Thoughts on Scrapbooking on a Budget and What Matters Most
Like much of America, Matthew and I have been impacted by the current state of the economy. Most of his fall tour dates were canceled or pushed to the spring because of the economy. Therefore, we are hardcore budgeting to make ends meet… and with the holidays and a baby this is even more challenging.
Needless to say, splurging on scrapbooking supplies is NOT a part of the budget. Actually, glue is the only thing I am allowing myself to buy for the next three months. I need to either make do with what I have or go without. Thankfully, I have splurged many times over the past two years and built up quite a stash. 🙂 Today I was blessed with winning a random prize drawing from Tinkering Ink – how cool is that? I never win giveaways!
Wednesday I will be posting a video and pictures of my Daily December album. (For info on this neat project, check out Ali’s blog). I am delighted with how it turned out – and even more so because I made it entirely out of things from my stash. The base of the album is actually from Target’s $1 section. It is amazing what a little paint and some rub-ons can do. I am excited about this project because it will encourage me to pay attention to the little details of the season. I hope that many of you will join me in this project because it is so easy. You don’t have to be a seasoned scrapbooker – or even a scrapbooker at all. More on that on Wednesday…
I think the holidays is a good season to be on a budget. It is easy to get caught up in the hoopla and spend beyond your means. That is simply not an option for us. And I am thankful. It is forcing me to re-evaluate what really matters. Matthew and I are so blessed to have so much. We have a roof over our heads, food in the refrigerator, a healthy baby and the love of one another.
Our budget is also inspiring me to be creative this year for the holidays. I want to give more handmade gifts. I want to bless my loved ones with a piece of me.
Today’s questions:
- How has budgeting impacted your story?
- Are you making any gifts this year? If so, what are they?
Your blog really highlights the little things in life…which are so much more important than the stuff we tend to worry about.
My friends and I are making photo frames and the theme is “Favourite Memory!” I am so excited for the outcome.
Thanks for some of the inspiration you have given me to be creative! =] Have a good Monday and enjoy the voting tomorrow! xxx.
oh wow…right now, a budget is our story, our arguement, our everything….but yes, that’s economy and prior too much spending ugh.
We’ve gone to all cash and it’s rough rough rough! But I do think it’s really taught me about my idols and what I really should be relying on!
as for making gifts, we’re doing the picture thing, frame thing, and enjoying one another for the holidays, with food, drink and games 😉
I hear ya!! I think we are all in the same boat this year.
I have been making hair bows as gifts and selling the leftover ones online…I would send you some but I don’t think little man would like that 🙂
i do a homemade grandparents gift each year. you’ll have to stop by one day and i’ll brag, opps, i mean share what all we’ve accomplished. they almost all include a handprint or footprint! 🙂
this year we’re thinking about tackling making stars for treetoppers!
and, obviously, i always let the kids help which makes the gift all the more special!
Hopefully next year will be better economy-wise. We just have to be a little wiser in our spending habits 🙂
I’m going to make handmade christmas cards this year…with a 4 year old and a baby on the way I definitely don’t have anything else to spare 🙂 But I enjoy making cards and think they will really be appreciated. It seems that no one sends cards in snail mail anymore…everything is always emailed. Hope you have a lovely day!
Budgeting has become a big part of my life lately. Being a newlywed who is still in college it is mandatory to our existence while still enjoying our life.
I have began cutting coupons and over the course of a month, I save an average of 20.00 – to me, it is worth it, that is 20.00 I can spend on a dinner date with my new hubby or some new paint for our new house.
I have also started putting back money into our savings religiously – so when the month’s when groceries will be the most expensive, we dont have to fret.
And for Christmas this year – I am decorting tiles and giving them as trivets with baking mixes and such!
I love this post!! My sisters, SIL, and I started making handmade gifts for each other last year. One sister knits, one makes jewelry, and the other sews. I can’t do any of that, so I take lots of cool photos of everyone, buy cheapo frames (at thrift stores) and do photo gifts. It’s way better than spending a lot of $ anyway.
I am going to make my neice’s flower magnets and hair clips made from button flowers. there is a cute tutorial at 2 peas on this. also making them gift card tins and tins for nail polish. they love it when aunt karen makes them something!
Dear Jessica,
Your blog touched my heart tonight!
My husband and I are going through the same thing. We’re so excited to give gifts from the heart and not necessarily from the mall this year. We have no other choice. I felt like we were the only ones. Yet we feel that Jesus will continue to bless us all this holiday season.
Thank you so much for your honesty and veracity. It’s hard.
Much love in San Diego,
Gina
averycj.blogspot.com
O man, the economy has effected our budgeting…things are so tight! I am thinking about making family members’ Christmas presents from all the supplies I’ve acquired in my scrap-booking things also…don’t know what quite yet…