What is your latest money-saving idea?
By youdontsay
@youdontsay (3497)
United States
July 22, 2008 2:47pm CST
I make things to put in our church Holiday bazaar each winter. Currently I'm crocheting dog sweaters. One pattern requires two buttons.
I went to buy some buttons and discovered that they averaged $1 per button! I couldn't believe it. If I spent that much on the sweaters plus the cost of the yarn they would have to be priced too high for people to buy them.
So I got an idea. I went to a thrift store where they sell used clothing and looked through the racks for something with the kind of buttons I wanted. I bought a dress with six buttons for $2! And I didn't even have to worry about finding a dress in my size. 
I also buy old bead necklaces there to harvest the beads. Nice beads are getting really expensive and if I can find old ones I like I can get a string of them for a $1.
I've started thinking of what other craft supplies I might harvest from used items found in thrift stores. I'm thinking that belt buckles might be my next quest.
So what creative ideas have you come up with to beat inflation?
I also buy old bead necklaces there to harvest the beads. Nice beads are getting really expensive and if I can find old ones I like I can get a string of them for a $1.
I've started thinking of what other craft supplies I might harvest from used items found in thrift stores. I'm thinking that belt buckles might be my next quest.
So what creative ideas have you come up with to beat inflation?3 responses
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
22 Jul 08
Oh wow..I would love to see pictures of your doggie sweaters. Have you ever looked in those 99ยข stores? Sometimes you can find things on the cheap there too. Sometimes they sell necklaces or beaded type bracelets so of course very cheap. I do a lot of beadwork myself, but since I use so many beads of all sizes from seed to crow/pony beads I have to rely on getting my bead supplies from craft places....some really aren't too bad in price and you can actually wind up saving money if you buy in bulk
One good place is Enterprise Arts
http://www.enterpriseart.com/
another is Factory Direct
http://www.factorydirectcraft.com/
Finally another place is Fire Mountain Gem--which tends to be a bit more but they really have some beautiful beads..when bought in quantity can be cheaper in the long run
http://www.firemountaingems.com/
1 person likes this
@youdontsay (3497)
• United States
22 Jul 08
Thanks! I'll share those websites with our crafters group at church.
I don't have a dog to model the sweaters yet. I'll get pictures when I can.
How about you? Any photos of your beadwork? 
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
22 Jul 08
This is my crowing achievement though...ever do something and then years later look at it and wonder...how the heck did I do that??
This is a Native American pipe I got years ago...the original suede trim and beads were tacky looking so stripped it all off and did the beadwork you see now...it's called the guord or peyote beadwork stitch..it took me a full month to do--can't figure how I had the patience for it then
1 person likes this
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
23 Jul 08
I am not a very crafty person at all Youdontsay, but I admit your idea here is fantastically genius of you :))) You would love to trawl our area thrift shops we seem to have an abundance of them. I am to busy trying to find ways to cut the grocery bill to think of other things.
1 person likes this
@youdontsay (3497)
• United States
24 Jul 08
I hear you! I'm glad I'm not feeding a family. My two daughters and their families all visited the first part of the month and cleaned me out! Sure couldn't feed them on an ongoing basis!
Have you come up with any great ideas you can share with the rest of us?
Have you come up with any great ideas you can share with the rest of us?
@jillhill (37353)
• United States
22 Jul 08
Those were very good ideas! I also keep the extra button they attach to a new piece of clothing....and those little bags they come in are perfect for my craft sales for something small. I paint old windows and everyone gives them to me....I paint an image on them or scene and resell them. So I take something that would end up in the garbage and turn it into something beautiful.....sounds like you do the same thing! Good for you!
1 person likes this
@youdontsay (3497)
• United States
22 Jul 08
Thanks. You are a bit more ambitious than I. You might look at the Habitat for Humanity build it again stores for old windows cheap if you don't get enough given to you. You can find all kinds of great stuff there for next to nothing in cost.
