Art Supplies and Craft Supplies for Little or Nothing

Are you an artist or crafter on a budget?  Do high costs in art supply stores make you cringe?  If so, there are some ways to save money you may not have thought of.

Crafting supplies can make a big hole in your budget.  Having to keep lots of materials on hand can be expensive.  Art supplies like paint and brushes are sometimes not only be hard to find but costly.  Here are a few places you may not have thought to find bargains on the materials needed to make craft items or paintings.

Look for bargains here:

• Second hand store
• Thrift shop
• Yard sales, garage sales, rummage sales
• Yard sales online
• Church rummage sales
• Online Auctions (such as eBay)

Often people purchase new supplies to make craft items and for one reason or another decide not to engage in the art.  The materials sit in a closet until spring, when the owner decides to host a rummage sale.  Many times these things are brand new and sell for pennies.  The thrifty shopper can find many of the items they need this way.

Materials to create with are often spur of the moment buys.  Things like oil paints and canvases, brushes and frames sit unused because the user has lost interest.  These materials can sometimes be picked up for low cost from the seller.  Artists often are able to find great deals on picture frames in this manner. 

Always know what your crafting supplies cost at retail so you know whether or not you are getting a good deal at the used price.  Don’t end up being upset because you thought you were getting a deal when you could have bought the same thing new with a coupon or at a storewide sale.  It pays to know retail cost for your craft supplies.

Be Careful to Check the Shelf Life:

A lot of items keep forever, but a few do have a shelf life.  Be careful buying things that may age quickly, such as basket weaving reed and dyes, oil and acrylic paints, yarn and thread and anything else that could age.  Even if you buy these things, check them carefully for expiration date, if there is one.  Basket reed can be brittle and dry, thread can break, paints bleed and dyes often lose their color value.  Being aware of these facts can save you money in the long run.  At times it’s possible to buy these items for a low cost at a sale in a commercial store.

Know your value, set a limit, and shop wisely.  You can purchase a lot of supplies for your art by being a savvy shopper.

Save Money on Children's Toys and Games

Have you been to a toy shop lately?  If so, you are aware of the high cost of keeping kids occupied.  Not many fathers whittle things out of wood for their children to play with any more and television commercials and word of mouth have caused toy prices to skyrocket. 

For instance, toy story toys are now collectible and highly sought after.  Many enterprising people sell them at yard sales, garage sales and flea markets and fetch good money.  Others sell them at toy consignment shops and online venues like eBay where the whole world can find them at a glance.

There are many places you can find things for your children at a discount.  If the item is not collectible you can often find bargains at a garage sale if you are patient.  Often, high-priced baby toys go for less than $5 at these sales.  Children outgrow the item or lose interest and parents are glad to get rid of it to make room for more.

Consider These 6 Rules When Buying Used:

1. Count all pieces to be sure the item is intact.
2. Plastic is good because it can be disinfected, but you might want to think about other things that a child might put in his/her mouth if you can’t clean it well.
3. Don’t be afraid to haggle over the price if you think it’s too high.
4. It’s not always a good idea to take your youngster along as sometimes he or she may take a liking to something and cause a ruckus if you decide not to buy it.
5. Try to stay with a durable used toy that will last for a few years.  You’ll get more value out of it.
6. Know the current retail price of the toy you are seeking.  If not, you could actually pay more for the item used than on sale at a department store.

Good Places to Shop for Playthings for Children:

• Toy consignment shops
• Yard sales, garage sales and rummage sales
• Church rummage sales
• Second hand stores
• Yard sales online
• Friends and family
• Department store sales
• Online auctions such as eBay

Your child can have the latest in technology in toys and games if you follow this advice and spend a little time researching before you shop.  Good luck!