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Do you have a set amount of money that you allow yourself to spend each month on your stamping/crafting hobby? If you do, and don't mind sharing, how much is your budget and how well do you stick to it?
I'm asking because I've been spending fairly "free form" over the past few months (OK, maybe years . . . :-) ) and feel it's time to "rein" myself in a bit.
Thanks!
My budget is $100 a month. I set that figure when I became a SU demo, because it's the minimum sales required ($300 per quarter). Setting the figure and becoming a demo has really helped me manage my spending. I plan better, think about what I really need, and I've really cut down on impulse buys in the hobby stores!
No budget here, I just buy when I feel like I can and don't when I shouldn't.
Good for you!
My "budget" is a balancing act between how much my common sense says I can spend and how much I think I can spend w/o my husband saying anything. Does that make sense? In other words, no specific $ amount, just gauging as I go along by weighing all the factors.
Mine is not just a crafting budget my hubby and I both have fun money that we spend however we want. I stay within that budget amount but not all of it is craft spending, well most of it is, but not all.
Here's a funny thing though, involving my wonderful MIL. When we first got married and were combining our finances and making our joint budget, she told my hubby that women needed some money every month for clothing, accessories and all that stuff. I will mention we were both mid thirties getting married for the first time. So he listened to her and even though he knows that I never spend that much on clothes he has insisted on keeping that in our budget. But I am a bargin hunter when it comes to clothes, I buy them on clearence and spend the rest on craft stuff. Since I make all of the cards we send and most of the gifts we give, it balances out.
Actually, when I became a demo I opened my own checking account just for stamping. I dip into my profits to make my purchases. Sometimes I spend it all...sometimes I save up. Most of the time, though, I spend at least $150 at a time so I qualify for a workshop and earn free stamps and products. This happens about every other month.
Wow, I'm actually surprised so many people don't have a budget in this economy. I limit myself $50 or less a month for crafty things. That doesn't include if I sell something- I use that money whenever!
When I started out I had a hard time staying under budget but now I find myself really being careful to make sure I will use what I buy. I seem to spend less that way.
I don't have a budget really. Mostly I am a stay at home mom but I do teach a class or two at the University so that gives me a little spending money. I find that I can go months without buying anything and then when I do spend, I usually spend at least $10o. I NEVER walk into Hobby Lobby unless I have a 40% off coupon. This weekend, I printed four coupons and had my whole family in buying a few things for me. My husband was like "more nesties?!" and my kids were saying "cool! glitter embossing powder!" Sometimes I use those coupons on something inexpensive like embossing powder or glue and sometimes on things like nesties. I have to admit, if it had just been me and the girls, I would have gotten three sets of nesties instead of having them "buy" the embossing powder!
Sometimes my mojo goes missing and I need to buy something little to help it find its way home.
I don't have a set budget either, but I know when I can and can not spend. Lately, I haven't been spending much in the LSS's or chain stores... not because I don't have money, just that I can't find anything that I HAVE to have. I think that is a sign that I have too much already and need to use it more!! ;)
My budget is $100 a month. I set that figure when I became a SU demo, because it's the minimum sales required ($300 per quarter). Setting the figure and becoming a demo has really helped me manage my spending. I plan better, think about what I really need, and I've really cut down on impulse buys in the hobby stores!
That's a great way to look at it! I just signed up and I think that's what I am going to do too. Or else I will be in trouble!
__________________ Wendy Lord great wonders workest Thou, to Thy sway all creatures bow.
Write Thou deeply on my heart, who I am and who Thou art. Scrappractical - The Blog
No budget here - just buy what I want within reason. I am better about impulse buys at the stores, though, especially with ribbon. I have been using a lot of my ribbon that had never been opened before, so I really don't need any more. Or do I? heehee. I don't 'need' any more stamps, either, but I am in the process of ordering more. I can pick up an extra day at work to pay for them, so that makes me feel better!
Don't really have a budget for crafts either. Like Gina though, I do have a monthly discretionary budget my DH agreed to meant for clothing and maintenance (LOL -- hair, nails, make-up, etc.). I usually take from that for craft purchases. DH never understands why my craft room is so well stocked but my nails are unpolished, roots showing and holes in my shoes:p
I didn't use to have a budget...and probably spent about $300 a month.
This year I'm trying to spend less and actually use what I already have. It's only March, but I've been doing pretty good at $150 a month. I'm trying to just buy more stamps since I have tons of paper and embellishments.
I made an excel sheet and put in my purchases. Once I hit $150, I stop buying things and just wait for the 1st of the month to hit again.
I don't have a budget as such, I have my conscience budget and can justify around $150 a month, when I cross over what I consider reasonable I wait a month.
Do you have a set amount of money that you allow yourself to spend each month on your stamping/crafting hobby? If you do, and don't mind sharing, how much is your budget and how well do you stick to it?
I'm asking because I've been spending fairly "free form" over the past few months (OK, maybe years . . . :-) ) and feel it's time to "rein" myself in a bit.
Thanks!
I have a tight budget as it is, so can't spend much anymore on new toys. LOL I have quite a stash already so only spend with a coupon, when I am going through withdrawal symptoms and "scrap lust" for something new!
I have just over $150 a month except birthday month when I can squeeze more out of DH for a gift. I spread that around to scrapbook stores and my SU! orders. Once a quarter or so I will order from CM and CTMH. Wish I had twice my "allowance" but I have learned to throw away catalogs without looking at them and to make lists and double check what I really need before I go into a store. Also, not being able to buy everything new that I want has made me use a lot of my older stash.
Mary Beth
I used to spend whenever I wanted something. Then my budget went down to a little over $100/month. I joined a no spending challenge where we could not spend any money for an entire month. Boy was that tough!!! But after it was over it helped me realize that I didn't need so much stuff.
