The CF, No-Rationalization, Stitch-From-Stash Challenge

[gparr]

The challenge: In what remains of 2014, can you control yourself, limit what you spend for stash, and actually stitch some of the stash you've already purchased?
Begins: April 1, 2014, but join anytime you'd like
Who can participate: Anyone and you can join at any time.
The rules:
--Limit stash spending to an average of $25/month by the end of the year. That means that if you spend $25 in April and $30 in May, you need to limit yourself to $20 in June to get your average to $25.
--This includes spending for anything stitching related, other than finishing/framing. That means if you need new needles or scissors, they count against the $25. Use what you have. You'll never stitch it all anyway.
--$25 is $25. If you receive a gift certificate for $25, that does not entitle you to spend $50 that month. The idea is to control how much you add to your stash and work on what's already been purchased.
--No rationalization means no excuses, justifications, tap dances, going nuts because there's a sale, blah, blah, blah. You commit yourself to purchasing no more than $25 on stash supplies in a month, period.
Reporting: If you join, you commit to posting a report at the end of each month. A separate thread will be set up for each month. That report consists of
--How much you spent that month
--Your average spending to date (Yes, if your average exceeds $25, you have to report it so other members can beat on you for spending too much.)
--At least one photo (photo quality is irrelevant) of progress you've made that month on stash items. Multiple photos are certainly permitted. Feel good and show off the fact that you're reducing your stash pile.
--If someone doesn't report, all other participants are expected to apply severe peer pressure on that person through posts and PMs to force them to post. Trash talk and cheap shots are permitted.

That's all I can think of. Commit to the challenge by signing up here. Post questions in this thread, but if they involve some form of trying to find a loophole, my response will be either "See the rules." or "You're rationalizing." Watch for a separate reporting post for April.

Gary

[gparr]

I'm in.
Gary

[Lori0]

Please add me the your challenge. Thank you.

[MaggieM1750]

Ha ha.. love that last bit about peer pressure and trash talking. That's what got me... I'm in on this one.

My struggle will be to actually stitch and put my sewing machine away! I need to get going on these baby projects. One is due in July the other in August! And keep going on the 4 others that MUST be done by Christmas.
So, I'm fair game, open to any and all harassment on making progress on stitch projects.

[gparr]

So, I'm fair game, open to any and all harassment on making progress on stitch projects.

Then you'd better starting heating up that needle. I keep wondering when that Chicken towel is going to get finished.

Gary

[MaggieM1750]

Chicken towel is done! Strawberries are about half done.

Here's the link to the last page of that thread

[Allyn]

I'm in!

...--Limit stash spending to an average of $25/month by the end of the year. That means that if you spend $25 in April and $30 in May, you need to limit yourself to $15 in June to get your average to $25.
...

And just a good-natured rib at Gary:
Don't ask him to help you do the averaging math. In this example, you'd be able to spend up to $20 in June. . .

[gparr]

Chicken towel is done! Strawberries are about half done.

Here's the link to the last page of that thread

Looks great. Yay for you. Need to remove it from your signature. I keep thinking you're slacking.
Gary

[gparr]

Ouch!! Guess I'll have to quit doing math in my head. I'd better correct that.

I'm in!


And just a good-natured rib at Gary:
Don't ask him to help you do the averaging math. In this example, you'd be able to spend up to $20 in June. . .

[gparr]

Participants so far:
gparr
Allyn
MaggieM1750
LoriO

[Nimble stitch]

Count me in. I've think I've converted dollars to pound so for me it's £15

[jocellogirl]

I'm in for sure. I've been trying to stitch from stash this year anyway, so making it official will be good for me.
One question though, I subscribe to 4 cross stitch magazines and the money goes out by direct debit every quarter. Do I have to take those subscriptions into account, or is this just for 'stash'?

[coolpenguin]

I'm in! I've been stitching from my stash this year already except for a few baby gifts I had to buy for a dear friend who is getting married. I made up a list of everyone at the beginning of the year and what they're getting and I've been doing a good job of sticking to it.

Thanks for doing this!

It's sad how HUGE my stash is after a little more than a year in this hobby.

Question: Online friends and friends of friends send me random kits pretty much weekly. I don't ask for them and never know what I'm getting. Will this hinder me in the challenge?

[Fizzbw]

Having just spend four months of stash allowance in one go....but I'm not joining in, something like this would mean that I get cross at the restrictions and spend it anyway....so for the sake of my pocket, I won't do it but will enjoy watching you guys!!!

Niki xxx

[gparr]

Magazines don't count. Free stuff doesn't count, either. It's free so it's not money you spent to acquire stash and it's rude to refuse it. But gift cards/certificates count because you are the one spending the money. Splitting the hair a bit, I realize, but our mothers taught us that, when someone gives you a gift you accept it gratefully and smile. You also send a thank you note.
Gary

[clockwork]

I probably should skip this. The only money I've spent on cross stitching this year was the postage for one manilla envelope to send a chart to someone else and that's unlikely to change for the rest of the year because I love my stash just how it is. I achieve more satisfaction from removing things from it than adding them. I've only got one thing on my wish list and it is so absurdly overpriced that I'm not really that tempted. Good luck to everyone else though. I agree with Rose's advice in the other thread. If you are tempted, go through the things you already have. There is probably something you've forgotten about that will call to you.

[mags]

I am enjoying all the chat about this and would join up but I have an order currently brewing for Sewandso (nothing major - mainly threads and beads and bits and bobs which might go over the limit) and won't get it done before April.

And I'm not one for spending a lot - I really have more than enough to be going on with and can't imagine spending anything like the monthly allowance.

[guenever]

count me in. why not? i am not spending much at all right now. but i will want to get some nice fabric at some point for another project. but i guess if i get kicked out, then i do! lol

sure, count me in.

[msufly]

I'll join in. I'm the one that originally brought the blog-based SFS Challenge to the attention of the forum, with it's ridiculous exceptions. I signed up for that one because I knew I spent less than $25/month and why not sign up for something with a chance to earn a prize?!?!

I'm all for peer pressure, criticism, and praise too!

[TracyG]

I'm in and it's the promise of trash talk and cheap shots that hooked me! I'll probably blow a good chunk of my allowance during an upcoming trip (if I'm lucky enough to find the shop) but since it's an average and the rules are so straightforward, I think I can actually do this one! I think I'll go fire up my needle...