My January Scrapbook Expenses

Every other Friday, I write a post about Minimalist Scrapbooking.



Well, today is the first Friday of February. Time to share my scrapbook expenses for January. The total is scary. Really scary. Like, I could have bought a Silhouette Cameo but didn’t scary.

I was got by photo printing ($46.26 after a $25 credit from Shutterfly). I struggle with whether photo printing should count or not. I am printing photos for eventual inclusion in a scrapbook. I know I would still print photos if I were not a scrapbooker, but I would print significantly fewer photos. Perhaps, I should only include a percentage of my photo printing spending in this budget to account for this?

I also took a trip at the beginning of the month. I like to buy items when I travel to include in the scrapbook for that trip. I ended up with several postcards, some stickers, and random office supplies, which added up to $33.30.

I’m running low (not out, but low) on adhesive. I used Creative Memories. I hate paying their shipping rates so put off this purchase until I have more stuff to order to beat the shipping. Well, Creative Memories ran a 25% off sale in the middle of the month, so it was time to get the basics I will need in the coming months. I ended up with several adhesive refills and a replacement blade for my paper trimmer. I replaced the trimmer with another brand this summer when the blade wore out so I would not have to keep ordering blade refills buy mail. I replaced the blades now because of the sale and the need for adhesive. I also have a use for an extra paper trimmer, so this was a necessary expense. My Creative Memories order was only $24.65 because I am also a member of their Rewards Club and had a credit that was applied to the order. (I joined because I had photobooks to order and earned back the joining cost with my first order.)

I was also seduced by the 60% retiring products from Technique Tuesday. I only bought a couple of stamps, but this accounted for $18.37.

I am taking a stamp carving class from Balzer Designs and have run out of my speedy-carve block. We still have to carve an alphabet set, photo, and probably something else, so I had to buy more for $16.39.



My biggest splurge was when I went to my local scrapbook stores. I suppose I should at least feel good about pumping money into my local economy and supporting a local scrapbook store. I spent $174.74. I suppose I could also blame Jennifer Wilson from Simple Scrapper for enabling me as we shopped together. She would find cool things I overlooked. And of course, I’ve bought exactly four sheets of pattern paper since I began this whole experiment last April, so it was time for a splurge on pattern paper. I also had a 40% off ribbon coupon from this store. I love ribbon. I had decided to refrain from purchasing ribbon to use up my stash, but there was no way I could pass up 40% off ribbon. The next day, I did use two sheets of the pattern paper and the punch I purchased the day before. My lesson here is that splurging is not a bad thing. Sometimes you need new things to jumpstart creativity. Seriously, check out this ribbon:



February probably won’t be much better. I will need to purchase prints for Take Twelve. Other than that, any more prints can wait until March. I’m taking a trip to St. Louis and may end up at Archiver’s. I get to an Archiver’s about once a year, so if I do get there, I will spend money. I’m good on adhesive and blade refills, but do need an additional pair of scissors for my Project Life basket. I’ll probably get s pair in February.

So, I definitely did not stick to my 2012. For those keeping track, I spent the amount I said should last me five months in 2012! Yikes! I may need to rethink the budget. Or maybe I need to rethink being so open and honest about it on here…Or I need to increase my visibility so I can just get free stuff from manufacturers. Yeah, that might be the way to go…



Related posts:

• My April Scrapbooking Expenses
• My May and June Scrapbooking Expenses
• My July Scrapbooking Expenses
• My August Scrapbooking Expenses
• My September Scrapbooking Expenses
• My October Scrapbooking Expenses
• My November Scrapbook Expenses
• My December Scrapbooking Expenses

 

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Stephanie