I am a known cheapskate.
There, I said it. Not so much that I’d show up on a segment of “World’s Cheapest Ever Ever Ever” reality show on the Lifetime channel, but I really don’t care about the fanciest labels and brands or having the latest electronic gadget.
But I will shell out a little extra for something that I think is worth it.
I go by the “cost per wearing” philosophy when it comes to shoes and clothes. For instance, I bought a pair of Frye boots over ten years ago (at a deep discount since it was a discontinued color, mind you but still a higher price than I would normally spend on boots) and I have worn those babies to death and they still look awesome and are super comfortable. Probably even more awesome because of their worn-in-like-a-best-friend-patina. I will probably have them for the rest of my life.
But if I need a cute sparkly top for a holiday party? Well, then I’m heading to my favorite thrift store for that! So, cost per wearing on the cute top? Maybe $7 (unless it’s half price day). The boots will end up costing me fractions of pennies by the time I have to retire them (which will be…never).
But sometimes budgets are tight, or an unexpected bill pops up (hello second to the last upper molar)! First the fun stuff goes away while we pay the non-negotiables.
But how do we save money on the hobby that also just might be saving our sanity? Coloring books and pencils (especially the good pencils) can fall into the “sorry, hon, maybe next month” category. I’ve come up with a few ideas on how you can still enjoy your stress-busting hobby without breaking the bank (or…er…that molar).
Hello, Thrift Shop!
After the initial craze of adult coloring, a LOT of people bought coloring books and they found it just wasn’t the right hobby for them, or they received a book as a gift that didn’t suit their taste. Guess where they head next? Yup, your nearest charity shop!
I have found lots of unused coloring books at thrift stores, especially at my local Goodwill store. At least at my local store, their book section is super organized, and I’ve spotted coloring books in the arts and craft section, the “self-help” area, and have found adult coloring books stuck in with the children’s books.
Even if a couple of pages are already finished, you can slice those out and have the rest all to yourself! Also, make sure you check out the school supply and craft areas for colored pencils, organizing bins, and clip boards (something I always use when coloring loose pages).
Free Coloring Pages are Your Friend
You already know how many free pages there are out there, so start accumulating them. It’s a great way to “test out” an artist’s work before buying a whole book (which is one of the reasons we publish free ones, btw, plus we like you!). I know not everyone has a printer, but you could load them onto a thumb drive (which you can buy at a dollar store) and bring them to an office supply store to print or even to your local library (check to see if you can use a thumb drive though, they may prohibit that). Speaking of public libraries, some even have pages to pick up and take home with you.
Also…organize the free pages you have already printed out into a folder or notebook so you can choose the next page to color easily. Its your own custom coloring book!
Gather the Coloring Troops
Host a swap night! Get together with your other crafty and/or coloring pals and bring along the materials that don’t suit you but may be perfect for someone else. Food, fun, and free stuff—what could be better than that?
Home is Where the Color Is
Go through the books you already have and mark pages that you haven’t colored yet with post-it notes. I suspect (not that I know anything about this), you may find you have lots to choose from your own stash! And the pages you passed over before may be just the perfect one for you right now.
I hope that’s helpful to you and as always—happy coloring, my friend!
PS. And yes, I know most dollar store have coloring books, but I have not found them to be the quality we prefer. Every once in a while you’ll find a gem, and if you do, buy two!
