Thursday, October 05, 2006

Just a thought

Does this look like 211 dollars worth of goodies to you. Well that is what I spent. I kinda went over board. But you can look for yourself.

Yesterday, was my birthday and I got a little money, so I decided to go to ARchivers. I was in there and I just started to think, how commercial SCRAPBOOKING has become. This hobby is sooooo expensive as compared to when I started 7 years ago. I spent $211 dollars yesterday and what I came home with fit into one bag! Do you know how many bags of groceries that could have been....lol. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining, because I love to shop, but think about. We pay 12 dollars for a pack of 6 making memory acrylic paint, when you can get the same acrylic paint for 89 cents to a dollar at a craft store. It's like once they throw the "scrapbooking label" on it automatically means more expensive. I think these companies can get outrageous for what they charge. Even the cost of papers alone have gone up tremendously. I can remember 12x12 cardstock being only 40cents, now it 65-79 cents. Just my observation. Scrapbooking has really become an expensive hobby. A big chunk of our income, is spent annually on scrapbooking alone. I do not have a budget, but may consider going on one. I think I spend anywhere from 200-1000 monthly on scrapbooking alone. The latter being the most extreme. That is a mortgage payment or car note....lol. I really need to be more sensible in my spending. Dh never complains, because he has such an expensive hobby. He DJ's. He just bought some 600 dollars software, so that he can do digital djjing, however what he does brings in an extra income. Although, I feel he spends way more than what he brings in.....LOL, but he is the bread winner and it is something he truly enjoys. I guess that is why he is not so hard on me. I sometimes, feel bad at the amount of money I spend on scrapbooking, but my bills are paid, there's food in the fridge, the children are dressed nicely, and nothing is falling by the waste side. We both probably would have a fatter savings account, but we are not suffering by a long shot. Dh, makes great money as a Executive Assistant, and makes some decent money on the side doing his DJ gigs. We are getting ready to take on a mortgage so alot may change..... Although its almost as if we are paying mortgage now, with our expensive rent. Only going up 200 dollars more, so that should not affect us in the least.

I wouldn't trade my hobby for the world, it's just sad that the scrapbooking companies milk it for everything its worth. I had to chuckle when I saw some regular looking buttons, that you could buy at Michaels, at ARchivers for 15 bucks. Now come on.....LOL

Just a thought

6 comments:

Cheryl Wray said...

LOVE all that stuff you bought!!! Looks like you will have a ton of fun with all of it!
But I TOTALLY agree with you. The hobby has exploded, so of course now the companies and the stores can really charge us out the wah-zoo! Of course, that doesn't mean I don't spend! LOL I just am careful and try to budget well--get sales, and try and limit my shopping so that I'm not hoarding patterned paper for a year!!
We don' thave an Archivers's anywhere near us, but I have a friend in Atlanta that I've thought of visiting so I can also go to the local Archiver's. Pretty bad, huh?

Bonita Rose said...

dana, u scored big time.. and I agree with all u shared.
We get ripped off.. no doubt about it... even though I work at a lss, I still shop elsewhere for alot of the things i use for sbing.. it just makes money sense.

Chit Chat With Divagirlrn said...

What a haul Dana! I agree with you about the expense of scrapbooking. I've cut way back on what I spend scrapbooking too.

Anonymous said...

You are preaching to the choir. That is why I don't buy MM acrylic paint when I know there is a sale somewhere that it would be less. Archivers is so expensive. You bought a haul didn't you. It is your birthday. Granted I don't have kids, but I hear your argument about having a fatter bank account. I think I spend close to $100-200 a month on scrapbooking. I have to put a lid on my spending. I just spent $65 today and that is with two coupons. Happy Belated Birthday and have fun with all of your goodies/

justem said...

I agree with your post! I spent about 60 the other day and it felt like I bought NOTHING! I decided I really need to stop buying supplies! I have TONS!!! It's just so hard when there is so much cute stuff out there!!!

Keianna said...

Very honest post. I spend about $200 a month and that is b/c I had to start a budget after spending close to $500 a couple of months. Gotta love the hobby though.