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I'm thinking about finding another job--I love this hobby too much to give it up!! How do you guys avoid going broke? I'm interesetd in ALL suggestons...;)
I used to teach stamping workshops in my home and I also sell cards at the local farmers market. That does not pay for everything, but it helps make my hobby more affordable.
Okay Amber wins!!!! rolling with laughter.....I do the same thing...in fact I am just getting ready to drive an hour one way to Michaels........cause we get coupons here and they are a blessing but I never walk out with one item...I think it is a law...LOL
Write your checks at the grocery for 20.00 more....put the tab in the garbage can outside the store..........honey I have this down pat...
I have a room full of my treasures, some used and some not...but I keep going. I need to make more cards and once the bug bites you are a gonner...
Always look for the coupons here and use them...I love the cuttlebugs so haven't paid full price forever.
I always shop for sales and use coupons. When I am shopping, I ask myself if I have uses for what I am buying and if I have the space. If the answer is no, then it remains on my wish list and I use what I have.
Don't buy clothes or makeup.
No manicures or pedicures.
Color your own hair.
Go out to eat only once a week.
Don't buy anything extra when you go to use your coupon. Just buy that one thing because that is how "they" sucker you into going into their stores.
I'm a SU! demo so I get a discount on my stuff and I make a little $ there but it's never enough. Other than SU! and volunteer work, I don't work outside the house so I guess you could say I use my husband's money. I do all the bookkeeping and shopping so as long as everything's taken care of, he doesn't mind what I spend on stamps as long as it's within reason. I went to Cincy in Aug. for a stamp convention with some girlfriends. I was somewhat conservative in my spending (about $300-$350) but one of my friends spent over $1400. I was even shocked at that.:eek:
I have an amazon visa card that gives me points. so i charge all car repairs, etc. every big ticket item. September was a very pricey month! I buy most of my things like nestabilities, etc. for free at amazon with my amazon points. that helps A LOT. You'd be amazed at how much craft stuff amazon carries.
After years of buying too much, I now try to only buy things that go with my style. I see a lot of stuff that I love and am tempted, but then remember that even though the image is gorgeous, if it doesn't play to my style, I probably won't use it. So I've passed up a lot of stuff that I would have bought in the past.
I don't buy a lot of non craft stuff. it is my one big personal expense.
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I bought very slowly. I also have a second job. It's taken me four years to really get enough to make just about anything I want. While I don't go into debt for my supplies there has been times that I've left myself short on cash because I bought supplies. I'm very pratical and I don't own lots of extras. I ask for supplies for my birthday and for Christmas. I do have a cuttlebug that I got for Christmas last year. I have only one set of nesties (birthday present). I plan to buy additional sets of nesties only if I have a 40% coupon from Hobby Lobby. Maybe they will stay at $16.00 through scrapbooking Alley and I'll get some there too. I made good use of the sales SU had last winter...like the felt flowers. Right now they have a clearance rack that I also made good use of....like cranberry crisp ribbon, felt snowflakes, alpine ribbon set and love note set.
I like to buy clothes, I have my hair colored at a salon, I buy clinique make up. So there are extras I like that makes a second job worth my time!
I've never "over bought" when it comes to my stamping supplies because I don't have the money to do that. In the long run it's a good thing, because I've bought very, very few things that I don't get good use out of.
__________________ All I want is the chance to prove money won't make me happy!
Last edited by Allistamps123; 10-19-2009 at 10:22 AM..
I wouldn't say I can "afford" my habit.....lol. I was really bad for a long time buying lots of stuff. I have scaled that back however quite a bit after taking a pay cut at work. I still order a monthly kit from one of my favorite stamp companies and I also get free stamps for design team work. So the only thing I buy right now is my card stock and supplies (which I have cut back on also). My boyfriend used to say I have enough stuff to stamp with for the rest of my life....and while he's probably "technically" right- but really he's wrong. ;) LOL.
I go through waves of having extra money, and like right now, having NO extra $$... I teach at my LSS and I sell my cards at a flower shop, but right now that money is going towards bills... I live within my means.
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I design for: Stampendous!, There She Goes, Technique Tuesday,
SRM Stickers and Deconstructed Sketches.
Like another poster said, I became a SU demonstrator. This allows me to buy my SU items at a discount. Plus I use my commissions from the workshop and classes I hold to buy what I want.
SU is my fun job, that earns me my fun money ,which I use to support my stamping habit!
I shop for sales, trade/sell what I don't like or need anymore and I often wait a month or two after I think I want something just to make sure that I still want it.
It helps that Hubby has an electronics addiction - my stuff isn't as expensive as his - well, at least, not all in one purchase! ;) hehehehe
__________________ ~*~ Clara ~*~ If you can think it, you can ink it!
GREAT idea! They take up any extra money and pretty much ALL my time!!! :mrgreen:
On a more serious note, if I can find one. I bought slowly sometimes one item at a time using coupons and finding things on sale. Shopping around, looking for the best price, and TRYING not to be an impulse buyer.
budget and sticking to it!
couple months though I do go over but only if hubby gave me money to spend lol ;)
What I am trying now that I got an idea from someone else, is doing 100 projects before buying anything ;)
I started last week, and so far have 20 projects. yup yup. Should be able to buy something soon ;)
I'm retired, so it's even harder, no extra income ever coming in. I found ebay was a good sell for stamping magazines, and I always use Joanne fabrics 40% off at competitors stores (wish Joannes would get some new stock once) or other craft store coupons
__________________ Carolyn
my avatar: (such desparation), Dear God, if you can't make me thin; make my
friends fat"
Wow..there are some little kids in the neighborhood I could probably snag to sell...seriously I work full time and I do sell A LOT of cards...The money I make in selling cards pretty much is way more than I need to support my habit. I use a LOT of Michaels and Joannes coupons too.
blessings.
