Stamp to Spend Challenge

[Montana]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anemone

I think I may get a money jar/envelope whatever. If I stick the $20 in there every time I earn it then...
1)It won't feel like such a big chunk out of my wallet if I spend most of it at once. (I'm planning on putting in a big SU! order the 1st of March. New catty, SAB & the Occasions Mini all at once!)
2)If I can only take money from the jar, its pretty hard to overspend.

The jar is a good idea. It is easier to spend more with a credit card than with cash. I do most of my shopping online though. I'm not sure if that would work for me. I will just have to keep close track.

[Anemone]

Keep the jar by the computer - only spend online what you've got in the jar. Maybe you could pay the credit card bill with the cash? Deposit in your bank account & write the cheque/transfer money, whatever method you use to pay your card bill.

[TheGeneralsWife]

Easter is March 23rd this year, that means I have to get 100-150 Easter cards done along with my Valentines and other cards before the 10th of March, that isn't that far off. But I think that I will definately earn an Easter set this year and my SU order.

[TheGeneralsWife]

Thats exactly what i am going to do, use the money in the jar to pay the credit card bill for what I buy on line. It is going to be so much easier for me to keep track of it then. I also started a spreadsheet in excel, because I am so **** about these kinds of things. Plus it is a resolution I made this year.

[pammers]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGeneralsWife

I'm with you Pammers, i think that if I took pictures and posted all that I have done since coming to SCS I would feel more accomplished and maybe even more motivated to get more done and off my plate. Mu mom is a Deacon in her church and she needs about 100 Easter cards for her Parrish and I somehow got roped into doing it, so maybe that will nudge me in the right direction. I just feel bad beacuse I don't even own any Easter stamps and I have to go buy somethign so that I can even begin creating. I better get started. I did do a bunch of Christmas cards, I jut need to post them. The pictures are awful though.

I sent you a PM.

[stampin'_mommy]

If it isn't too late to join I would like to. I find that I do more spending than stamping I'm going to work really hard this year to change that.

[pammers]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stampin'_mommy

If it isn't too late to join I would like to. I find that I do more spending than stamping I'm going to work really hard this year to change that.

Welcome aboard!

[stampin'_mommy]

Thanks, I'm going to make a card once I get me kids to bed. I will try to figure out how to add a signature line later.

[lynnewithane]

If I didn't exercise, I would really be in trouble! That's the only way I'm earning any money. (You would think I was in great shape, but.....) I have a lot to earn before SAB!!!!

[scrappindixie]

I've been doing pretty good lately. I feel like I've been making a million cards, well not really. At least it's progress though. lol! Thank goodness I have gift cards left to spend or else I think I'd be in really big trouble!
Marji

[pammers]

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrappindixie

I've been doing pretty good lately. I feel like I've been making a million cards, well not really. At least it's progress though. lol! Thank goodness I have gift cards left to spend or else I think I'd be in really big trouble!
Marji

You're doing fantastic! Look at all that cushion you have between what you've earned and what you've spent! Good job!

[coribravo]

I went to a 24 hour crop this weekend. It definately helped, thank goodness, lol!

[mollymoo951]

Woo Hoo! I just finished 16 cards for a SU! Team Swap.

[scrappindixie]

How much should this count for- I just finished some Valentine's gifts for dd's and ds's church groups and dance classes (dd). I made 46 packets containing 3 of the little decorated peppermint patties in each one. So, 138 patties were made- WOW! I didn't realize it was so many. I'm just wondering how much I should "credit" myself with this? What are your opinions?

[TheGeneralsWife]

I would say about $5 for every 10-15 that you made. Thats a good question because I do little things like that for all the seasons.

[natlhol]

What was the answer to the question someone asked about coverings nuggets? Wasn't the suggestion 8 nuggets=1 card? (not sure, faulty memory)

Perhaps it would be the same for mints?

[scrappindixie]

I decided to compromise with 12 for $5.

[TheGeneralsWife]

Don't short change yourself if you made bagtoppers for them as well. Just something else to think about

[scrappindixie]

I wish I could say that I did, but I took the easy way out and just put them in resealable bags. No toppers here!

