Enable Me or Talk Me Down
 

the basics --
strict craft budget, keeping to it

have unexpected small amount of extra $$ this month and husband says use part of it for adding to the craft budget.

I need nothing. :confused:

Want many things. ;)
Could use a baby set, but really just buying for fun and to relieve stress.

so enable me or talk me down.

I'm never one to refuse to spend money when told to :D

I would probably take the money and put it aside until there was something that I *really* wanted rather than just buy something just to spend the money though.

Boy, that extra $$ sure can burn a hole in our pockets! I think the smart answer is to put the money aside for something really wanted. That said, I'd probably keep looking until I found something I *really* wanted! I guess I'm an enabler - sorry! Have fun!

I hate to buy baby and wedding sets because they are both used for the same circle of people so I either get them if they are true bargains or trade for them. I get bored of them and also stuck on ideas to make each card different when everyone in the circle sees all the cards.

Is there a bigger item you want/need? If so, set aside the unexpected funds and hope that there'll be more in the future so you can get the bigger item.


Or ... spend it (I usually spend tiny windfalls on consumables such as adhesive or ribbon and larger windfalls on things like dies/punches or cutting mats).

Well, the suggestions to *save* it until something comes along you really want, or to add to later for a bigger more expensive item are good ones. And likely something I might do. But I sure would be looking hard for something to really want!

Knowing that you recently became an Amuse consultant; what about adding to your ink or paper from them? A new color family maybe?

Whatever you decide, how wonderful to have a husband who says "add to your craft budget"!! What a keeper! :-)

I'm with those who'd save it till there was something I really wanted rather than just buying because the money is there now. But then we lived on a frugal budget for so long that I'm still good at talking myself out of purchases.
On the other hand, if you need to relieve stress - go and buy something now just for the heck of it and to have some happy mail coming your way. Getting something you'd like and will use but don't absolutely need sounds like a good stress-reliever to me.

I would say set it aside. CHA is in July and many stores have clearance sales to make space for new items. Some of the things on your wish list may be on sale and you will get more for your money . Then you can splurge without any guilt LOL

Are you going to GASC in June? If so, I'd save it for that.

If not, I'd save it towards a Vagabond. Unless it's a $130 windfall. Then I'd find a 50% off coupon from somewhere and march over to Michaels and BUY that Vagabond right now for $125 plus tax. :D

I'm no help, am I? I'm fighting the urge to place a sizable PTI or SU order with my b-day $$$. :oops: But I'm holding strong so far.

Good luck!

Don't know if you like SU stuff or not, but the retired list will be coming out and you may just want to pick up some things that are retiring....otherwise, I would save it. I've learned that I've wasted too much money just because I had a coupon. I can no longer afford to just buy on a whim, so I am researching and buying what I really want or need.

I have to agree with everyone else. Put the money aside. We all know that new, super-cool stuff will be coming out this summer after CHA. I would try to hold onto it and spend it then. Good luck!!

I'm with most, I say put it aside for now. Not that long ago I would have given you different advice, but I'm getting better!! ;)

Hi Joan - I just got the most adorable baby set from Lawn Fawn. I don't know if you've seen it yet, but here is the link:

Lawn Fawn - plus one

It's very cute, but I know we all have different styles. :)

I'm with the majority to set it aside for something you really want! I'm trying to get away from speding $ just because I have a little extra. I have so much already - we all probably do, so keep it for that special purchase!!

then again if you are one of those who believe the world is going to end tomorrow, then you might as well spend it!!

Well, Joan, I'm sorry but I'm an enabler! I personally would put it toward more Copics. Buying it all at once was not in the budget so that's where I would put it. I am at the point where I probably don't *need* it but I absolutely *want* it. It's not as fun to buy a marker here or there, it's more fun to buy a small bundle:) Is there anything that you've been slowly building up that could use a shot of some more new_____(fill in the blank) and perhaps get you excited about it? Perhaps replace some tool that you've bought to make do but you'd really rather have the more expensive model? You could sell the one you're not going to use anymore and put that toward the bigger purchase, too :) Decisions, decisions. Did you ever notice that it takes a longer time to decide what to spend a small gift of money on than a few extra dollars? Have fun!

LOL If she orders on line it won't get here in time LOL

I am with Jennifer, put it aside and save it..Then spend :)

I'm with Lori! A year ago I would have said, What the heck are you waiting for? Spend it!
Now I wait forever to see if I really want something before I spend. It seems like every day there is something else to spend it on but since I can't afford to do that I wait to see if I still want it in a week or two or more.......

LIFE IS SHORT!! There's no promise of a tomorrow.

