Money Saving Strategies

Do you ever feel like you're throwing money down the toilet? Let's face it! Scrapbooking can be expensive. From the patterned paper, to bulky embellishments, the cost quickly adds up. Need some money-saving strategies? I have a few for you to consider:

Get Organized - If you're like me, you have so many scrapbooking products sitting around that you're not even sure what you really have. Most scrapbookers are stunned to see what they already own when they get organized. Take an inventory of what you already have. In a future blog, I'll talk about how to get organized.

Buy in bulk - Buy a multipack of cardstock in the colors you use most often, or split a patterned paper pack with a friend. You can use background paper from a multipack throughout a whole album and spend your money on embellishments to make the pages look different. When you purchase paper by the sheet for each layout, the cost adds up quickly.

Think simple - Cardstock is generally cheaper than patterned paper. Use cardstock as the background on a two-page layout and use only one sheet of patterned paper (or even better, scraps) to accent your pages.

Plan ahead - If you are going to a crop, make sure to plan ahead. Decide which pages you'll be working on, then look through the products you already have. this helps avoid impulse buying when you see all the fun products available to purchase. It's harder to justify buying that cute embellishment when you know you already have something ready to use.

Have a creative eye - Look around you and keep your eye open for embellishments. You can find unique embellishments in everyday objects such as staples, clips, pins, buttons etc. Check your junk drawer or sewing basket. With a creative eye you'll see amazing finds that would be expensive to purchase.

Invest in good tools - When it comes to tools, sometimes it's better to spend a little more upfront and get a quality tool that will last. Black pens, hole punches, paper trimmers, and scissors are a few of the essentials that come to mind.

Create your own - When it comes to titles, we often spend lots of money using letter stickers and premade wording such as rub-ons, 3D embellishments, etc. You can save money by creating your own with stamps, computer fonts, or handcut lettering.

Recycle - If you find you have many items you don't want or will no longer use, recycle them. Many scrapbooking boards have swaps where you can trade your unused items for someone else's. Often getting something new will trigger your creativity. You could also sell unwanted items on eBay and earn money to purchase something new.

And the best tip, just stay away from the store. If you're like me and you see it, you want it. It's easy to be tempted by the latest toy or gadget, but most things you really can do without. Check back soon for a blog on how to take inventory of the supplies you already have and ideas on how to get organized in the process.

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