2013 Stash Accounting

Every year since 2010, I have done an accounting of the money I have spent on stitching.  This year will be no different.

2013 Expenditures:

On Charts:    $  95.43 

On Fibers:    $ 174.44

On Fabrics:   $ 0.00

On Embellishments [Beads, buttons]:  $ 14.83

On Tools and Accessories:  $ 25.75

On Framing: $0.00

On Books, Magazines and Subscriptions:  $ 40.00

On Classes and Retreats:  $ 495  [Stitcher's Hideaway Mystic I]

Shipping/Handling/Insurance  $ 14.34

Memberships in stitching organizations: $ 60.00

Total   $  779.79

As in the past few years, my biggest expense has been the Stitcher's Hideaway, an annual treat that I would be loathe to give up.  For the most part I have been stitching from stash with a minimum of new purchases.  The amount spent on charts came as a surprise to me as I tallied it up.  One third of the amount [$31.47, to be precise] was spent by my husband who bought the charts as an anniversary gift but the rest is squarely on my head.  It's more than I have spent on charts in several years.  And I thought I was being so good.  Then I did splurge on some Glorianna silks.  I couldn't resist the 50% discount at Chris' Collection Closeout sale and spent $145.00 on the silks alone.  I wish Chris the best in her retirement.  

The figure of $779.79 divided by 365 days in a year works out to $2.13 a day.  Most people spend more than that on coffee or other minor vices,  So I don't feel all that guilty though I do think I shall try to be a bit more frugal in 2014.

2012 Stash Accounting

As of July, I had spent  approximately $194 on stitching related purchases.  But, as usual, things heated up a bit in the Fall.  I attended the Mystic Stitcher's Hideaway in October and there were costs associated with it: paying for my admission fee and class kit.  Then, of course, there were the visits to the on site shop set up by Chris' Collection.  This was my only opportunity all year to shop brick and mortar style, to actually see and touch potential purchases.  I must say I exercised considerable restraint, all things considered.  As you can see by comparing this year's expenditures to the last two for which I have kept records, I have been stitching from stash almost exclusively.  My biggest ticket items this year have been reference books and a stitching retreat.  In 2010, I spent a total of $630.97 and in 2011, I spent $981.26.  I spent just a little over half of last year's figure, this year.  I expect 2013 expenditures will be modest as well.  With my husband being laid off just two years prior to retirement age, money will be tight for a while as we wait to access our retirement savings and pensions and SS without penalties for early withdrawal.   No need for sympathy though, we are better off than a great many people in this dreadful economy.  I could probably continue to stitch from stash for at least a decade, so I don't anticipate having to give up one of my favorite pastimes.  I guess that's what building a decent stash is all about anyway ... providing for one's golden years.  Of course, I will be working for another four and a half years before I can retire ... perhaps even longer, who knows.

2012 Expenditures:
On Charts:    $  6.29
On Fibers:    $ 11.50
On Fabrics:   $ 28.01
On Embellishments [Beads, buttons]:  $0.00
On Tools and Accessories:  $ 22.50
On Framing: $0.00
On Books, Magazines and Subscriptions:  $185.98
On Classes and Retreats:  $ 250.00
Shipping/Handling/Insurance  $ 10.69
Memberships in stitching organizations: $60.00
Total   $  574.97

Second Annual Stash Budget Accounting: 2011

Last year, prompted by all the talk on message boards and in blogs about how the current economy changed, and continues to change, the stitching industry, I decided to track my own spending.

Grand Total Spent in 2010: $630.97
Grand Total Spent in 2011: $981.26

… and now for the 2011 breakdown:

On Charts: $ 46.49
On Fibers: $284.33
On Fabrics: $ 54.00
On Embellishments [Beads, buttons]: $ 6.20
On Tools and Accessories: $ 36.24
On Framing: ---------
On Books, Magazines and Subscriptions: ---------
On Classes and Retreats: $450.00
EGA Membership: $ 60.00

And on the ever present shipping/handling: $ 44.06

Since I have continued to stitch primarily from stash, it is not surprising that my biggest expenditure has been on classes with floss, fiber, fabric and tools combining at $427.26 to make the next largest expenditure. As for the shipping and handling, with the exception of a few runs to Michael's or A.C. Moore for DMC, all my ordering has been done with out-of-state shops in Virginia, Utah and California. I regret that there is no LNS in my area.

I will be working primarily on old class projects and WIPs and UFOs in 2012. As a result, I expect spending to shift from materials to finishing. Framing will be my big expense in 2012. And since framing is so very expensive, I may have to skip my usual Stitcher's Hideaway this year. I had hoped to do The Alumni Retreat this year but I think I may wait a bit and see how things go. I can always do the October Mystic Hideaway if the finances are all rosy. I am sure I have missed a few expenditures here and there but, for the most part, this is a pretty fair estimation of spending this year. Now, if the fates would just cooperate and send someone to open up a brick and mortar LNS within a reasonable distance, I could save $50 a year on shipping and handling charges ... or am I being too selfish ... I don't know, major small business investment vs my personal convenience ... Nah!!!!

My First Annual Stash Budget Accounting

With all the talk on message boards and in blogs about how the current economy is changing the stitching industry, I thought it would be interesting to track my own spending this year.

Grand Total Spent in 2010: $630.97

and now for the breakdown:

On Charts: $ 40.67

On Fibers: 283.20

On Fabrics: 139.47

On Embellishments [Beads, buttons]: 6.50

On Tools and Accessories: ------

On Framing: ------

On Books, Magazines and Subscriptions: 49.65

On Classes and Retreats: 60.00

EGA Membership 32.25

And on th ever present shipping/handling 19.23

Since I have been stitching primarily from stash, it is not surprising that my biggest expenditure has been for floss and fiber to stitch up charts already in my possession. And the only reason the fabric line is so high is that there were a number of series I worked on this past year for which I wanted to use the same fabric [e.g.: the raw linen in 28ct for the Bride's Tree SAL, and blue overdyed linens in 28ct for the Town Square SAL]. I don't expect to spend as much on fabric in 2011 since I have a fairly large and varied fabric stash accumulated from my two year subscription to Silkweaver Fabric of the Month. I will be working on very diverse projects in 2011 instead of intentional sets, so I won't be buying as much "matching" fabric in the coming year.

I am sure I have missed a few expenditures here and there. One thing I didn't include because it is not a direct stitching expense was all the money spent on postage for exchanges, round robins and giveaways ... but I am guessing that was in the neighborhood of $200 or above. And I never seem to save the receipts for those quick runs to Michael's or AC Moore for some last minute DMC. I shall be more careful as I keep track of my expenditures in 2011 as well to see how it compares with 2010. I have a sense that, while 2009 was probably much the same as 2010, I am spending considerably less on this craft than I did 5 years ago or 10 years ago. That would be particularly true in the areas of framing and chart and fabric purchases. Back in those days, I would frequently have as many as 12-15 pieces professionally framed each year at an average cost of $250 a piece ... raising the expenditure totals considerably. I didn't have anything professionally framed in 2010 as opposed to a mere five pieces professionally framed in 2009. Of course, I did a lot more gift-stitching back in the day and a lot more sampler stitching as well ... things that call for framing. For the past two years, I have been stitching predominantly from stash, purchasing far fewer charts and doing a lot more sewing finishes as opposed to framing finishes. But as I look forward to the pieces I plan to stitch in 2011, I see framing becoming a big part of the budget next year.