Crafting on a Budget

How to Save Some Money on Supplies

Have you been to the craft store lately? Prices are through the roof.

But there's no need to worry; there are plenty of ways to save when it's time to stock up on crafting equipment.

By hunting for bargains in unlikely locations, teaming up with fellow crafters, saving up, and being patient, crafting on a budget is no problem at all.

Look for Deals

The first thing to do when you're a crafter who's strapped for cash is check the bargain bins. Check them everywhere, not just at the craft store.

Often, the discount shelf holds broken or mangled items that you can use in crafting.

Jewelry can be dissembled for a bead project, clothing and linens cut to pieces for quilt fabrics, and old flower pots and ceramics smashed for mosaic and tile work.

The Hunting Grounds

Think outside the box, and shop outside of it as well.

If you start approaching every consumer situation as an opportunity to find unlikely treasures for your crafting, you'll be delighted by the results.

Just about any store or sale can reap wonderful items that, with a little ingenuity, will translate into some of the best crafting materials you've ever worked with.

Check thrift stores, garage sales, and be sure hit up friends and family who are doing spring cleaning.

Engage Your Community

Knitters knit and beaders bead, often together, in circles or groups, which meet for the express purpose of crafting as a community.

If you're looking for a great deal on craft items, consider trading. Get together with your fellow crafters, and have everyone bring the supplies they have, which have been sitting around collecting dust, or items that they've simply lost interest in. One crafter's trash is another's treasure!

Another way groups can help lower your bill for supplies is by buying in bulk. You can often negotiate a better price by grouping all your orders together and buying in larger quantities.

Plan Ahead and Start a Piggy Bank

If you always feel like you're struggling to make ends meet when it's time to purchase your craft supplies, try simply reexamining your budget.

Are you even allowing for craft expenditures, or do you just use your spending money or even worse, your credit card.

Try to figure out just how much money you'd like to set aside each month for crafts, and then adjust your budget accordingly.

If all else fails, get a cute piggy bank, and use it to collect spare coins and dollars. In due time, these will add up and you'll be able to do some crafty shopping.