Podcast Episode 1!

Shownotes for my very first podcast!

The show can be downloaded at, http://knitcents.libsyn.com/rss Right click the link and choose download, then open the file in your music player! If you just want to listen from your computer, go to knitcents.libsyn.com and click the little button that looks like a circle with a box on it and says "pod" inside! The show is now searchable in iTunes, under KnitCents (one word, no spaces). Enjoy!

~Welcome to the show!
-My hopes and dreams for the podcast
-About me!
~Sponsor for January!
Sunset Fibers
-Check out all their beautiful rovings, yarns, and kits! Their 2010 colors have just been released!
~ What I'm knitting
-Molly's Headband from 2009 Interweave Accessories
out of JoAnn Sensations Kashmira yarn. 100% wool. Total cost for project: about $3
~ What I'm spinning
- Sunset Fibers Corriedale! Going to grow up to be some socks for my Gramma! Cost, about $14 for 4oz
~Contest: Check back next week!
~Sales:
-Yarn sales
* www.kyarns.com Discontinued colors, most about $2 off!
* www.littleknits.com end of the year free shipping! 42% off Malabrigo Chunky Coupon Code malabrigo in the check out!
* www.agoodyarn.net Debbie Bliss yarns on sale for about 40% off!
- Sales elsewhere
*Target: end of the year, discounts up to 75% in every department!
* Safeway: New Year's party sales! Entertaining type foods for your awesome New Year's party! Go to www.safeway.com for your local ad!
~ Tips of the Week:
-Turn down the heat! (See December blog page)
-Bartering! (Again, see earlier in the blog)
- Tip from Yarnmonger on Ravelry: Buy yarn in cone form! Much less expensive for a lot more yarn!
~No DIY section this week! Sorry!
~ Worth It!
-JoAnn Sensations Kashmira yarn
Pros:
*only $5.99 a ball
* doesn't pill
* not splitty
* no knots
* Lots of different color options, both solids and variegated and self striping
* Often on sale for 2 for $8
* Great for felting!
Cons:
*Only available in sport weight
* Not machine washable
* Sometimes has tangles in ball- make sure you wind into ball before you use it!
Overall: Worth it!

Tip # 9: Patience is a Virtue

For some reason, tip # 9 never got posted. I tried posting it from my phone and it didn't work, so here it is, a little out of order. Patience is a virtue. If you can wait for the After Blank Sales, you will win at shopping! Even grocery stores have big sales after the season, so stock up! If you find something on sale, and it will get used or can be stored, get a bunch! If you fall in love with a new sweater, wait a month. It'll be on sale. This doesn't just apply to Christmas sales either. If you are a dyer, wait until the day after Easter and stock up on egg dye! It works great for wool! Wait until after Labor day to buy a new BBQ! Buy your new clothes at the end of the season! That way, when next year rolls around, you'll already have your new stuff! Plus, its really fun to find that stuff in your closet and know you haven't worn it yet! Stores are always getting in new inventory, and they put the old stuff on sale to make more room! We've all heard that goofy phrase "Good things come to those who wait." Those goofy phrases don't last FOREVER for no reason! If you can wait, you can save!

Tip # 10: Find a Group!

This can relate to just about any type of hobby you enjoy doing! Find a group of people that enjoy doing the same thing you do! I know that at least once a month, someone in my knitting group cleans out their stash and brings their extras to give away! If you make friends with the people in your group, they will probably offer help and allow you to borrow their stuff so you don't have to spend the money on your own! This can work with any type of craft group: quilting, scrapbooking, wood carving. People who love their craft will always be willing to share their knowledge, and maybe even their stuff! If you are new at your hobby, this is especially important. I know too many new knitters who don't want to join a knitting group because they think their work isn't good enough to show off, but new people usually get the most help, and we all want to give our stuff to people who don't have a lot of stuff!! Find out when and where the group you are interested in meets and go! If there isn't a group already, form one! You'll meet new friends as a bonus!

