11 Affordable Ways to Sustain Your Crafting Hobby

Most people get into crafting hobbies for one of two reasons: They want to save money and make things themselves instead of buying at the store, or they just enjoy feeling creative and designing new things. It’s even possible to craft for both of these reasons. Either way, crafting is deceptively expensive. Most projects require special tools and supplies, which can add up quickly. Rather than give up your costly crafts, try some money-saving tips to sustain your crafting hobby.

1. Use Store Coupons

Unless you need an item right away, wait until you have a store coupon before purchasing craft supplies. Most large crafting retailers have coupons online and in newspapers regularly. Follow your favorite ones on social media or download their apps to get better access to coupons. 

2. Wait for a Sale

Almost any crafting supply will go on sale if you wait long enough. A great time to find discounted items is at the end of a season. The selection might be smaller, but the discounts might be worth it. Holiday weekends are another great time to scope out sales. For even better savings, see if you can stack coupons on top of sale items. 

3. Create a Budget

It’s essential to know how much money you can spend on hobby items. It’s easy to overspend if you don’t have a plan in mind. If crafting is important to you, set aside a chunk of your budget each month for craft items. Follow the 50/30/20 rule, with 50% of your income for needs, 40% for wants — like your supplies — and 20% for savings and debt. 

Once you’ve spent everything in your craft budget, you’re done spending for the month. However, if you have money left over, save it for next month. Carrying leftover funds over will help you save for larger purchases. 

4. Buy in Bulk

Bulk buying often helps save you money, but only if you buy supplies you use frequently. Otherwise, you won’t go through everything you purchased and will have wasted that money. Make a list of the supplies you use most frequently and keep that handy when shopping for bulk products.

5. Buy Only What You Will Use

Avoid buying items for “just because” scenarios. You probably know deep down whether you will actually use something or not, so leave that remnant of cute fabric at the store if you can’t think of any project to use it on. 

Save your money for the supplies that will help you enjoy your hobby right now. What projects are you working on this month? If a product doesn’t suit your needs, leave it at the store. Too many supplies can overwhelm your craft storage.

6. Repurpose Craft Storage

You will need some form of storage, whether you work on your hobby in a dedicated craft room or a corner of your home. Why not save some money by repurposing storage solutions you already own? Use your crafting skills to upcycle old baskets, boxes or cabinets to match your style. You could even remove the doors from a closet and turn it into a crafting nook.  

7. Use What You Have

Using the crafting supplies you already have can save you lots of money. If you don’t have a particular item already, could you find a solution with things you have at home? Get creative! Your creativity is probably why you started a crafting hobby in the first place. 

8. Save Scraps

Pretty much any project you make will have leftover scrap material. Items like yarn, paper, glitter and cloth can all be repurposed into other crafts. If you can’t think of a way to use them, try putting everything into a bin for your kids and save money on children’s art supplies. You never know what they might make out of your leftover buttons. 

9. Thrift Supplies

Thrifted supplies might remind you of home and garden shows that find flea market furniture and upcycle it to have a more modern aesthetic. That is certainly something you can do, but there are other ways of using thrifted supplies.

Yard sales, flea markets and thrift stores often have craft supplies if you look frequently. Fabric and old buttons are fairly easy to locate if you use textiles in your crafting hobby. 

You can also check to see if you have any creative reuse centers nearby. These shops carry secondhand supplies donated by community members. Each one has its own set of rules, but they all offer craft items at a staggering discount to buying new. The proceeds usually fund a good cause, as well.

10. Keep an Inventory

Keep a running list of all your crafting supplies. Your list can be mental if you have a good memory, but odds are, having a written inventory would be more beneficial for you. Crafting hobbies generally come with a lot of tools and materials. By keeping a list of what you already have, you will be less likely to spend your hobby budget on things you already own. As a bonus, looking over your list from time to time might give you some inspiration for your next project. 

11. Share Supplies With Friends

If you have friends with similar crafting interests, get together and share your art supplies. Have a scrapbooking night where everyone brings paper, stickers and washi tape. Host a painting party and have each person contribute a different item. 

There is always a way to combine resources. If you have a crafting hobby that requires more expensive equipment, see if you can purchase it with friends or neighbors and share it.  

Turn Your Hobby Into a Hustle

Have you tried all these tips and still need to save money on your hobby? Consider turning your hobby into a side hustle. People love to buy unique homemade items. You can sell crafts at flea markets, festivals or craft fairs. If you’re feeling more techy, you could list your products on sites like Etsy or even your own website. The sky’s the limit.

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