SPEND IT!!! Since you know you want a baby set, it would be so fun to take a couple of hours and search all over the gallery and the web and find the one you really like.

The search is as much fun as the buying to me. And if you find the one you like, don't forget to show us what you got!!

So cute!!! I want this one.
Dress Up Sweet Pea - Pink Cat Studio

Buy punches!! I can't get enough of them.

Have fun whatever you decide to do!

My birthday is Tuesday :-)

Actually if you NEED nothing and nothing is calling your name put it in an envelope and forget about it. Then when something catches your eye get it.

Or buy me some buttons and ribbons

I'm of this mindset, too. This is not the dress rehearsal - this is your life. I say BUY!

Here are a couple of baby sets I have my eye on:

Papertrey Ink - Bitty Baby Blessings Stamp Set

Papertrey Ink - Inside & Out: Baby

Mine too. :D

splurge ;)
or if you want to do some mall shopping even better haha ;)

Come to my house and play with the baby sets! It's been too long since I've seen you!

Do you like dies?
 

Parisian Accents **OUT OF STOCK** - Spellbinders Paper Arts - Spellbinders
Floral Doily Accents **OUT OF STOCK** - Spellbinders Paper Arts - Spellbinders

Not sure of your style, but I love these! On my wishlist.

Joan,
Do we really "need" anything when it comes to this hobby/craft? I know that I definitely don't "need" anything but if I came across some extra money that I was encouraged to spend and everything else was paid for, I'd go ahead and get one of my wants to relieve some stress and have some fun :-)

Let us know what you decide.

My next splurge will probably be some of these dies:

GEO-Dies

I can always find room for one more!

Hey my birthday is Monday :).

Oh and I forgot to comment ... I think if there really isn't anything you want, just put aside and save it for later.

A Muse will have their new mini catalog out in late summer (wink, wink).

thanks!

so far I haven't spent anything today but I have my eye on a few things. I feel a purchase cursing through my veins. It's a sickness I tell you!! (but I usually keep to a strict budget -- really!!!)

Happy birthday to everyone!!

Well, I'll step out of the caution box!!

I think it depends on:
a) how much extra $ do you have?
b) is there something you could get now for fun and stress relief that would give your spirits a boost, and not use it all up?
c) is there a big purchase you have in mind to save up for?

Yep. . . pretty much sayin', can you have your cake and eat it too? If you can give yourself a little splurge (you are so good about your budget after all!) and still set something aside for a later date that you can't live without ~ then it's the best of both worlds!

If you think spending it means there will be nothing left and/or if there's nothing out there right now that will be a real thrill for you . . . then save it up!

(whether you get something new that's cool, or save for something especially cool ~ let us know!! some of us just want to live vicariously through others' purchases, LOL!)

When I have cash and an urge to spend that I can't calm down I buy the "un-fun" stuff like ink refills, copic refills, more ATG tape, etc. I get the satisfaction of retail therapy without guilt because I bought something I actually need instead of want.

Gosh, I am DYING to get more colors of the A Muse Studios paper and I would love a couple of stamp sets like Clever Girls and Roll With It! Oh, And the tags dies with matching stamps! Did I mention the grass and the scallops and the pinking border edges!? Oh, I have a list that is soooooooo long! Next time I get some cash I'm investing it back into my new stamping business! Yeppers--that's what I'm gonna do!

:mrgreen: My list is long, too, Lianne!!! I'm itching to place an order and I didn't have a minute to stamp all week!!!

I so rarely use baby and wedding stamps these days, that I have a few digi images for them that I keep on hand. you might look into that since they don't cost much and are super easy to store. ;) that will free up the rest of your money for whatever else comes your way that catches your eye.

well....here is what happened.

I resisted the urge, went to sleep, woke up and went "shopping" in my craft room. I remembered that I had been to Archivers in April and purchased "a couple" of stamps that I had not yet taken out of the bag.

So it seems I have many many new stamps that need ink.

Thanks for getting me through the impulse shopping. I will buy something (I need several kinds of adhesive) some time in the next week or so, but it will be a thoughtful purchase rather than one to cope with stress.

:)

I know the feeling of wanting a "fresh" set. It just does something for creativity.

Since I have so many sets when I do buy it's something really different and unlike anything I have. For a long time at our monthly SU workshops I bought "extras" like ribbon, buttons, brads, etc. They are fun orders to get.

If there is a set that is really different or a set you feel like you'd use lots or some fun extras you need I'd say go for it. Otherwise wait a bit. Let us know what you decide!

Joan,

If you feel the urge again walk into your beautiful new craft space, admire it and then walk out again. Do you really want to mess up all that hard work?