[carolc1027]

So just after I started this challenge.....I came down with the flu....and spent the last two weeks in bed.....UGH!!!! (But did surf here keeping up-to-date!!!!) So, back to work yesterday and came home and went right back to bed. After work today, did some necessary straightening up.....tomorrow night after work I'll hit the food store and start the laundry.....so let's see......that means Saturday AM I can sit in my craft area......need 4 birthday cards in the next 2 weeks. Plus I have only 2 gift sets made toward the 25 I need for the end April.....OSW's here I come!!!!!

Everyone is doing such a great job.....can't wait to up my available to spend!!!!!!!!! Need to hit my SU minimum this quarter!!!!

[Cicicara]

Bumping

[Little Lou's]

Leslie, I found the thread! Thanks for helping me out.

Wow, this is a great idea, I always buy more than I need! Well have to read up on this more.

[karcher70]

3 altered mailboxes done...cha-ching!

[dorothyjane]

Oh I forgot to add my 120 minutes of exercise this week. Does getting the Christmas stuff out of the yard yesterday and cleaning up after the dog count as exercise cuz that could get me $6 more dollars. Just kidding

[karcher70]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dorothyjane

Oh I forgot to add my 120 minutes of exercise this week. Does getting the Christmas stuff out of the yard yesterday and cleaning up after the dog count as exercise cuz that could get me $6 more dollars. Just kidding

I would totally count that!!!

I'm almost finished making my 2008 calendar (ok, so I'm 2 weeks late...)! I'm giving myself $8 for that, because I almost bought a calendar yesterday for that price, but instead, decided to make one!

[crafty1021]

OK, I came back here for some inspiration! Well, I've got it! I want to head into my craft room for the evening and earn some money! Plus, I really have to earn that CADII I just ordered the other night!!

[lynnewithane]

Quote:

Originally Posted by crafty1021

OK, I came back here for some inspiration! Well, I've got it! I want to head into my craft room for the evening and earn some money! Plus, I really have to earn that CADII I just ordered the other night!!

Ooohhh......Is that the one that was on HSN for the today's special? I so wanted to get that! But, I'm operating in the red already, and I need to be able to buy stuff for Sale a Bration. So, I resisted.

[c-mouse]

okay--today, I completed 10 card challenges and made PIF thank yous using the first 10 challenges. It was so awesome to have the entire day to work on stampin stuff--DH went fishing(almost froze to death, he is still wrapped up and and wanted hot soup for supper)--didn't catch any fish either.
Also--if you need SOMETHING ELSE to make....I took a bandaid tin, covered it with blaze orange and a brownish hunting critters papers, labeled it Kirby's Cookbook and will be writing out easy recipes for my college son...He lives in an apartment and calls me two or three times a week to ask how to cook something...The last time it was how to make box macaroni and cheese.
IT is both a joke and useful and it will have in it some easy things that he likes but that can't be bought complete in a store. He and his roomie hunt/fish almost every weekend and they eat what they shoot/catch.
I am sending it to him for Valentines Day. I attached a big strong magnet to the back using Gorilla glue. Will Modge Podge the paper before I send it as I know how "guys" treat things.
My goal for the year is to complete all the card challenges...I aim for 3 per week + the current one. If I stick with it--I will be "caught" up by the end of 2008.

[TheGeneralsWife]

I was in my stamp room all day today except for the 45 min walk that I went on and I got NOTHING done. Well, I stamped out all my spots for an image swap and I put together 36 stamped card kits and I mounted about 15 stamps onto my EZ mount and cleaned up a little but, but for all that time I actually did not create one tangible thing that I can hold in my hand. How bad is that? But at least I went on a walk!

[Cicicara]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGeneralsWife

Thats exactly what i am going to do, use the money in the jar to pay the credit card bill for what I buy on line. It is going to be so much easier for me to keep track of it then. I also started a spreadsheet in excel, because I am so **** about these kinds of things. Plus it is a resolution I made this year.

A spreadsheet is a great idea. I'm already losing track of what finished cards I put into my signature. And you can see from looking at my signature that I need all the credit for finished cards I can get. With a spreadsheet, I always find I'm keeping track of several important things, but I hadn't thought of it for this.

[Montana]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGeneralsWife

I was in my stamp room all day today except for the 45 min walk that I went on and I got NOTHING done. Well, I stamped out all my spots for an image swap and I put together 36 stamped card kits and I mounted about 15 stamps onto my EZ mount and cleaned up a little but, but for all that time I actually did not create one tangible thing that I can hold in my hand. How bad is that? But at least I went on a walk!

