Embroidery and Hobbies: Price Tags and Budgets
If you take embroidery (or any hobby) seriously - if you are as passionate about it as I am - chances are, you've noticed that embroidery can be an expensive undertaking.
Whether you're buying linen or threads, frames, needles, hoops, or scissors, you know that the costs can add up! Even if you are a casual embroiderer who takes up a project now and then, chances are, you've spent money on your hobby.
This is a somewhat "personal" rant (I don't normally get too personal on here!), but since the question has come up numerous times from readers, I thought I'd address it. I hope you don't mind!
I receive a lot of e-mail from people who are looking for less expensive linen, cheaper silk, the place to get goldwork supplies "cheap," and what it all boils down to is that we look for ways to save money on supplies because living is expensive. I'm all for saving a buck (many bucks, if possible!), but I realize that some things just do cost money. I just received an e-mail from a reader who told me, "I can't afford to get into embroidery like you do, but I'd like to. Do you get a discount on your supplies from the shops you promote? If not, how do you afford doing everything you do? It has to cost money!"
No, I don't get anything from the needlework shops I promote. I promote them because they've provided me with a good service. She's right, it does cost money!
Here's a very real example: For the last several months, I've been looking for an ideal embroidery stand. I started hunting around, even driving two hours one way just to try an embroidery stand. I finally found the embroidery stand I want, but the price tag was out of my reach - almost $300 for the two components that would make it usable for me!
And yet, the stand will arrive this week! I'm very excited about that. How did I manage it? Did I just "charge it" and plan to "pay for it later," so I could have it now? If I had done so, I would have had it months ago! But, given human nature and the credit card mentality, it probably still wouldn't be paid off, and I'd be paying interest on it, to boot. And that would make an already too-expensive product ridiculously pricey.
So what's the key to being able to afford your hobby so that you can enjoy it with a free and easy mind, knowing that the supplies, books, needlework stands, lights, little splurges on your needlework stash - whatever niceties you purchase - haven't become just one more debt to pay off, sometime in the future, when you realize that your credit card has ballooned to extraordinary proportions? I know I can't enjoy things wholly when I have a cloud of debt hanging over my head.
The key is budgeting. If you spend money on your hobby, but it sets you back and puts you in debt, then you're doing something wrong, and it will eventually catch up with you! I know, because I've been there! Now, I have a budget, and in that budget is figured my "fun" money - the money I spend on my hobby. When I want to make a major purchase, such as a $300 needlework stand, I don't buy it right now because I want it now. I plan it into my budget and I save towards it, until I can buy it. If something comes up that's an absolute need, I adjust my budget accordingly.
Budgeting isn't hard - it's not rigid or restricting if done the right way! On the contrary, on a budget, you're much freer to do things, because you know exactly where you money is and what you're doing with it.
If you don't know how to budget correctly so that it is easy, you should take a look at Personal Budget Training, where you can find out how to set yourself up to enjoy your hobby and be able to spend money on it, without feeling remorse or having the Dark Cloud of Debt hanging over your head! Jim's my brother. He's a Dave Ramsey certified financial counselor. Of course, being my brother, he nagged me until I "saw the light" when it came to budgeting and spending on my hobby, and, thanks to him, in relatively no time, I paid off my college loan which was still lingering around, and I set myself up to be able to afford and enjoy my hobby. (Thanks, Jim!)
So, to answer the inquiries I've received on affording needlework supplies, now you know how I do it - I'm not wealthy, but I don't subscribe to credit card spending, either. I just... budget!
Budget your money and budget your time - and you'll enjoy your embroidery a whole heck of a lot more!
Whether you're buying linen or threads, frames, needles, hoops, or scissors, you know that the costs can add up! Even if you are a casual embroiderer who takes up a project now and then, chances are, you've spent money on your hobby.
This is a somewhat "personal" rant (I don't normally get too personal on here!), but since the question has come up numerous times from readers, I thought I'd address it. I hope you don't mind!
I receive a lot of e-mail from people who are looking for less expensive linen, cheaper silk, the place to get goldwork supplies "cheap," and what it all boils down to is that we look for ways to save money on supplies because living is expensive. I'm all for saving a buck (many bucks, if possible!), but I realize that some things just do cost money. I just received an e-mail from a reader who told me, "I can't afford to get into embroidery like you do, but I'd like to. Do you get a discount on your supplies from the shops you promote? If not, how do you afford doing everything you do? It has to cost money!"
No, I don't get anything from the needlework shops I promote. I promote them because they've provided me with a good service. She's right, it does cost money!
Here's a very real example: For the last several months, I've been looking for an ideal embroidery stand. I started hunting around, even driving two hours one way just to try an embroidery stand. I finally found the embroidery stand I want, but the price tag was out of my reach - almost $300 for the two components that would make it usable for me!
