Seven ways to save money through craft

Can you craft your way to a more affordable lifestyle? Making your own obviously saves you the cash you'd otherwise spend buying stuff, but some projects will actually give you returns on your hard-earned moolah.

1. Get into card-making

I have to admit, I get a bit grumpy about the cost of buying greetings cards. When you've already bought someone a present, it feels such a rip-off paying again for something we could all do a decent job of making ourselves. And I've found that making my own can be a lot of fun!

Follow the jump for the rest of our top money-saving and cash creating projects.

2. Mend your clothes

Becoming handy with a needle will save you loads on clothing alterations. Even if you're only up to sewing on buttons and taking up hems, you're still saving on repairs and/or replacement garments, and the more you practice, the close you'll get to becoming an expert on full-on clothes customisation.

3. Sell your stuff

You may think your skills are not good enough to bring in money, but as long as you can make stuff, the odds are someone less creative out there will be happy to buy it! Etsy and Folksy have made the process of setting up an online business almost effortless, but if you have any questions on how to get started, their FAQ should help you out.

4. Craft down your energy bills

There are so many ways you can use craft to save energy around the home. Creating rugs of any sort helps plug floor-level draughts, while a doggie draught excluder stops more getting in through the door. All sorts of winter woolies will help you in your drive to turn your thermostat down by a degree or two, while knocking up a few cup cozies will cut down your reliance on the kettle.

5. Make a 'rainy day craft box'

If you have kids, or are an eclectic crafter, you can save on trips to the haberdashery or toyshop by designating a container in your home the 'rainy day craft box'. Don't let anything that looks shiny, interesting, colourful or useful near the bin, and make sure it ends up here instead. Soon, you'll have a box of tricks ready to be put to use in all kinds of projects -- and you've paid nothing.

6. Keep food fresh

It's so much easier to avoid wasting food when you've got attractive and functional storage close at hand. If you're trying to take lunch into work each day, a re-usable sandwich wrap is a godsend, and there are instructions to make an attractive one you'll never leave at home here and here.

7. Repurpose

Repurposing is quite simply the art of turning rubbish into useful, practical and valuable new stuff that will either make your life easier and more enjoyable, or can be sold on. For some really inspiring projects, check out Junkmarket Style for page upon page of thrifty household styling.

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