Comments on: The Hidden Money Saving Aspect of a Great Hobby

By: Gail

Gail — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 01:34:20 +0000

What is fun is when people know about your hobby and when they ‘destash’ they think of you. Via my husbands aunt who moved into a senior citizen place and made friends with a quilter, I came into possession of great quntities of fabric, patterns, lace and beading supplies. Now I have never had any beading supplies and probably wouldn’t buy any, but it was fun incorporating just a few of them into a Christmas present for my DIL. Still have plenty left. All my family is getting a homemade present from me this year. It has been fun and I don’t have the physical stamina to shop for presents–we usually do simple/cheap things anyhow.

One final note: I read the title of this thread too fast the first time and Thought it said: The Hidden Money Saving Aspect of a Great HUBBY! and I say amen to that also! My guy loves to find ways to do it himself. Last year out of some leftover lumber he built me a wonderful quilt frame.

By: Letitia Sweitzer

Letitia Sweitzer — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:50:23 +0000

You are so right that boredom drives a lot of shopping. It’s good that you recognize that because you can control it that way.

Thanks for your wisdom.

Letitia Sweitzer
ThePowerOfBoredom.com

By: Caleb

Caleb — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:34:29 +0000

I’m a young, professional male, so I’m targeted constantly to pick up expensive hobbies, from golf and tennis to paintball. I find my vice in video games. $60 can tie me up for months. That time-consuming is definitely a way to stay in the house and not spend money.

Caleb

By: pretty cheap jewelry

pretty cheap jewelry — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:09:45 +0000

So true about the supplies! I am SURE that is how the beading stores stay in business (ie customers get jewelry supplies for many projects in progress, or even just still ideas and don’t finish). Just look at the ‘destash’ listings on Etsy or Ebay.

And big agreement, when I’m busy doing crafting (or cooking, cleaning, computering) it keeps me out of the stores!

Now someone just train my husband!

By: Sam Tresler

Sam Tresler — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:28:18 +0000

Yes. I’m theoretically doing NanoWriMo, but have barely started, so it doesn’t look hopeful.

My ‘hobby’ is slow food. For example, if I’m just buying the most convenient foods (here in Brooklyn) I’m going to spend a lot more than if I make them from scratch. I’m going to eat a lot better, and benefit from the ‘time-suck’ you speak of.

So, take last night’s meal and the ingredients I didn’t buy…

I bought a quart of heavy cream. I used 3/4 of it to make butter (which I didn’t buy) which will last me for two weeks. From that I got about a cup of buttermilk (which I didn’t buy), which went into buttermilk biscuits (which I didn’t buy), I bought a roast and vegtables, and spent about 4-5 hours cooking dinner last night.

Now, I can’t eat a 2.5lb roast, I had a serving, and now have a little over 2lbs of roast beef sitting in the fridge for sandwiches this week ($2.59/lb as opposed to $6.99 for boars head in the deli and mine is better). I also have enough heavy cream left for an alfredo sauce (which I won’t buy), and pasta (I make fresh, so, more things I’m not buying).

Grocery bill for roast beef dinner, vegetables, pasta alfredo, biscuits, and probably 7-10 sandwiches is somewhere around $20.

And in NYC it is WAY too easy to eat out, which I also didn’t do.

And I had a great night at home.