First, I'd like to say that I am no expert...by any means. Just like many of you, I have cheated on spending freezes and of course, regretted it just a tiny bit a week later when I realized I really didn't need to go to the craft store. This January I decided to go into spending freeze mode. After all of the Black Friday sales, Christmas gifts, and other excess shopping, I know that I have enough stuff to complete at least 10 albums. Luckily enough, Sara Scraps and Khristina from Redefined Kreative are hosting another round of Rediscover Your Stash Spending Freeze Event the month of January! Check it out on Facebook if you're interested in playing along with challenges. Below I am sharing my tips on how you can stick to your spending freeze however long it may be.

Tip #1:
Unsubscribe from shop emails. Your email box can be lurking with several deals and coupons that you do not need to fall for! Sales happen year round, you can shop sales once your spending freeze is over. Plus, resubscribing may bring you more coupons or offers.

Tip #2:
Don't go in! Going in to anywhere that has scrapbooking supplies can be a danger zone. Even if you just need adhesive, you might just wander down the clearance aisle and buy $20 of things you don't need and possibly don't love. I would recommend sending someone else on this errand or doing a quick order off of Amazon for your essentials like adhesive.

Tip #3:
The key to my success this month is based on wishlists. Wishlists can satisfy the need for shopping without actually purchasing. I do virtual shopping all of the time and just throw things on various wishlists. It satisfies my desire to shop and I didn't get new supplies or spend any money. I find a lot of inspiration that way as well, but it is still dangerous to go on these websites during a spending freeze!

Tip #4:
Shopping your stash can be equally satisfying. If you're feeling the need to see new supplies, dig deep in to your stash! You'll never what you might find. I did this the other day and found some absolutely adorable Valentine's Day supplies! Watch for some more videos featuring those items coming soon. You could put your supplies into new categories or organization too!

Tip #5:
Last, but not least you can rely on scrappy friends. Accountability is key. Telling your friends or family that you need support to stay on track isn't a bad thing. Some times, I will ask my family if they need gifts or cards made so I can have a task to work on. It keeps me creative, but it doesn't push me to shop.

A couple of more ideas. The ladies at the Rediscover Your Stash Group allow certain types of things including adhesive, white cardstock, and paper trimmer refills as items that you can purchase without breaking the freeze. It's important to know these things that you might need for your creativity to continue, but do not be too easy on yourself. Give yourself a cheat day! Like a good diet, cheats help keep you on track. Since you know your limits best, you should set them with what will work best for you.

I hope you guys enjoyed these couple of tricks and tips on sticking to your spending freeze! I'm looking forward to crafting a ton this month and focusing on using my stash. Especially the new items I received for Christmas. I wish you luck on however long your spending freeze lasts! Thanks for stopping by!