I just gave away $300 of beads to save money.

**Cricketlegs** · 02-25-2009, 11:54 AM

How you might wonder? Well I will tell you why and how!

I am first and foremost a quilter but over the past few years I have added beading, painting, and scrapbooking to my list of hobbies.

All four can be very expensive, time consuming, and take up tons of space--which makes me nuts.

So I am throwing out almost all my paints--they do get old--and just keeping my nice brushes, just a few really and I can eliminate a HUGE tub in my sewing room which also functions as my stockpile room.

I gave my Mom all my beading stuff, nice nice expensive but once again it will give me space, time, and if I am no longer buying beads and paints I am saving a FORTUNE.

I did keep the scrapbooking stuff because I use it and my dds do too but I don't plane to add to the mountain of supplies I have. I can scrap for YEARS off what I have trust me there. I also plan to get rid of the fluff I never use like stamps and some punches etc.

Now maybe I can have a cleaner room and more time to truely do what I love--quilt. Besides I need to use up some fabrics I have had as well as tons of scraps!

It has got to go.

So by eliminating hobbies I am saving money.

What do you think?

**nancycg56** · 02-25-2009, 11:59 AM

I am doing the same sort of thing today ~ getting rid of small appliances I don't use, serving dishes I don't use and reorganizing what I do have. They are in my donate pile for the next time the truck comes around.

I think it's a good idea because when I have lots of stuff, I never seem to use any of it ~ it's a weird conundrum.

**sabrelvssammy** · 02-25-2009, 12:05 PM

good for you...i know its 'painful' letting it all go coz it is after all $300 worth of beads...but it will eventually be a 'heavy-weight' off your shoulders....good luck in your quilting...

**Debbie-cat** · 02-25-2009, 12:16 PM

I think it was a great idea! Especially giving them to your Mom, she will now have a hobby as well.

Sometimes I feel a big burden lift off my shoulders when I get rid of stuff I know I am never going to use and it clears space which in turn clears my mind.

**groundhog** · 02-25-2009, 12:20 PM

great idea giving them to you mom maybe she will make you some jewerly for you to wear or was that your plan lol

**JanieD** · 02-25-2009, 01:26 PM

I totally understand! Space can be much more valuable. I really have a tough time letting go of MY stuff, but its much easier when I find someone who will use it. Enjoy your new space.

**MommyBliss** · 02-25-2009, 01:37 PM

Good for you! I do the same thing, am doing the same thing actually. I did it with my crafts about a year ago and right now I'm doing it in my kitchen. I've got a ton of small appliances my husband and I haven't used in over 2 years. Friday is the day I drop things off at donation, I finally have some empty shelves in my kitchen again!

**homesteadmamma** · 02-25-2009, 03:01 PM

I think it's a great idea. I did this a number of years ago and basically stuck to quilting. Dd loves to scrapbook and so I took that up. Now I have more supplies than I'll ever need. I've put a stop on buying anymore.

Every hobby is expensive so the less hobbies we have the more frugal it is I think. Having one or two is great, having more you don't get much done on any one hobby.

**Spirit Deer** · 02-25-2009, 03:45 PM

I think it's great you're giving away beads and if you or your mom decide you don't want to mess with the pesky things anymore, I think you should send them far, far away so you're not tempted to waste anymore time, space, or money on such nonsense. I'll send you my address.

Seriously, sometimes you have to do stuff like that. It's like ripping off the Band-Aid all at once instead of a little at a time. It hurts a lot but only for a little while. So if you've cleared some space for yourself and helped get your stuff under control so you feel less weighed down, then you did the right thing. Congrats! It's hard to do.

**Greebo** · 02-25-2009, 04:21 PM

Gee, for some reason I was thinking this post had something to do with Mardi Gras...

**ironmaiden** · 02-25-2009, 04:34 PM

Hmmm... if they are at your mother's and you get a hankering to bead ...

It's kinda like when my sister bought a fancy embroidery machine. I hung up the phone and said to DH, guess what I got as I knew I could borrow it if I wanted. Meanwhile it is 7 years later and I haven't borrowed it and she hasn't used it.

**Cricketlegs** · 02-25-2009, 11:15 PM

My heart wasn't in beading like it is with fabric. I also used to sell my painted items and I am a good painter but alas my heart loves the fabric!

**Thevail** · 02-26-2009, 04:04 AM

Way to go!
This goes right to the heart of the "continuing costs" issue.

1 cool hobby = expensive supplies, even more expensive square footage to keep them in, expensive organizing thingies to keep the supplies safe, time to dust, organize, and agonize because you're not actually using them, guilt because they cost a lot...

Honestly, there are days I think I could live just fine with nothing more than a warm sweater, a coffee cup (full obviously), and my computer...why I don't is one of life's great mysteries.

**phoeny_moonstar** · 02-26-2009, 06:00 AM

Hey, if it makes you feel better and makes your life easier to manage how could it be BAD?! Good going!!

**Dancing Lotus** · 02-26-2009, 08:22 AM

Since you gave the beads to your mom, I think it was great. But I was thinking that you should have sold them, that's even more frugal. But hey we love our moms..

I have too many hobbies too and it does take up space and money. You got me thinking i should narrow it down too.