I am on a fix income due to disability so I am very limited and my stash is proof of that very very little.

Ha! I thought I was the only one on a fabric budget. I am glad to know that there are someone else on one also. I had been sewing since 6th grade. In high school I made my all my dresses and formals. Call it quits for a while, when I got my first grandbaby I went back but also tackling embroidery. When I got my new embroidery machine I went crazy and the bill went up$$$$$$$$$. So,I have to put myself on a budget also. When my amount is gone for the month. O! WELL, just wait until next month also.

Being a student I have to watch where every penny goes. I dont like it but thats just how it is. But having two jobs allows me to eat haha! This economy is tough and I've had a daughter move back home. She's looking for a job but its getting tight around here. I'm thankful that I collected tons of fabric before I went back to school or I'd be going bonkers without my "therapy".

budget-yes.I hang out laundry to dry in the summer,we grow a huge garden to save on food.I hardly ever drive out of town unless a necessity.we burn wood for heat,eat as cheaply but healthy as we can.that leaves me fabric,thread and batting money.we also do not turn on lights unless we are working on something-watch tv in the dark.all kinds of ways to cut corners if you think about it.

We are both on SS so yes we are limited and since we both have high doctors and med bills it is even more so. I used to be able to buy something if I saw it but no more. Ihave to budget to get what I need.
Another member on here that I was fortunate enough to meet last week (Gramma) helped me out with a color I needed to finish up a project I was working on. She has some fantastic quilts that I told her she needs to show all of you.

I opened a checking account separate from the joint account I have with my husband. I get a monthly stipend that is mine to spend however I want--guilt free. When it's gone, I'm done until pay day. I have a debit card and my own credit card, but I stick to the amount I have in my account. This money is for things I want, but don't necessarily need. I don't use it for necessities. That comes from the joint account.

DH took me to LQS for my birthday and I had to drag him out. He's very supportive, takes pics of all my quilts, braggs about them, and says when he retires he's gonna quilt with me.

That is so sweet...you have been blessed!

Please let us know if that works for you. You know the spring line is coming out!!!

I definitly need to, I just can't seem to comprehend money and buget. I am posting here to make this to go back and read every page later!

I do basically this. All of my spending money for the month I get up front in cash. Then I spend it on whatever I want, and that includes my quilting supplies, and when it is gone, I stop. Gifts, however, can come out of the general household fund, because we have a section for gifts in our household budget. Whether or not I do use the household funds for gifts really depends, though. Sometimes I want a gift to be more "from me", so I use my money. If it's for some of DH's family because he requested I make a gift for them, I will definitely use household!

I think that is an excellent idea. Dave Ramsey would be proud of you! (Dave Ramsey does workshops called Financhial Peace University about staying out of debt) My husband took an early retirement this past summer and now I have put myself on the "envelope" system.

Definately on a fabric budget and trying to finish UFOs. I'm really seeing how this is affecting the LQS as she is not bringing in any new fabrics right now. I don't make as many trips because I am not buying and there is less to see. I really want to support her (cuz her business is really struggling and I'd love to have her around in the future ) but I have to pay bills too. It's a tough balance.

We've used the envelope method for a budget for over 38 years now....Every payday, money goes into envelopes - spending, dinners out, gas, food, etc......Works like a charm.

Taught my sis to do the same - she's handicapped and doesn't do well with numbers...but understands well - if the money is gone in the envelope, that's it.

I use to get $80.00 per month to spend as I pleased but lately I have been ending up putting it back in the budget. Cost of things have gone up so much it is hard to make ends meet sometimes. We purchased a car 2 years ago and we only have 2 more car payments and when that is payed off things will be good again. I have decided to down size all my crafts that I don't do anymore and selling it on Ebay and going to have a huge garage sale when the snow is melted and it is warm out side!

oh, the "B" word, quite familiar. What has saved me a lot of money the past two years, is to force myself to finish projects in the drawer or purchased projects that never got started.
It is not as fun as shopping for new, but it is gratifying to get some stuff completed. Shamedly, I have enough for at least another year.
Karen

What a good idea ! Maybe it is very good to be on budget , so
then we won't buy fabric we really don't need. I am on a budget. That is what happens when you are retired and only have your SS check to depend on.

If we budget then we will use up all fabric instead of horrding it.

We try to live as frugal as possible. Have some medical bills and other debt we are trying to pay off, so we shop garage sales and thrift stores, rarely buy anything brand new, make our own bread & clothes soap, cook from scratch, use the cloths line or drying rack, use cloth napkins instead of paper towels or paper napkins and etc.

You'll be surprised at the difference the little things make! I still use paper towels to drain meat on, but one roll will last us for weeks.

Hubby out of work since mid Nov, so that put me on a "no spend" budget; but I am ok because I have a new machine, a lovely stash, and plenty of books and patterns. Also 3 kits to do, so who has time to shop??
Hubby gave me some to put away for the Maine Quilt Show in July, so that was very generous and will be fun!! I have a quilty friend flying here from WA to join me for the show and spend some time just relaxing. Am so looking forward to it.