I haven't done card kits before, but I'm thinking you should give yourself credit for those. Are those kits to give to other people so that they can make cards? It sounds like you are using up your supplies and making things for gifts, so that meets the purpose of the Stamp to Spend ideas.

This thread is already helping me with some of the impulse buys. I have to stop and think about what I want to get later (Like the papertrey releases coming soon), and decide if what I want is really worth spending the money.

I did buy a few things from the dollar spot at Target this weekend, but mostly I'm trying to save my $$ for Papertrey and SU Sale-a-bration.

[cmetelko]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Montana

I haven't done card kits before, but I'm thinking you should give yourself credit for those. Are those kits to give to other people so that they can make cards? It sounds like you are using up your supplies and making things for gifts, so that meets the purpose of the Stamp to Spend ideas.

This thread is already helping me with some of the impulse buys. I have to stop and think about what I want to get later (Like the papertrey releases coming soon), and decide if what I want is really worth spending the money.

I did buy a few things from the dollar spot at Target this weekend, but mostly I'm trying to save my $$ for Papertrey and SU Sale-a-bration.

You all are helping me with my spending, also. I just used up a kit that I'd had sittin' around since August.
Now... who wants to come to the grocery store with me so that I will stop spending sooooo much there!

[TheGeneralsWife]

or with my $452 PG&E bill and I don't even live in a cold climate. I could understand I fi lived where it snowed, but it was 59 degrees out today

[falconstamper]

Jumping in on this! Great idea.

[TheGeneralsWife]

This is such great motivation, I just knocked out a few more cards tonight

[jeffsgirl]

Ok this might save my life(so dh doesnt kill me lol) so im subscribing and starting today!!!!!! thanks for the great idea ladies........money and motivation is key

[jamboree]

I am doing pretty well. This has prevented me from spending. I stay away from the BST forum as well as ebay. Its been hard because I am one who can't miss a bargain.

[lynnewithane]

Quote:

Originally Posted by c-mouse

okay--today, I completed 10 card challenges and made PIF thank yous using the first 10 challenges. It was so awesome to have the entire day to work on stampin stuff--DH went fishing(almost froze to death, he is still wrapped up and and wanted hot soup for supper)--didn't catch any fish either.
Also--if you need SOMETHING ELSE to make....I took a bandaid tin, covered it with blaze orange and a brownish hunting critters papers, labeled it Kirby's Cookbook and will be writing out easy recipes for my college son...He lives in an apartment and calls me two or three times a week to ask how to cook something...The last time it was how to make box macaroni and cheese.
IT is both a joke and useful and it will have in it some easy things that he likes but that can't be bought complete in a store. He and his roomie hunt/fish almost every weekend and they eat what they shoot/catch.
I am sending it to him for Valentines Day. I attached a big strong magnet to the back using Gorilla glue. Will Modge Podge the paper before I send it as I know how "guys" treat things.
My goal for the year is to complete all the card challenges...I aim for 3 per week + the current one. If I stick with it--I will be "caught" up by the end of 2008.

I recently gave my college son a cookbook also. I wrote down my recipe for Taco Chicken and Rice, which he said I needed to teach him how to make "before I die". Hmmmmm.
Good for you on your card challenge goals! I am quite impressed.

[Pr31stamper]

Okay, STS friends. Opinions needed (to limit overspending). What is your #1 alphabet set? I have been eyeing the cute outline alpha in the SU! catalog, and there is one that I saw on Julie HRR's blog from A Muse with polkadots, and a cute one on PTI. I don't know about the AMuse mounting, but I don't have anything for acrylic mounting. I almost soley own SU!. Somebody help! I really want to try making the monogram note cards, and need some opinions. Thanks in advance....off to finish some cards to add to that $$.

[myshelle70]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CareBear5

Here's how it works:

For every fifteen cards you complete, allot yourself $20 to spend on supplies. That way you're using your stash but able to shop as you go! (Adhesive is NOT included - you can buy those whenever you need to do so)

If you're a scrapbooker, every five layouts would be $20. If you're big on altering, every ten altered items would be $20.

Put it on your profile and keep it updated on how many you've done and how much you've spent. For instance:

Layouts: 17
Cards: 18
Allotted: $80.00
Spent: $45.00

I'm going to start this in the new year. Anybody want to join in? You can change the amounts as needed for your own budget.

I'd go broke....HEHE!!!