Our economy is currently a hot mess. It’s not easy, but I can handle the stock market gyrations because I know it’s part of the normal market cycle. What’s more worrisome to me is the hyperinflation our leaders can’t seem to get a handle on. The basic necessities of everyday living have increased exponentially. My natural gas rate plan is up for renewal soon. My new rate looks like it’s going to be double the rate I locked in last year. Ouch!
Don’t know about you, but quilting keeps me sane. It’s also one of my primary core pursuits. This quilter is certainly going to keep on quilting, even if her quilty dollars are fewer in number at the moment. It’s a game to see how far I can make my money stretch. I’m shopping my stash first, trading out fabric and supplies with other quilty friends and making less expensive substitutions where I can. I still buy any needed essentials for a project or class; however, I’m doing a fair amount of comparison shopping online first. Hopefully, it never gets to the point where I have to stop buying quilting essentials because prices are simply too high.
For me, the social and educational aspects of quilting are most important. Getting to guild meetings and sew days with friends is a priority (gas in the car over the newest Tula Pink charm pack in case you need an example). So is learning new skills – whether learned through a book, YouTube video or in a F2F class. One of the reasons I joined the ECQG is because of the workshops they bring to the membership at extremely reasonable rates. I’m very selective about the classes I actually take and value for the money is definitely a consideration. I’m super excited about the hand beading and embroidery for quilters workshop I’m taking at the end of July. On the other hand, I opted to pass on a 3 hour quilted postcards class being offered elsewhere in the ATL for $120 plus a kit fee. Google/YouTube is my friend. The kids and I did a similar activity for about $10 in supplies.
For hubby, supplies needed for his hobby are hard to come by and expensive when you do find them – even for substitute brands. We’ve learned to take advantage of buying opportunities whenever we can. He’s definitely cut back on practice days and the number of tournaments in which he participates. He even came home early from the past two tournaments, choosing not to spend money on fees and use up precious supplies on additional events. The inability to participate fully as he’d originally planned has caused him some frustration.
As my mother likes to say, “This too shall pass.” Unfortunately, I think we have several more months of uncertainty, and possibly a recession, before things start to return to normal.
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