It's not totally how I afford it, but this helps subsidise my shopping; when DH says he *needs* me for something that he really doesn't and shouldn't - like where to find things he should know where they belong, and is just being too lazy too look for himself - I put a euro into the piggy bank. Sometimes it builds up quite quickly!!
I am currently working on using up several years worth of 'must have' scrapbooking papers that I've hoarded...it should take me a while to get through them...and I now make sure I can use all stamps that I buy for more than one purpose...and I no longer visit websites on their 'release' days to avoid buying things I later regret...it's tough but I find that I am not wasting my money on things I dont use...and I am finding creative ways to use up what I have...
It's not totally how I afford it, but this helps subsidise my shopping; when DH says he *needs* me for something that he really doesn't and shouldn't - like where to find things he should know where they belong, and is just being too lazy too look for himself - I put a euro into the piggy bank. Sometimes it builds up quite quickly!!
Oh my, I thought I was the only one who thought that way! lol
Don't buy clothes or makeup.
No manicures or pedicures.
Color your own hair.
Go out to eat only once a week.
Don't buy anything extra when you go to use your coupon. Just buy that one thing because that is how "they" sucker you into going into their stores.
I could have totally wrote this myself! My friend asked me to go out with her to a formal dinner. I was like I dont have a cocktail dress, she said pull one out of you're closet u gotta have something.. She has no idea I really did not have one. But if she asked me to pull something new & magnificent out of my stamping stash I could do that in an instant.. LMBO
Wow..there are some little kids in the neighborhood I could probably snag to sell...seriously I work full time and I do sell A LOT of cards...The money I make in selling cards pretty much is way more than I need to support my habit. I use a LOT of Michaels and Joannes coupons too.
blessings.
lWhere or how do you sell you're cards? That is awesome!
I don't have too but I feel guilty and so I have a part-time job to buy whatever stamping/crafting stuff I want. I feel blessed because I have this opportunity while others don't even have a job because of the economy. This will soon end though. We're moving, military, and we'll just have one income. That's why I'm hoarding right now... saving up for my crafty rainy days.
Like some others have said, I became a SU! demo. Not a dime of our household budget pays for my stamping goods It's very freeing and an awesome job where I meet many wonderful ladies like some of you!! I work hard for what I do, but it is great fun and very rewarding.
I work. I also have no kids, no plants, no pets, so no maintenance on anything there. I have a tiny wardrobe and cut my own hair (or DH cuts it for me). Fortunately we still have our good health, so no medications needed yet. I have two old but reliable cars - all paid for. Nearly all my disposable income goes to stamping stuff or Starbucks!! Or trinkets for my niece and nephew!
I was a stay at home wife with an expensive hobby, so I got a child care job, and now pretty much get to buy what I want. I have also been trying to shop sales too.
Erin
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cook22
It's not totally how I afford it, but this helps subsidise my shopping; when DH says he *needs* me for something that he really doesn't and shouldn't - like where to find things he should know where they belong, and is just being too lazy too look for himself - I put a euro into the piggy bank. Sometimes it builds up quite quickly!!
Great idea! When my in-laws were staying with me (and driving me crazy) for 6 months, I bought myself a stamping supply every time I held my tonge and didn't tell my FIL to "mind his own business." Needless to say....I found myself with a whole lotta stamping supplies. LOL!
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For a long time I thought I was the only one having to carefully watch my stamping budget. Threads like these make me realize not everyone has EVERYTHING but me! ;>)
__________________ All I want is the chance to prove money won't make me happy!
Bring a SU demo has paid for my habit for the last 4 years. I just dropped so that income is gone but I have a stash of $ that I made the last month or so that will have to last me for a while. I also have a bunch of stuff up for sale or trade. Money is tight and I have a very small budget but thankfully I have a very large stash of supplies that will only need to be supplemented with an occasional new stamp.
__________________ Debi
sink full of dishes, baskets of laundry, toys everywhere
ink on my fingers, glitter in my hair, life is good!! BLOG
We sell my cards at:
1. Hubbys work. Normal weeks I make $75.00-$125.00 (Holidays will make lots more)
2. Sell to TWO swim teams (provide each 1250 cards for fundraisers)
3. Provide cards to church to sell (these I donate and receive $3.00 per card write off)
In the fall when I sell the most I really make a lot of money. In Oct-Dec it is way over $5000.00. It can be very lucrative. Blessings.
Hi! I have to be very strict with myself! I really try to be aware of things I never use so I can sell them, and I have been getting better about hitting up sales and buying used items here on SCS. I won't let myself buy more than my storage space can handle. Luckily, I am not much into coloring, so it seems I save tons by excluding lots of stamps and the Copics.
I have thought about starting to sell my cards, but I am a little scared to make the leap.
How do you afford your stamp habit??