And yet, the stand will arrive this week! I'm very excited about that. How did I manage it? Did I just "charge it" and plan to "pay for it later," so I could have it now? If I had done so, I would have had it months ago! But, given human nature and the credit card mentality, it probably still wouldn't be paid off, and I'd be paying interest on it, to boot. And that would make an already too-expensive product ridiculously pricey.
So what's the key to being able to afford your hobby so that you can enjoy it with a free and easy mind, knowing that the supplies, books, needlework stands, lights, little splurges on your needlework stash - whatever niceties you purchase - haven't become just one more debt to pay off, sometime in the future, when you realize that your credit card has ballooned to extraordinary proportions? I know I can't enjoy things wholly when I have a cloud of debt hanging over my head.
The key is budgeting. If you spend money on your hobby, but it sets you back and puts you in debt, then you're doing something wrong, and it will eventually catch up with you! I know, because I've been there! Now, I have a budget, and in that budget is figured my "fun" money - the money I spend on my hobby. When I want to make a major purchase, such as a $300 needlework stand, I don't buy it right now because I want it now. I plan it into my budget and I save towards it, until I can buy it. If something comes up that's an absolute need, I adjust my budget accordingly.
Budgeting isn't hard - it's not rigid or restricting if done the right way! On the contrary, on a budget, you're much freer to do things, because you know exactly where you money is and what you're doing with it.
If you don't know how to budget correctly so that it is easy, you should take a look at Personal Budget Training, where you can find out how to set yourself up to enjoy your hobby and be able to spend money on it, without feeling remorse or having the Dark Cloud of Debt hanging over your head! Jim's my brother. He's a Dave Ramsey certified financial counselor. Of course, being my brother, he nagged me until I "saw the light" when it came to budgeting and spending on my hobby, and, thanks to him, in relatively no time, I paid off my college loan which was still lingering around, and I set myself up to be able to afford and enjoy my hobby. (Thanks, Jim!)So, to answer the inquiries I've received on affording needlework supplies, now you know how I do it - I'm not wealthy, but I don't subscribe to credit card spending, either. I just... budget!
Budget your money and budget your time - and you'll enjoy your embroidery a whole heck of a lot more!
Labels: miscellaneous embroidery musings
Posted By: Mary Corbet on Wednesday, December 12, 2007
PermaLink | 5 comments | Click to Comment
Share this
5 Comments:
I agree with you 100%, Mary!! It's all about budgeting and priorities. I recall one of my daughters saying to me not too long ago, "Mom, we never had a lot of fancy clothes growing up, but we sure had great craft supplies!"
However, I'd like to add one more tidbit of food for thought. As a former needlework shop owner, I believe that the local needlework shop is the backbone of the needle craft industry. I have often thought how discouraging it is that so many stitchers seemed to balk at suggested retail prices. With the advent of the Internet, it is easy for stores to undercut their competition or for private parties to sell through on-line auction houses. My thought is that if we stitchers continue to refuse to support the industry (i.e. support the small independent needlework stores), it won't be long before we no longer have all the wonderful supplies we might take for granted today. Something to think about; it's all about priorities.
Joey
Very good observation, Joey, and I absolutely agree with you! When local shops go under - the shops that carry quality supplies - we all suffer for it! Thank you!
Hi, Mary. This is sound advice. My husband and I just got into Dave Ramsey a few years ago, after building up so much debt that it threatened to ruin everything - our marriage, our jobs, our house.
Especially for the young people out there, you couldn't help them better by directing them to this type of financial management. I always tell college students who are always swiping out credit cards they better shut up and listen to this guy or they're going to be miserable.
My hobbies didn't help our financial situation!
But now we're doing fine. I don't have to have a job and I have time and money for my hobbies. Better yet, I have time for my daughters. And I'm teaching them my hobbies thanks to your videos.
Thanks for your sight.
I agree about budgeting. I also think in terms of priorities. I choose to do needlework, but I don't do other things like go out to eat a lot or go to movies or other things that require discretionary money. I honestly don't believe you can have and do everything; there isn't enough time or money in the world. For me it's about choices and I choose to spend money on good quality embroidery supplies. Yes, they are expensive, but that's the way it is. I also figure that if I am going to spend a lot of time doing a project I want to use the best supplies I possibly can. For me, the results are worth it!
I want to comment about supporting local needlework shops. I live in San Diego, a large city. I buy almost all of my needlework supplies on-line because the local needlework shops look at me like I am sort of alien creature because I don't do cross stitch or needlework. I want Appleton crewel wool, twill fabric, silk flosses, goldwork supplies, etc. I don't really blame the needlework shops for not carrying any of these things, but I don't feel guilty for not patronising them either because they don't have anything I want.
Margaet, yes, that is an issue - not having a local shop. Instead of "Local Needlework Shop", I should have just said "small, independently owned needlework shop". However, I still feel that if one has a like-minded LNS, one should do everything in one's power to support it.
Post a Comment
<< Home