Tip # 8: Shop the Free Box!

A lot of towns have them! It's a place where people can unload their stuff and just give it away! There is one at my local college, and one at the local co-op. The one at the college is amazing toward the end of the quarter! People are getting ready to move out of the dorms and realize they have collected a lot more stuff than they realized, so they throw it out! I know people who have found brand new clothes, books, electronics, and one person even found a free bike!! The one at the co-op takes donations, but hey! If you can get a coat for a $5 donation, that's cheaper than secondhand stores! Obviously it is more important to pay attention to what you are getting, because there isn't usually any screening like there is at secondhand stores, but if you know where to look, there are some real gems out there! Don't forget about Freecycle.com and the free section on Craigslist as well! Just because it's free doesn't mean it's worthless!

Tip # 7: Shop the Stash

I know it might sound really obvious, but if you've ever knitted anything before, likely you have at least some kind of stash. Even if you aren't a "stasher" (do those people exist?) I'm sure you have leftover odds and ends from other projects. You can turn those leftover bits into awesome projects! If you only have tiny bits, those could become stripes in hats or scarves! If you have a little more, make small projects! Dishcloths, coffee cup cozies, and small toys are all fun and satisfying projects that can be finished quickly with only a small amount of yarn! (The turtle in the photo only used about 40 yards of stash yarn!) If you have yarn you bought a long time ago, and your tastes have changed since you got it, set up a trade! See if there is someone out there that wants the yarn you have, and has the yarn you want! If they don't have what you want, maybe you could sell them the yarn you have to finance the yarn you want! (It doesn't count as buying new stash if you paid for it with old stash). There are tons of ways you can use up your old stash (which has already been paid for)! Get creative! Set up a reward system for yourself! For example: You won't buy any new yarn until you have used up at least x amount of your stash. Then you still get to buy new yarn, but you are also using stash yarn! I promise that even though you don't think you have anything to knit in your stash, if you get really desperate, you'll find something to do with your stash!

Tip # 6: Generics!

Buy generics!! Most generic store brand items are made by name brand companies. They don't want to overproduce their own name, because they know it won't all sell, so they produce the same items and distribute to stores for their own label. The store brands have to pass high standard tests in order to be the store brand. If you check ingredients lists on food, they are often exactly the same. Often the only difference is the price. Sometimes a huge difference in the price! Buy generics! The only thing you have to lose is high prices!

Tip # 5: More is less!

Buy in bulk! I know it never seems like you are saving when you pay the bill at big bulk stores, but if you buy the things you use the most of, and your non-perishable items in bulk, you will be paying less per pound or item, and it will lighten the bill for your more frequent trips. The same works for yarn wholesalers. If you just don't need 24 cans of cream of mushroom soup, or 30 skeins of cashmere silk yarn (though I can't imagine ever not needing that much cashmere silk) find a friend and split the bill! If you know several people who all want to order from the same website, put it all together and save on shipping! A lot of times too, if you order large shipments, the dsitributor will give a discount, or free shipping. Trust me, more is less!

Tip # 4: Join the club!

I know it seems like a total pain to have the "club card" for every store you ever go to, but taking the time to sign up for the free card will make a difference. Most stores will only give you the sale price if you are a member of their super secret free club. Usually the only info you need to give is a phone number, but if you throw in your email address, sometimes they will send you extra coupons! If you give them your home address, you'll often find out about sales in the store, and then you can make your shopping lists based on what's on sale! If there are places you go often that have punch cards, use them! You might not get a discount, but there is usually some kind of "Buy some get one free!" deal in there! Even if you are just passing through a town that you'll never go to again, and you'll never shop at that store again, don't you think that 30 seconds of your time is worth saving a few extra bucks? I do.

Tip # 3: Give it up!

