Beads, bracelets and blogging are expensive, at least the way I do them they are, therefore you definitely need to budget.
I've tried a variety of approaches to this one, dig back into my blog and you can find most of them sprinkled about like a scattering of dropped pennies from a broken piggy bank.
People who collect jewellery often refer to the Bead Wagon, which is essentially the cold turkey method and denying yourself any new beads. This doesn't really work all that well for me although I once managed 30 days straight.
I've also tried setting myself a monthly limit, both financially and in quantity of beads to buy, I've not had much success with these two approaches either. I'm a voracious bargain hunter so sometimes there's an unexpected sale or an opportunity to get a rarer bead at a very fair (rather than inflated) price. Miss out on some of these and you may not get the opportunity again.
My latest method is to say that "I won't spend more on jewellery than I save in any given 6 month period" - essentially hoping to promote a win win situation, if I spend more on Jewellery then I need to save more money for practical stuff. So far it's looking good, but then again we're only in April... a lot can happen in 3 months!
Any advice gratefully received! Do you budget and how on earth do you stick it?
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| P.S. B is also for Bali Clicks |
I have to be really tough with myself :( Obviously I get samples of new collection beads which is wonderful. However like most collectors I love uniques and retireds and I'm not offered those of course. I *rarely* now buy jewellery and it hurts! Of the new S&Bs I've got *one*. I had to stop because in the first few years, Endangered Trolls cost a small fortune to run on hosting and then the "I should buy this for review" chain of thought. With so many renovations due at home, I rarely justify a new bead these days. Of course, once I have my new roof completed and stables built, I'll probably slip back to my wicked ways ;)
ReplyDelete/hugs
You've been so good on your personal buying!
DeleteIt's hard to break the new buying for the blog element that I think creeps in, as whilst I've never bought anything I don't want, I'm sure there's been elements of that in there too... I did wrestle around this time last year going the path of reviews but decided against it at the time as I enjoy the freedom of writing as and when I feel like it without having to write to the new collection schedules. Plus there's only so many reviews one needs and I like reading yours! :)
I'm hopeful my new approach is more realistic than my previous ones but only time will tell!
Mars xx
Budget??! Please do not use that dirty word again Mars :D
ReplyDeleteYes sorry about that, it was a bit early in the day for the B word as well, I did try to throw in beads and Bali Clicks just to soften the blow! Come back tomorrow... C will be a treat after B ;)
DeleteMars xx
I went through a period of manic scrapbooking where I could not resist new pretty papers - even if I had no idea how I was going to ultimately use them. I can relate to the need to budget our passions, but haven't found a great answer on how to do it.... Beautiful picture by the way! Thanks for visiting
ReplyDeleteThanks, I am much the same way with beads, although that is something I've been working on a lot this year too. Trying to ask myself "how" I will use it rather than the "ooh shiny!" approach.
DeleteLoved your photo of Josh (also one of my favourite boy's names) <3
Mars xx
I budget. I don't stick to it. I suck.
ReplyDeleteNope, sounds normal to me! ;)
DeleteMars xx
I'm a nightmare for trying to save money! I spend so much money on beauty products especially when new things come out or I see good reviews :) I like the idea of saving as much as you spend will have to give it a go!
ReplyDeleteEm x x
daily-blush.blogspot.co.uk
I am working my way through a variety of methods until I find one that works! ;)
DeleteI am nothing if not persistent... :)
Mars xx
I try to budget, but I'm usually not very good at it. And this year has been worse than normal I think :( So I end up putting myself on the bead wagon because I'm an "all or nothing" kind of gal.
ReplyDeleteI can get on the Bead Wagon, it's staying on that's my problem... it's been way more hectic than I thought for the early part of the year, my big downfall has been the liquidation sales... it's fallen at exactly the point where I'd been looking to pick up multiples and backfill old lists.
DeleteOh that and the new uniques... I regretted not persuing more of the navy galaxies last time (I was being good and passed up on a few last year and when they disappeared I cursed myself). This time I'm not passing up but it has been a killer!
Still we shall see how it turns out and what happens next, if the closures calm down somewhat so we're back to just collection releases then it might get a bit less crazy!
Mars xx
Dear Mars: I'm a stranger here in Beadland so I can't say much about uniques and navy galaxies, but I can say that budgeting is really hard and that the only reason I don't spend a lot of money is that I'm a natural-born skinflint. Also, I'm pretty self-righteous about depriving myself of things. Not a healthy combination by any means, but there you have it.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the strange land of bead people ;)
DeleteI think being a natural-born skinflint sounds a great way to budget! I love the process of budgetting (I'm a bit strange like that as I love playing with numbers) it's the practicality of denying myself shiny things I'm rubbish at... well not that rubbish as the important stuff always gets paid on time and I never risk my security... but bead spending is far more fun than boiler spending!
Mars xx
Hi from one of your A to Z Challenge neighbors! Great advice on budgeting for any kind of shopping addiction you might have!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary! Just popped over to your site, such cute dogs! Will have a proper read later on as just popping in durin my lunch break at mo.
DeleteMars xx
Oh budgeting! As well as bead collecting my kids say I'm obsessed with camping stuff too! So bargain hunting applies to both of these for me.
ReplyDeleteI once bought 2 pairs of gaiters, I think I wore one pair once... I still don't quite understand why I bought the 2nd pair, but I thought I needed them!
DeleteCamping stuff is cool! Last time our stove packed in though we were on a tight budget, was cheaper to buy 2 single stoves than 1 double (we don't do that much cooking so wasn't worried about gas) - turns out with 2 of us having 2 single stoves was actually easier than 1 double as we had to share the cooking. Not sure where I'm going with this story but your comment reminded me of these things...
Today's randomness :)
Mars xx
your budget answer is a great one...balance between the beads and bank account - definitely a win-win
ReplyDeleteI think it's going to be the closest contender for my trying to stay on the straight and narrow!
Delete