how much???

[MrsETaylor]

Okay I know this could be a personal question, but hey I'll chalk it up as getting to know ya

How much do you allow yourself to spend every month on supplies?


There is so much out there to buy, and since still relatively new, I don't want to spend our childrens college fund lmao.

[BillieDee]

Sometimes quite a bit ... and sometimes quit a bit more!

and then I feel like I spent too much so I try to stay away from the hobby stores and the on-line stores .... but ....

I should probably join that addicted to rubber thread ..... but I don't have a problem!

It's the additional H20s, the new Scor-Pal, the Zing! the new stuff!<laugh>

[Tracy-Stamper]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillieDee

Sometimes quite a bit ... and sometimes quit a bit more!

and then I feel like I spent too much so I try to stay away from the hobby stores and the on-line stores .... but ....

I should probably join that addicted to rubber thread ..... but I don't have a problem!

It's the additional H20s, the new Scor-Pal, the Zing! the new stuff!<laugh>

You're so funny I try not to think about how much I spend on this hobby.

[Ellibelle]

Usually around 30-40$. Unless there is something specific that I "need". Right now I am making a list of copics that I want, and that is going to be $50 order.
I do have a lot of products, so most of the times now I just buy designer papers, card stock, or embellishments and they aren't too expensive, considering I try to get them on sale.

[stampkinz]

Our SU stamp club is $25/mo but I usually end up spending more like $40 (or..ahem..more).

[Crafter 4 Life]

I started papercrafting a little over a year ago. When I first started I needed everything but now my buying frenzy is at a low simmer. I am better at not 'impuse' buying. (Notice the "better") Now I can go a week without using a coupon!!! I think I am getting to where I will buy for a project I will immediately start-trying not to have those "What was I thinking when I bought this!" moments.

I think hobbies sometimes take on a life of their own and the internet doesn't help. There are sooo many talented people that some days it is just better not to go web surfing.

Anyway, this IS a fun hobby. I make mostly cards - don't write many letters or notes but need to create so donate lots of cards to causes and to my church craft group that has periodic card sales with the proceeds going to a local food closet.

[Vervegirl]

Before I found SCS and realized there was so much more stuff I NEEDED, I was content with about $15-20 a month of new stuff. Now, I don't even want to know how much I spend (at least 10 times that, probably!) This last week was a spending spree - with the new Ketto stamps at Stamping Bella, the new Flourishes stamps, the new SASI stamps... and then I just got my Occasions Mini in the mail.... I'm in trouble!!! LOL

[RedInLove]

I'm part of a monthly stamping club with my sister (she's the demo) and I usually spend about $50 a month.

[jackie1]

I'm on a budget of $125 a month to spend on whatever I want, but the last couple of months I have been spending way more than that. I have told myself that I can't buy anything else until May. I have all the paper supplies and DH let me get the rest of my Copic's before the price increase I also have all of the Shimmerz so I am set for supplies and rubber for a few years now. As a pat on the back for myself I do have to admit that over the last couple of weeks I have made 40 cards and I just sold 14 of them last night to a friend and her and her husband would like me to design a thank you card for there Ministry so that should help off set all the money of have spent. This can be a very addicting hobby but if you think about all the other addictions out there this is a healthy and creative one to have.

[sparkplug17]

Since the new year I've tried to spend less...which is about $150 a month. It was easy for me to spend double that, sigh.

I've been crafting for a long time now though, so I'm trying to just buy stamps and use up all the stacks of paper I already have.

[sprtchick]

Yikes...every month I start with a budget of $50.00...every month I surpass that sometimes by a couple hundred bucks...OUCH...but I have to get everything...lol
Blessings.

[creatingisfun]

what a fun thread.
trying to budget to atleast $100 a month, if possible less, but its so hard

[momis mama]

i spent WAY more when i first started...

but now that i have a good variety of supplies i don't spend nearly as much.


probably between $30-60, sometimes more and sometimes less.

[Cook22]

It's bad enough thinking about mine in euros, I certainly don't want to convert it to dollars!!! But then, I never get free shipping on most of my orders - only one UK company I sometimes buy from offers it to Ireland. Another one sometimes does half-price to Europe when he's offering a free shipping special for the UK. But free shipping from the States just isn't going to happen, so that's just part of my budget for shopping online.

[Gatomom]

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more than I should! It depends....there's like 20 a week at Michael's, then there is online and then if I go to my LSS well forget it. I sell my cards and I try to keep my online spending to what I have in my paypal but usually that doesn't work. I spent way less before I found Splitcoast!

