Preparing for a No Buy Craft Supplies Experiment?

I have so much crafty stuff, even after decluttering my craft supplies a few times, that I think it’s time for a no buy craft supplies period.

I want to say it will be all year but I’m not sure I can make it LOL.

Here’s what I’m thinking about as I plan for no buy craft supplies 2024, if you want to join me or think about how to do it for yourself.

Why Do a No Buy Craft Supplies Project?

There are several reasons to freeze spending on craft supplies, such as:

• I have too much stuff and want to use it.
• It’s better for the environment to use what you have.
• It’s good for your budget not to spend on things you don’t need.
• You may have to get creative to make do with what you have for the projects you want to make, which is fun.

How Can You Prepare for Not Buying Craft Supplies?

Of course you don’t have to do anything to start a no buy craft supplies experiment other than declare it (to yourself or the world). But if you know there are projects you want to make that you need certain supplies for, or that there are basics you might need that you don’t currently have in the house, you can plan a last trip for those things.

For example, I recently did a shopping trip where I bought some zippers and elastic because those are things I might need that I didn’t have a good supply of. I also wanted to buy yarn for a particular project but I need to order that online since the store didn’t have enough of one dye lot. But that will be my last crafty purchase for a while.

You might also want to think about your crafting bucket list, those projects that you’ve always wanted to make. This can add some excitement to a buy nothing period because you really want to make the things you’re making (which should always be true, but still). If you need supplies for those specific projects you can gather them ahead of time.

Or if there’s a technique or genre of crafting you’ve always wanted to learn, you can gather basic supplies you will need for that before you start. Don’t use it as an excuse to go on a shopping spree, but if you really want to commit to trying embroidery or knitting socks and you need some tools to do it, that’s fine.

Your No Buy Rules

Whether you plan a final shopping trip or just start on your no buy craft supplies journey, you’ll need to set some ground rules for yourself.

Are you allowed to buy something if you really need it for a project and can’t improvise with something you already have? (If yes, make sure buying “just this one thing” doesn’t turn into a shopping spree.)

Can you ask for craft supplies for gifts? Or gift certificates to craft stores?

Can you have a swap with other crafters if you need something specific? Can you collect things from Buy Nothing or other giveaway groups even if you don’t really need it?

Have you ever intentionally gone without buying craft supplies? I’d love to hear about it! And as I go on this journey I’ll be sharing plenty with you about what I’m making, stash busting projects, using scraps and more. If you have questions about doing a no buy craft supplies experiment, let me know!

Image by congerdesign from Pixabay.