Creative Ways to Save Money
From LoveToKnow Save
Artsy types often hate the thought of discussing anything relating to personal finance, but there are plenty of creative ways to save money that can help you balance your budget without upping your anxiety level.
Finding Creative Ways to Save Money
When it comes to saving money, there are a few basic areas you should tackle first:
After that, it's time to examine discretionary spending such as home décor, entertainment, and gifts.
Home Décor
Creative people are typically very sensitive to their surroundings. Luckily, being frugal doesn't mean you need to live in an unattractive shack. Here are a few easy ways to jazz up your home décor without breaking the bank:
- Stitch up curtains from some old bed sheets, then string together beads from broken costume jewelry to create customized tiebacks.
- Make slipcovers to perk up tired-looking furniture.
- Cover an old coffee table or dresser with a coat of chalkboard paint to give yourself a fun place for creative doodling. If you don't like the look of the standard black or green paint, Martha Stewart Living has instructions for how to make your own custom color chalkboard paint.
- Use broken dishes, old tiles, and other ceramic pieces to make a mosaic for a mirror or a table top.
- Instead of spending money on expensive and often ugly plastic storage containers, decoupage sturdy cardboard boxes to use as totes for all your household items.
- Buy a large canvas and an assortment of acrylic paints in your favorite colors. Make a family portrait for your living room by tracing each person's silhouette onto the canvas.
- Pick up a collection of funky frames in various sizes by visiting your local dollar store and the nearest thrift shop. Buy a can of black spray paint to make them all match, then create a wall collage of your favorite images.
- Add drama to an empty hallway by stenciling a favorite quote onto the wall. If you're a renter who isn't allowed to paint, use vinyl wall letters instead.
The LoveToKnow Save articles Discount Bedding, Discount Rug, Cheap Platform Beds, Cheap Sofas Online, and Discount Furniture also have money saving tips for planning your home décor.
Gifts
In many homes, gifts take up a large portion of the household budget. While it's natural to want to show your affection for others, there's no need to put yourself in debt for birthdays, Christmas, and other gift-giving occasions. Simply use your creative talents to whip up a few inexpensive handmade gifts. For example:
- Crayon Melting Art Projects: Turn old broken crayons into stylish new art supplies for the budding artist in your life.
- How to Make a Bead Bracelet: Mothers, daughters, sisters, and best friends will love receiving handmade beaded bracelets.
- How to Make Beaded Bookmarks: Someone who enjoys reading is sure to appreciate a pretty new bookmark, especially if it's tucked between the pages of a favorite novel.
- Christmas Craft Ornaments: Rolled paper Christmas ornaments are a quick and easy project to make when you need holiday gifs for teachers, neighbors, and coworkers.
Present your handmade gifts in style by tucking them inside an origami box and including a card in an origami envelope.
Entertainment
If you're interested in exploring a new creative pursuit, the Internet can be a wonderful resource. Online learning is also a fun and frugal source of entertainment for those in search of creative ways to save money.
The next time you're bored and looking for an activity to keep you busy, here are a few options to consider:
Learn More
This page has been accessed 332 times. This page was last modified 11:34, 20 July 2009.
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