As I said before, cutting out all spending is impossible. However, spending money wisely (such as when frequently used items are on sale) can save you a bundle!
I am a crafter. I always have been and I always will be. I can't remember a time in my childhood when I wasn't painting by numbers, embroidering hand towels for my mom, crocheting granny square hats and bags, or using my toy sewing machine to sew little pouches to hold my baseball cards, jacks, bottle caps and marbles. Now that I am retired, quilting, sewing and machine embroidery fill my heart and dreams with joy.
Anyone who crafts on a regular basis will tell you that crafting Is. Not. Cheap!!! I will admit to having spent a rather large amount of money on my crafts during the first five years of my retirement. In my own defense (grin) it has taken me that long to hone my savvy shopper skills. Now-a-days I only spend money on items that are: a) needed to complete a project (on sale of course), b) on deep discount to pad my stash, or c) going to save me money well into the future.
A recent sale at Forth Worth Fabric Studio prompted me to add to my very meager trim stash. Things bought now at low prices are things I will not need to buy at higher prices or when we are living on Dear Hubby's retirement income. I was THRILLED when my beautifully packaged order arrived! I would love to show you a picture of it in all of its glory, but I once again forgot to take a photo before pulling it apart. But, here they are all wrapped up!
Pretty, huh? I just love the cardboard "spools" that they are wrapped around. They were made with my fabulous Sizzix cutting machine. My machine, and the assorted dies I buy to be used with the machine, fall into the "save me tons of money in the future" category. In the past I have used these spools to wrap leftover quilt binding. Every little scrap of fabric I keep means more money saved in the future! Now, how to store these gorgeous trims?
Like most families, we have plastic containers left when food products are consumed. I think this container held peanut butter filled pretzel bites. I hate to see these great storage possibilities go to waste. A quick washing and label removing provided me the perfect jar (free) to hold these trims...and any I add in the future! The label is a free printable that I happened upon years and years ago. At the time I placed the printout into a page protector and filed it in my "Masters" binder.
Now I simply photocopy it onto cardstock (bought in bulk at a reduced price), punch a tiny hole (punch bought at a thrift store) to thread a
ribbon (free on a gift I received) through and write the contents with a Sharpie marker (free with purchase of office supplies).
My trim treasures contained within, along with a few empty spools to grow my collection. The sound you just heard was me squealing in delight!
Toodles...
There is an old fashioned sweet shop in my town and they regularly have a cardboard box outside with old sweet containers (plastic jars and boxes), all they ask is a donation in the charity collection tin. I had been planning to buy boxes for my scraps, but now I can get them much cheaper, save something from the bin and help a charity all at once!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous idea!!! Thanks for sharing!
DeleteNice work. I know my stash has save me loads over the years. Buying on sale, and using every little bit helps save even more.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Thanks, Jackie! I love having a stash!
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