[Paper Kissy]

I was spending a ton, I am a stay at home wife so my DH's salary pays for all of our living expenses. I was a former career nanny, and chose to get a few part time jobs to support my stamping. I was getting $350 a week from 3 part time jobs and spending it all, so like $1400 a month, I realize that sounds insane, and even more insane to say there's still so much I want. I've since dropped down to one part time job, $100 a week, $400 a month. I wish I had more, but realize how lucky I am.

Erin

[stamp_momma]

I'm pleading the 5th......

[Phantom]

It seems like I can agree with all of the posts LOL!! Sometimes less, sometimes more. I admire those who can stick to a strict budget. But I do go in spurts ~ this past weekend, I went on a DP spurt so I won't be buying paper for a very long time.

Like others, I spent a lot more when I first started out. Now I know exactly what I will love and use, so it's easier to be discriminating.

Be patient with yourself if you're just starting out ~ even if it seems like a lot, know your own financial limitations, and also, you probably will taper off after awhile.

It's a good idea to take a look at the threads asking what your best purchase was and what your worst purchase was. Learn from others' experiences.

Also, I recently discovered this site: http://www.craftcritique.com/ . You can gain some insight into products they review.

Congratulations on getting started in this terrific hobby!

[klhbenson]

I go in spurts. If I could stay at $100/month, I'd be happy...but that sure doesn't happen!

[Erin K]

my budget for all odd purchases is $100 a month, that includes my sewing hobby and also if i must buy a novel or something. And if I went out to dinner with girlfriends, that would be there too.

anyhow all of that money gets spent on fabric/sewing and stamps/papercrafting.

If I need more I sell stuff to add to my fun money pile. Recently my paper trimmer AND sewing machine broke, so I needed to spent an extra $400 in a two month period. It STINKS. I dipped into my April money and it's just mid march. But this system works for me because I don't have to justify to DH what I'm buying and why.

[jenllo]

As a stamin' up hobby demo, at leat 100.00 even with the 20% discount, I pay 10% shipping and %6 tax. I also buy a few stamps from other co's. I'm thinking that after I restock my SU cardstock, dropping my demo and maybe spend less.

[Allistamps123]

I only have about $20.00 a month to spend....sometimes a little more...I still need lots of stuff, oh well! I just found out yesterday my job's holding tight and we are grant funded, so that is a blessing!

[embellished]

If my dh is reading this, I spend nothing monthly...

[jeannie barron]

I am on the waaaay more than I should side, but it's hard for the first few months after a new catty from Stampin up comes out.

[jeannie barron]

I am with you "embellished", I try to use cash so I don't have to explain!

[craftjunkiesc]

When I was working, I didn't limit myself. I bought what I wanted/needed and didn't think about it. Now that I'm unemployed I don't have that luxury. I try to keep to a $100-a-month limit. Doing OK so far. I've been "collecting stuff" for several years and my DD says I already have it all! Right now, I'm just replenishing the consumables for the most part. Luckily for me, there wasn't alot in the new SU catty that I "just had to have".

[beaddict]

More than I should but not as much as I want to.
I would say my monthly stampin' expenditures for any given month run in the range of about $150-200.

[scrappykat]

Probably around $300. I work in an LSS and get a nice discount so at least I'm getting a lot for my money

[scrappykat]

Oh, and I'm definitely not keeping up with my stamp to spend challenge

[20somethingStamper]

i probably spend $100 a month on Stampin Stuff....if not more.
but, i must admit, i'm a bit of a hoarder (and by "a bit" i mean a complete crazy save every scrap girl. lol)

[prairie mom]

I used to spend around 250-300 bucks a month. Then I moved and lost my stamping room for now. I have limited space in the corner of my bedroom. I am now really thinking before each purchase as I really don't have room. I also have tons of stamps and LOTS of paper. Now I am only spending when I run low on a certain color cardstock, and I joined a copics club. Other than that, no spending here right now!

[auntangie]

What a time for this to come up. I have been scrapping for about 7 years and have never kept track of what I have spent on it. I have a girlfriend who writes down every purchase. Mostly so she doesn't buy duplicates, but also to track her spending. I decided at the first of the year I would track how many cards and LO's I did and how much I spend. (I am not even going to try the scrap/spend challenge, I thought that would be too much to ask for my first time tracking.) So far this year I am spending about $150/month. That fact that I have enough supplies to scrap for the next 5 years and not have to buy anything but adhesive doesn't stop me from wanting more!

Angie

[java_jenny]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparkplug17

Since the new year I've tried to spend less...which is about $150 a month. It was easy for me to spend double that, sigh.

I've been crafting for a long time now though, so I'm trying to just buy stamps and use up all the stacks of paper I already have.

