Originally Posted by Judie
Truth is, except for a very few, we are all on a fixed income. Those of you who work only get so much on your paycheck. All of us are having to watch what we spend and our money buys less all the time. Even so, we are some of the most creative people that live. We'd all love to go to a quilt shop and buy whatever we wanted, but since that doesn't happen we look elsewhere.. Never fear, we'll all continue quilting one way or another.
I haven't finished reading all the posts, but had to comment on this.
THIS IS SO TRUE. Almost everyone has a "fixed income" in that you get a paycheck every week or month and you can usually predict what it is. People that work in sales would probably have a different paycheck each time, but most people have a fixed income.
So, I think the question you mean is how to cut your monthly expenses so there is something left over to spend on quilting. That is a whole different ball game. I thought of the website www.getrichslowly.com which I've enjoyed a lot. There are lots of good articles about living on what you have, and attitudes towards money, etc.
There are tons of different great suggestions here, but I'd also like to add that when it is time for your birthday or Christmas (or mother's day), ask for fabric, quilting books (give specific titles), or gift cards to certain stores that interest you to the people who are most likely to buy you presents. Don't ask for restaurant gift cards, etc.
Also, just let people around you know that you would be willing to use up their old fabric. :)
AND, some of the charity quilts provide the quilt kits for you--just sign up and you can sew with their fabric. Great deal for people who have no funds to buy fabric for charity quilts.