I know what you are thinking, and that is NOT what I mean! Anyways, that would be a method of making money, not saving! By give it up, I mean give up something you do every day, for one day a week. One day a week, give up your car. Use public transportation, walk, bike or carpool! Give up your daily shower one day a week. (Or 3 or 4 days. Trust me, your body will regulate itself without a shower every 24 hours). Give up your morning latte for a cup of drip coffee, or hot tea. You'll still get your caffeine fix, but it won't cost you $4. If you eat out more than once a week, stay in one of those nights! Cooking an awesome meal for yourself will cost only a fraction of what it would cost to have someone make it for you! Can you save your errand that you were going to do today until tomorrow when you have other things to do? It will save gas and an extra trip! If you can find it in yourself to give up more than one thing, or give up something more than one day a week, your savings will only get better! Get creative! Pay attention to the things you do every day, and ask yourself, "Can I go without this today?" You'll find yourself saying "Yes" a lot more than you'd think! Good luck!

PS: Obviously this doesn't apply to knitting! Do that every day!

Tip # 2: Bartering!

Ok, since it is now technically 12:09am in my time zone, it is a new day, and therefore, you get a new tip! Tip # 2: barter! I know that the taxman doesn’t approve, but you have a skill, and other people have skills. Maybe you could work out something with your hairstylist or a local restaurant! (These are things I have done in the past, or am currently doing). I am a licensed massage therapist, and right now I have trades with a local cafe where I get free food, I am working off several hours of free tattoo work, I do regular trades with my hairstylist, and I just brought up the subject of a trade to the guy who is teaching my acrobatics class! People who have skills are going to be interested in your skills! Don’t be discouraged if someone says no, because there will always be someone who says yes! The best tips I can offer in this situation are these: stay local. Chain companies can not give you free product in exchange for a knitted hat. However, your local yarn shop might be willing to give you some yarn if you knit up a test pattern for them! Or maybe you could work out some cleaning work in exchange for getting your house painted! Do you do great design work? Maybe you could create an ad flyer and get free swag in exchange! We as a culture have gotten away from bartering, and it is really something we should all try to get back to! Technically, according to the IRS and all those super awesome fun people, we aren’t supposed to barter unless we assign a monetary value for our received services and/or goods, and then pay taxes on it, but sshhh. I won’t tell if you don’t.

Money saving tip #1: Turn down the heat!

If you live somewhere that requires heaters and furnaces during the winter, this one will help. Turn your thermostat down by 3 degrees. Its not a lot, but last month I did this and saved almost $16 through the month on my power bill! I decided this month to turn it down 2 more degrees, so I'll report back next month when I get my bill. I keep the heater at 60 degrees when I'm sleeping, not home or am up moving around and doing things, and 65 when I am sitting on the couch watching TV and knitting or spinning. I wear sweaters and warm socks all the time, and occasionally a hat inside my house but I am saving money on my power bill! Try it out!

My first post!

Hello everyone! My name is Rachel, (Roue) and I have been knitting for about 6 years, and spinning for one year. Through these six years, I have been in high school, college, trade school, and now I work on a pretty regular basis. The few things that have stayed constant in my life during that time have been my wonderful partner (now fiance) and the fact that money is always tight. That said, I have always been able to find ways to support my knitting habits (addictions) and ways to make my knitting stretch to the very last stitch. Now, I know that times are hard, and the economy is rough, and a lot of people are trying to save money. I want to help! I want to share with you my ideas and ways to save money, either on yarn and knitting related items, or in other areas of your life so you can save for your knitting! I'm hoping to start a podcast as well, and if so, this blog will become my shownotes page! For now, I'm going to scour the internet for great deals on yarns and fiber related things! I'm going to share some of my techniques for making everyday things last longer, and cost less! Most importantly, I want to hear your ideas for saving money, because I'm not a total egocentric, and I know that there are some awesome ideas out there that I may not have had yet, but I bet someone has! I'm going to try and share an idea a day, if you have an idea you'd like to share, shoot me an email at cleverroue@gmail.com or send me a message on Ravelry! My nickname is Roue! Feel free to stop by the Knit Cents group and leave a sweet idea! I can't wait to see what this becomes!