This week's Five Friday comes from Basic Grey's February 2009 Newsletter. These are five tips for weathering these hard economic times (with some commentary from me):

Love all the new CHA-products but worry about the hit to your wallet? Try these tried-and-true tips and tricksto help weather the economy and still indulge in your scrapbooking passion!

• Share. Order products with a friend and split packs of paper and embellishments. You can double your items without doubling the cost.

Someone call Anne Fisher! This is so her idea. She's been talking me into splitting packs for months now. Last month we split a pack of October Afternoon Weathervane. I didn't want the diecuts or stickers but Anne really wanted those so we split is kind of 60 -30 and that worked way better for me than buying the whole $20 pack myself. Doing this can make the difference between the store making a sale or not. If we didn't split the pack neither of us would have bought it. So it is good for you and good for the store. Seriously I wonder if they copied this from my blog and few months back…hmm… (j/k)

• Go for paper! Paper is an inexpensive embellishment. Patterned paper, like those from BasicGrey, makes it easy to create borders and hand-made die-cuts.

Very true! Stamps are another good investment because you can use them over and over, unlike paper.

• Try a class like the “Year in Review” featured [in the newsletter]. While you think you can’t afford a class, you’ll actually save money by getting all of the elements you need without purchasing entire packages of product that would cost more if purchased individually.

This really is true. When I buy to make one class sample I easily spend $75 to $100. The way I get the class cost down is I buy packs of things that I can break up. Plus, not necessarily with this BasicGrey class, but more with classes myself and other instructors design, you will get a custom book and lots of goodies you might not be able to find in your store. We do the searching for you and then in the class you can find out where we got our “finds”. And even if you do take a class that is a kit, most manufacturers give full sheets of paper so you'll be left with scraps you can use after the class to make cards, more layouts, or more pages for your mini book.

• Sell the old. Like many scrappers, in a better economy you amassed product that’s sitting in its original packaging. Check out a local scrapbook store for “garage sale” opportunities, or sell unused items on Craig’s list or eBay. While you won’t recover everything you paid, you’ll earn extra bucks to buy new product you’ll actually use.

Very true! I like the way they phrased this – makes me giggle – “…in a better economy you amassed product that’s sitting in its original packaging…”. Translation = “your stash is taking over and you are an out of control shopaholic”. hehe. Yup, that's me!

You can also get good deals at these garage sales. Collective Journey is having one this weekend if you want to see what's deals are to be had — sale starts at 10am.

• Cut out one Starbucks coffee a week or one fast-food trip and you’ll save about $12 a month. That’s a whole lot of paper and embellishments for the trade!

Sacrilege! First of all I don't what fast food place you can eat at for $3 anymore and get something somewhat healthy.

But that is besides the point. I get Starbuck's almost every day (I know, I know) and sine CHA I started getting it every other day. I bought some Tazo Chai mix and soy milk (what I get at Sbux) and am making teas for myself at home to help save money. Supplies to make about 12 chais at home are the same cost as two chais at Sbux. I'm just saying. It isn't the same flavor though.

But I do love how I don't even have to order anymore–I just pull up to the drive through box and the girl says my drink to me just to make sure they got it right. So sweet!

So there you have it–someone else finally gets it!! We just don't have the moolah but we love the goodies. So maybe some of this will help you out with having your scrappy cake and eating it too (cuz who wants cake if you can't eat it?).

Check out the entire newsletter here: Feb 2009 Newsletter

Author: Jennifer Priest

It started with jewelry, beading, sewing, home decor, painting, basket weaving, pottery, and cross-stitch. Marry that to an entrepreneurial spirit & at 9 years old a girl is selling her wares at craft fairs as far as her parents and grandparents would drive her. These days, Jennifer enjoys crafts of all genres from sewing to scrapbooking to jewelry with a little dabbling in the mixed media world. Her style is approachable and she wants everyone who sees her work to feel that they too can embrace creativity and make their home and life beautiful.

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2 thoughts on “Hey, Someone Finally Gets It! (Five Fridays #22)

  1. All great tips! I’m waiting for the manufacturers to come up with a “trade in” program that allows me to purcahse new product, gives them the old to recycle into new.

    Posted on February 7, 2009 at 8:55 pm
  2. We crafty folk sure can have a hard time tightening the purse strings. I have to avoid going to certain areas of the mall when running errands, becausue I know I’ll just head down the craft aisle and end up with something. Even 3 dollars is a big purchase when you don’t have much to spare.

    Thanks for passing on these tips!

    Posted on February 12, 2009 at 3:53 am