5. Start a vegetable garden
Gardening is fun. Growing your own food will give you a sense of pride and it can mean making fewer trips to the fresh produce section of the grocery store. According to the Michigan State University Extension, you should grow items that are expensive to buy — such as tomatoes and melons — and the items you buy most often. Vegetables that provide the biggest return on your investment of time and garden space include beans, beets, broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, onions, peas, peppers, lettuce and spinach.