:D THAT is a really smart idea. I have enough fabric in my home to start my own shop. I have no room for any more!

Good for you! I am also using up my stash as I kept buying and buying and saying when I retire I will sew more. I took an early retirement 6 years ago and have hardly made a dent in my stash!

Deedum, there's a web site that you might like...http://www.daveramsey.com He's all about staying or getting out of debt and how to do a budget...my hubby and I have lived this plan for more than 20 years...it works!!! Gives me more cash to spend on my hobbies!!!

What we retirees have left after paying bills, then that is all there is to live on. My soc.sec. checks will start in June and I bet I have mentally spent that first check 3 times! I heard our LQS was having a sale on the Asian panels I love so I stopped on the way home and bought a few more to add to the pile I already have. She did have some fabric for $10.15/yd and I had purchased the same fabric on sale at Connecting Threads for $2.96/yd. At those prices I can't afford to help her stay open.

i am starting a new budget a lot tighter now that every thing has rose it prices i can not beleve i went to the market like i do every sunday and to be floor flattened i spent way more on food then i ever did before and on pretty much the same thing every week OMG what is this country comming to sorry i just had to vent i am so mad at this...

I allow myself X number of dollars a month for "quilt stuff". When I reach that, nothing till the next month. Usually have $$ left over and that goes into a stash for when I go to a large quilt show where vendors abound and temptation reins. Last year when I went to Des Moines AQS show I had over $400 in my "mad money". Must admit I put a healthy dent in it at the show, but oh my, what fun I have had with the things I bought.
I also throw change into a jar each time I shop, amazing how much that adds up in a years time.

I'm pretty careful what I spend because I can't work any longer. Was put out on disability 2 yrs ago. then I found cancer & all that costs. I'm blessed with some wonderful friends & have been given quite a bit of lovely fabric scraps I've been using. I only buy if I need something special. I use coupons & shop e-bay for great bargains & intend to go to a few local thrift shops soon too. I have done well so far & have lots of ideas to use my stash this year.

I never have enough left in the winter to be on a budget. I usually just don't buy unless I have a little saved.

You don't want to know what a tight budget I am on.

i have 0.00 for quilting right now.. even if i did spend 30.00 @ joannes on the way home... it was muslin with the coupon and i was out...

anyway.. i am going to the north carolina quilters symposium in june... so all my quilting & garden budget are going to that...

can't wait!!

I am kinda on a budget, until I become weak. Kinda like my diet.

Ha, are you kidding? I'm so poor I don't need a budget !
I throw all the bills up in the air and which ever of them lands face up, I pay ----- If it adds up to too much--I pay the ones that are face down.
My money is tight, I live on Social Security. I hit garage sales on Saturday's, and the first thing I ask is if they have any sewing materials.
One time my son came home with 5 big black garbage bags and 2 boxes full of material all for $10.00. I kept what I wanted and sold the rest on Craig's list for $20.00 dollars. Lots of great pieces, 4 and 5 yards each. The grandmother passed away and the daughter didn't sew, so she sold everthing.
Syl

I have always been frugal, I think I was born that way. I remember my stepfather saying when I was a kid that I could squeeze a nickle til it turned into a dime. That doesn't mean I don't like nice things or splurge once in a while, but my splurging is usually planned. I'm alone on social security and do fine, because I'm aware of every penny I spend.

We have been on a budget for years and it does work. Sometimes it's really hard to keep to it with everything going on in your life but then you have to make due.

I have never been on a budget in my life...or needed one...not that I am rich or anything close to that...but both my husband and I learned from our immigrant parents who arrived to this country with nothing...my mothe never worked, my parents had 6 kids, my father was the sole provider...no such thing as a budget... paid for the house first, as fast as possible, then bought the necessities...food, clothing, other bills...never owned a credit card...we have done the same..anything that goes on credit card will be paid the next month...doesn't get purchased unless there is money to pay for it...never interest payments...spend carefully, and if there is money left over, save some and spend a little on "extra's"...it has worked so far...

I am on SSI fixed income. I allow myself so much per month spending money.Sometimes I let it build up and then go fabric, thread or whatever shopping then start all over again!!Somtimes I go blow it all right then LOL

I have always and always will be on a budget. Now especially when we are retired. :)

I put myself on a budget of $20 a month. Once it is gone, then nothing for the rest of the month. I also try to only buy what I need for a particular project. I do have a list that is kept with the money for things I need to find. Seems to be working

I put myself on a budget of $20 a month. Once it is gone, then nothing for the rest of the month. I also try to only buy what I need for a particular project. I do have a list that is kept with the money for things I need to find. Seems to be working

Strict Budget forever------secret to being able to retire!

I didn't think SS was suppose to be the principal retirement income, only supplement retirement income. It's scary how many people do not save or plan for retirement. My first real paycheck I put 10% in a retirement fund, not enough for me to miss and just enough to get the ball rolling. I remember at age eighteen feeling so responsible by having a retirement account. It's was my security blanket.