My New Year's Resolution was to stick to $50/month. I'm proud to say that I have been able to get by so far this year without spending a dime from my budget. I've been selling unused stuff and trading to get things. It's so gratifying for me to be able to indulge in my hobby without the guilt of spending too much.
Wow, I'm actually surprised so many people don't have a budget in this economy. I limit myself $50 or less a month for crafty things. That doesn't include if I sell something- I use that money whenever!
When I started out I had a hard time staying under budget but now I find myself really being careful to make sure I will use what I buy. I seem to spend less that way.
I totally agree with you. I work in a field where I see people struggling to buy just the basics to get by everyday. I decided that I have a ton of craft supplies and for the year of 2009 I am only going to buy what I need, that means adhesives mainly. I am also trying to make most of the gifts we are giving this year. I don't want to end up in a situation where I "have" choose between food and craft supplies, because I would starve
With the economy the way it is we have just about cut out everything we used to enjoy doing. We never eat out, we don't travel as much as we used to and I absolutely refuse to pay the price they charge to see a movie. My DH works out of town so I live alone except for my 17 year old son. He's always hanging out with his friends so all I have is my puppy dog and my crafting. I buy what I want...when I want it. I don't buy high priced items but I buy when I get the urge. I probably spend more than I should but I figure my crafting supplies are probably cheaper than a "shrink" because without them I'd surely go bonkers. DH urges me to buy because he loves my work. LOL...love is blind.
Since I decided to join the SU family I've actually spent less. I'll be using most of their products so I don't really need some of everything out there any more.
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I'm on a tight budget but I allow myself more than I use to. I never bought a stamp set that was more than about $18.00. Now I won't buy one that is $30.00 or more. I do use the Hobby Lobby coupons. I stopped buying stamp sets and have REALLY found I have plenty. About 65 sets and maybe 40 individual stamps. I really finally have enough stamps. I now concentrate on paper, inks, and ribbons. I only spend $20.00 to $40.00 a month. Some months nothing.
I generally keep it under $50 a month. I have gotten to the point where I have so much that there isn't that much I need or really want. I have spent more this month though. Oh my Crafts had an awesome sale on the Silhouette and dh said to go ahead and get it as an early Mothers Day gift. I have wanted one for a while now and it is too cool. But since it was a gift it technically doesn't count in my budget, right?
No craft budget here, just common sense and a lot of research. Ebay is my craft mall, they have everything I need. If I don't win an auction, I wait a bit and another item comes along that I just have to have. With almost 600 auctions won I've only had one bad experience, but my best deal was getting a set of Nesties for $6 plus shipping! I buy new when I get into the city but those trips are few and far between.
I just finished up organizing another craft sale at my home and the total I have priced out is 1075.00 so that is at least 3 times that in value I paid. I will be putting any money from this sale away for a trip and no more stuff for the crafting area until I am really low of something. I managed to not buy a single stamp from the current SU catalogue but I am liking what I saw online with the newest mini coming out soon. But in the end I don't have a budget.
Well...technically I have a 300$ a month budget for Everything that I want. However...I go over that once in a while. Like this month I decided that I'm going to make some rag dolls for some friends babies and such. Well...I had to buy Everything for these. I'm talking...needles, fabric scissors, etc. Lol. I think I came in at about 125$ and I should be able to make quite a few of the dolls with the fabric that I bought and everything else is reusable. I only had about 80$ left of my 300$ so I'm over. But not by much and I'll just try to be good the rest of the month.
No budget here, I just buy when I feel like I can and don't when I shouldn't.
This describes my approach, too. I handle the money in our house, so I know what we've got and what we don't. DH has to ask me if he can buy anything. He calls me the Minister of Finance of the Raihala Republic.
I don't have a budget. My only rule for buying craft stuff is that I have to use cash and never credit. This month I am spending nothing so next month I will have the money saved to make a $150 SU! order of supplies I need.
I have a tight budget as it is, so can't spend much anymore on new toys. LOL I have quite a stash already so only spend with a coupon, when I am going through withdrawal symptoms and "scrap lust" for something new!
If you have any friends around you that scrap why don't y'all set up a trade day. Everyone bring items you don't use or need anymore to trade and everyone gets to go home with something "new".
No set amount here, but like a few others DH and I get an "allowance" each week. It's for fast food lunches, etc. (not clothing). I usually bring my lunch to work and save up and make my purchases out of that fund. I am an SU! demo so if I have sales the money I earn gets to go to my purchases too.
__________________ Jen
�Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away�.
I should have a budget but I don't. I'm in the process of redoing my stamproom and I did a major cleaning/give away and I figure I could stamp all year and only have to buy white CS and adhesives. Also, I'm no longer hoarding. I using all my pretty supplies so my buying has gone way down.
I also no longer buy because of those darn coupons! I don't buy clothes, jewlery, minimum makeup products, and we rarely travel. All my spare money goes to stamping.
Right now I'm saving up because in May I'm going to a stamp retreat that always results in heavy shopping and the StampInTheHand convention is comming to town. In the past I probably would have spent $1000 for these 2 trips, this year I'll probaly spend 1/2 that amount. It just doesn't seem prudent to spend mega bucks in this economy.
This describes my approach, too. I handle the money in our house, so I know what we've got and what we don't. DH has to ask me if he can buy anything. He calls me the Minister of Finance of the Raihala Republic.
I like this arrangement....
That's hilarious!:lol:
I keep the book in our house, and I don't really have a "budget" but since I quit working last summer, I have to watch what I spend. If I spend too much, it raises an eyebrow or two.;)
__________________ Carolyn
Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and Lovin' it!
Do you have a stamping/crafting "budget"?
