Gathering Supplies and Hobby Lobby...

I got this idea from a friend of mine, who just happens to be a fellow MFW user, when I ran into her at Hobby Lobby.

I found it extremely helpful so I thought I'd pass it along. Any person can do this regardless of the curriculum you use. It does require a little planning and some storage, but it is SO WORTH IT, and in the end, will save you a TON of money :)

1 - Go through your curriculum and see what crafts and projects you have coming up for the entire year. 

2 - make a list of each supply/item needed for those projects

3 - Subscribe to the weekly hobby Lobby e-mails notifying you of their weekly sale items. You can also go to their website each week, but I find it easier when they deliver the notifications straight to my inbox. 

4 - With each weekly Hobby Lobby sale, scour your list and see what items you need, then go and buy them when they are on sale at Hobby Lobby. 

*Tip* - Hobby Lobby often features 40% off coupons. I load each member of my family up with one each time we go in order to save on those odd-ball items or the ones that never seem to go on sale. 

*Tip* - Start early in the summer (or as soon as your current school year comes to a close) so you have more weeks/months to gather your supplies for the upcoming school year. 

*Tip* - Save your receipts. What you don't end up using, you can return either for cash back or a store credit. 

I can't tell you how nice it is to have each item I'll need for upcoming projects and crafts already tucked away in my cabinets. No more rushing around at the last minute gathering supplies :) And I was notorious for this! 

If you do not have a Hobby Lobby near you, I'm sure this will work with other craft supply stores. Subscribe to their weekly e-mails, check their websites each week, or look through their sales section in the weekly newspaper.