I'm almost exactly like you. I spend about $150 a month. And I have way too much paper. My budget would be much less but I subscribe to 2 different scrapbook clubs and a SU monthly group.

[Sophia_77]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who has a personal fund limit of $60 a month - and that's up from what it was! Not all of that goes to stamping/crafts, but a good percentage of it does.

My husband is a pastor and I'm a SAHM, so we don't make a six-figure income. Not even close to half. (I'm not complaining, just clarifying.) I think you have to realize that everyone's income is going to affect how much they spend and what they feel is reasonable vs extravagant. What would be extravagant for me might be perfectly reasonable for someone who makes more money.

HTH if you're trying to figure out your own personal spending limit.

[chef2die4]

When I started, I was in a hostess club, plus I shopped Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and Crafts 2000 A LOT. So I was probably at 200-300 or so.

Four years later, I have most of the major tools I want/need. (Still trying to justify a Cricut, since I don't scrap, just stamp). I spend on sets that I can't live without, and restocking consumables, so I am probably down to about $100.

That being said, I work part time, and DH says that the money is mine, to decorate the house, support my hobby, and if we want to vacation. Gotta LOVE that man!

[Joan B]

$50 a month.

[Jennifer R]

I'm lucky that I don't have to budget (both DH and I work FT with no kids). I would say that *if* I had to stick to a realistic budget I'd set my budget at $50 to $75 a month.

Right now I tend to go in spurts depending on when the new stuff comes out. Some months I'm WAY over and some months very little.

[mama2oliviamae]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sophia_77

I'm glad I'm not the only one who has a personal fund limit of $60 a month - and that's up from what it was! Not all of that goes to stamping/crafts, but a good percentage of it does.

My husband is a pastor and I'm a SAHM, so we don't make a six-figure income. Not even close to half. (I'm not complaining, just clarifying.) I think you have to realize that everyone's income is going to affect how much they spend and what they feel is reasonable vs extravagant. What would be extravagant for me might be perfectly reasonable for someone who makes more money.

HTH if you're trying to figure out your own personal spending limit.

ITA and I'm glad you said this - I feel the same way and am in a similar situation (except my DH isn't a pastor). I've always found that this is my biggest frustrations with forums such as SCS; although, it's a wonderful place for ideas, support and inspiration. I stopped asking questions about products or asking opinions about what I "need" vs what I "want" because I've found that what is an absolute necessitiy to one stamper is an ultimate luxury for another.

As for me, I don't really keep a budget. I'm a pretty frugal person so I don't generally pay full price for anything. lol If I had to put a number on it, I would say $20 - $40 a month goes to crafting. Sometimes it's more, sometimes it's less. But as I "mature" into my stamping style, I notice that I purchase a lot less than I did when I first started out. Plus, when you first start out, you spend a lot of money on non-consumable tools like heat gun, lighting, scissors, etc - which adds up fast.
I stopped buying paper this year because I just have too much and I'm never going to use it all up. I've also decided not to buy anymore solid color CS until I'm almost all out. I must have 28 shades of blue. lol Instead, I pick my solid CS and work everything else around that color.

Anyway, thanks again for what you said!

[mama2oliviamae]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sophia_77

I'm glad I'm not the only one who has a personal fund limit of $60 a month - and that's up from what it was! Not all of that goes to stamping/crafts, but a good percentage of it does.

My husband is a pastor and I'm a SAHM, so we don't make a six-figure income. Not even close to half. (I'm not complaining, just clarifying.) I think you have to realize that everyone's income is going to affect how much they spend and what they feel is reasonable vs extravagant. What would be extravagant for me might be perfectly reasonable for someone who makes more money.

HTH if you're trying to figure out your own personal spending limit.

BTW, my name is Sophia, too!

[r2mckinl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by embellished

If my dh is reading this, I spend nothing monthly...

LOL! This is hilarious! I feel your pain. I have thought about getting my packages shipped to my parents house and picking them up there! I know, that's terrible!

I have to admit...when I first became a demo, I spent a ridiculous amount of money. You have to prepare yourself for a lot of different scenarios - the tools are what kills ya. Buying cutters, scissors, punches, Coluzzle, etc. Stocking up on a bunch of different stamp sets, building up collections of ink and cardstock colours, etc.

I have definitely slowed down quite a bit from that time. Now, I usually have everything that I need to complete projects, so the only things to buy are things that are "pretty" *batt eyelashes*

I try to earn money at my workshops, and sell my retired merchandise, etc. to pay for my habit. I try not to touch the money coming in from the pay cheque - but we're not in a perfect world!

Ideally, I would not spend more than $100/month, but that varies.

Good luck!!!