
Typhus and trench fever have long been thought to be among the afflictions that Napoleon’s soldiers suffered. This is based on a mix of historical accounts, the discovery of body lice on the remains of soldiers (which carried the pathogens that transmitted the ailments), and DNA analyses conducted nearly a decade ago.
But molecular techniques have improved dramatically since then.
And so a pair of archaeologists asked Rascovan, who studies the DNA of ancient pathogens, to see what other afflictions he might be able to turn up in the remains of a mass grave in Lithuania. The site had been discovered accidentally during a construction project in one the northern suburbs of Vilnius in 2001. Two-to-three thousand of Napoleon’s men had been buried there soon after they died.
“Europe has such a rich history that we have archaeological sites pretty much everywhere,” says Rascovan. “So you dig a hole in the ground and then you find something.”
An Imperial Guard button was discovered when the mass grave was excavated.
Michel Signoli / UMR 6578 Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, EFS
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Michel Signoli / UMR 6578 Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, EFS
Among the remains that the archaeologists had unearthed were 13 teeth, each from a different soldier. These teeth would have had blood flowing through their interiors long ago.
“If you have DNA of the pathogen in the blood because you have an infection, that DNA can get into the tooth,” explains Rascovan. “So then it’s kind of a time machine in which you can really see the blood of the individual back then.”
Only after decontaminating the teeth, grinding them into a powder, and dissolving the bone dust could the ancient DNA be studied. But naturally, that genetic code was in rough shape. It consisted of super short fragments that had undergone chemical changes.
Rascovan sequenced all of it. Some of the genetic material came from the soldiers themselves. Some of it derived from organisms in the soil in which they were buried. And some of it — perhaps — was from pathogens that helped kill these men.
“Once we have a huge list of all the different things that have been detected, we try to find which are the species that match a human pathogen,” he says. “It’s like doing a puzzle.”
‘A story of hardship’
After Rascovan and his team finished that puzzle, they had two hits. Both of them were bacteria: one that caused paratyphoid fever and the other relapsing fever, a pathogen transmitted by body lice that dated back to the Iron Age.
“This paper shows clearly how complex these types of analyses are and the extreme level of skill required to work with these types of data,” says Leslie Quade, a paleopathologist at the Austrian Archaeological Institute who didn’t participate in the research.
She says that discerning the emergence, spread, and evolution of diseases in the past can also help us navigate the pathogens of today.
“Understanding how certain types of pathogens developed can give us a better chance of anticipating what a pathogen’s next step might be,” says Quade. In addition, if a certain once-widespread pathogen has become rare today, these infection-laden historical events may offer lessons to learn to keep it from returning and to contain other similar modern pathogens.
These findings are another reminder that war has always been ugly, Binder says. “We have these paintings in the museums of soldiers in shiny armors, of Napoleon on his horse, fit young men marching into battle.”
“But in the end, when we look at the human remains, we see an entirely different picture,” she says.
It’s a picture of lifelong malnutrition, broken feet from marching too far, too quickly, and bodies riddled with disease.
“Their bones tell a story of hardship,” says Binder.