You’re Not Saving Money, You Are Spending Money On Your Hobby
| March 6, 2012 | Posted by Ashley under Money Rants |
Yesterday I was baking a cake for my husband’s 30th birthday, The Pioneer Woman’s Chocolate Sheet Cake, and I started thinking about all of the money that I could save if I took cake decorating classes and started making awesome birthday cakes.
About thirty seconds into this conversation taking place in my head, I realized I was lying to myself.
If we spent $20 per cake on each member of our family (8 people total), we would save $160 per year.
As it stands, I make all the cakes already. The chocolate sheet cake is requested most of the time, and that costs me less than $4 to make. The most expensive cake I make is an amazing cheesecake, and that only costs about $8 to make.
If I took all four levels of Wilton Cake decorating classes (which I would because I’m an overachiever), that would cost me around $200, $25 for the class and $25 for supplies.
I would then probably spend $200 more for all of the awesome accessories. You think I kid? There are two full aisles dedicated to cake decorating at Joann’s. I went there to buy purple icing dye because my daughter requested purple cupcakes for her birthday on Tuesday. I bought the icing dye (I’m sure there is a more technical term for it) as well as an icing tip and decorator’s bag. I spend $10!
I commended myself for my self-control because I didn’t buy any pearly sprinkles, princess sugar crowns, or purple violet cupcake papers.
When I Was Young And Naive (ha ha!)
I have a lot of experience with the whole concept of saving money by making something yourself. Ten years ago when I discovered my first pregnancy I decided to take a quilting class so that I could make the baby’s crib bedding and save us a ton of money.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahaha!
I spent close to $400 for the class, supplies, and materials, and I didn’t even have the stupid quilt done until he was four years old!
I’m not a quitter and I refused to give up, so I told my husband that I was going to finish that stupid quilt, even if it killed me.
Well, by the time I finished the quilt, I had a two year and a newborn. My two year old was now requesting his own quilt. So I had to start the whole process over again, and again, and again……..
Do you have any idea how much money I have spent on quilting fabric, supplies, and do-dads over the last ten years? I can assure you, I haven’t saved a dime.
I still have three quilts to make for three of the children. I’m so behind!
So, my point is not that you should not pick up any hobbies. My point is, don’t start a new hobby with the intention of saving money. It rarely works out that way.
I don’t even like quilting, but now I have roped myself into making quilts for all of the children that I end up having, plus, I’ll probably end up making them for grandchildren too!
I don’t even like quilting!
I May Still Take Up Cake Decorating
I love beautiful cakes! So, I may still do it. But let’s get one thing straight. It won’t be to save money. I anticipate I’ll be spending a lot of money.
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It’s a great hobby… but definitely not cheap! If you opened a cake making business, the classes would be well worth it, but otherwise, I’d only do it if it was truly a hobby that I wanted to pursue. Otherwise, stick with making regular ol’ cakes… sometimes simple is best!
When we moved into our house and had kids, there was no time to go to the gym (a hobby my wife and I both enjoy). So we decided to buy a bunch a free-weights and a few machines like a Treadmill, bench, etc. Did we save any money? Well, I guess you’d have to use the equipment first to actually be saving money – Ha!