Do you have an art budget?

[autostop]

I have started to put together a budget, and I've noticed that in all the budgets that I've seen, there never seems to be a line for artwork. Does nobody by photos and paintings for their house? I'm curious what people place paintings and home decorations under when they create their budget?

[hamchan]

I have lots of artwork in my home, but it has been several years since I have bought any. I currently have so much that it's been a challenge finding places to put it all up. I got rid of a few when I moved recently too.

A couple of the paintings I have hanging up are my own. I have also traded my own paintings for some of the ones I have. A few were gifts. Most of the paintings I have purchased were bought from students or people who were new to selling their work and didn't know how to price it yet. I also have lots of photos of my daughter and the cats hanging up.

[Redraidernurse]

We aren't into art so we really never purchase anything of that sort except for a photo canvas of one of our children every couple years from shutterfly.

[corn18]

Mine goes in the house budget. This is anything to maintain or decorate the house. $500 / mo.

[snafu]

I love to buy art at art shows or galleries. It's often bought under the gift category, holiday or somehow squirrelled from household maintenance. We've gotten adept at mounting canvas to stretcher. Framing is so costly. I'm trying to avoid it.

[MonkeyMama]

We have art that we accumulated in higher income/starting out years. Stuff that I have never grown bored with, and that I still love as much as when we bought it. So, no need to spend more money on that. My dad is also a photographer, so we have decorated more with framing his prints in lower income years. Just needed to buy frames.

If anything, I have a few pieces to sell. Since I have replaced some paintings with photographs, and I have some baby/kid's room pieces that we have outgrown.

If it was important to us and we really liked change would be another thing. But my feeling is kind of we furnished the place 15 years ago and so no need to spend more money. It just becomes clutter. I don't want to replace anything I have.

[feh]

We very rarely buy artwork. One reason is that we've been homeowners for 20+ years, so we have all the wall hangings we need. We are also more likely to hang pictures we took ourselves (people/landscapes), as opposed to buying something.

[ua_guy]

In our budget it would never be a specific line-item. But I could see if you were someone who was really into artwork, having a line item just like you would for another hobby or part of your lifestyle.

The pieces we have in our home are far and few between, and not worth anything other than sentimental or anecdotal value.

[Randomsaver]

Waiting for my fave artist Dan Seagrave to come up with paintings.

I'll definitely grab those.

[autostop]

Thanks for all the answers. So for those who lump it into their household budget, is this what you use for furnishings and repair work as well? I think it might be better for me to line item it out since I do plan to spend quite a bit on it.

[janecropper]

You can take some pictures of scenery and get them developed as 8x10s or bigger. This is pretty cheap at Walmart or Walgreens. Then go to a cheap hobby store such as Hobby Lobby and frame them with some matting. Very cool pictures for about $15!

[bjl584]

I've never been much for art or décor. I do have some hand me down stuff, but I've never really bought anything to decorate the house. I guess I'd rather spend money on tools and power equipment.

[Nika]

Generally goes under "house other". But I have to admit I have problems buying art such as paintings or sculptures. I think it is due to having problems with assessing the value. Other things I purchase (like clothing, accessories, hotel rooms, flights, restaurant meals... ) I know approximately what they should cost for what I am getting, or can do research and can recognize a good deal. With art, I am clueless and therefore vulnerable to being ripped off, so this makes the decision to buy very difficult, even it is something I like.

Also, in terms of paintings, the only ones were I went "OMG I love this!" were thousands of dollars, and, not being able to assess the value of it, I can't commit to such a large purchase.

But, I am looking. I think I will look more in Asia this summer.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I have started to put together a budget, and I've noticed that in all the budgets that I've seen, there never seems to be a line for artwork. Does nobody by photos and paintings for their house? I'm curious what people place paintings and home decorations under when they create their budget?

As much as I like art, and yes man does not live on bread alone, it's not a necessity so it's not budgeted. It's taken out of the discretionary fund.