Monday, November 11, 2013

How to Save Money on Art Supplies


            Being a college student is never easy, trying to balance school, work and money. Plus having to pay for books, living costs and tuition can get overwhelming, and being an art student is no different. Paying for supplies can get expensive! They haven’t been calling us starving artists for nothing. So don’t be like Van Gogh, don’t eat paint, here are a few tips to save money, and at least eat Ramen instead!

First, always use coupons when possible, Hobby Lobby offers a 40 to 50 % off coupon every week on one item, which is a great way to get your drawing pad or Bristol board half off! Also Jo-Ann’s and Michaels offer weekly coupons on certain items, and sometimes 30-40% off on one item. You can find these coupons on Facebook, their website, and in their weekly ads. You can also look for other coupons on websites such as, Retailmenot.com, that search for coupons for you Another thing to note is that Jo-Ann’s has a student discount program, if you enroll you can get a discount card of 10% that you can use everyday! They will also send you other coupons as well. But, the first time you use it you must show your student I.D to a manager. You can also save money by looking in the clearance sections of Hobby Lobby and Michaels, I’ve found a lot of things I’ve needed for half the price! Also, all of the stores accept returns usually within 60 days, but items must be unused, and not on clearance or seasonal!
When deciding where to go, most students believe that Michaels is cheaper, however, I find that Hobby Lobby has a lot more to choose from. Either way, I find both to be equally good. Also when looking for building materials for sculpture or 3-D Design, most students believe Home Depot is cheaper than Lowe’s. Either way, when buying building supplies don’t be afraid to ask for help, the customer service representatives at Home Depot and Lowe’s are there to help and can show you items you would have never thought to use! I’ve found them to be very helpful. Lowe’s also has a great program, where you can return a tool within 60 days of purchase. Also, Harbor Freight.com is a great place to look for discounted tools.
Also if interested in using fabric, know what you’re buying, I’ve made this mistake time and time again. At Jo-Ann’s you can return cut fabric if it was not on clearance or marked down (full price only!!). So if you’ve never bought fabric before (like me!!) make sure you know how many yards you need, and go at a later time in the dayI had to wait in line for a half hour to get my fabric cut during the day! Plus, most of the time you don’t need to go expensive, take your time to look and really find what you need, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Also, don’t forget about the Dollar Store, they have a lot of things you can use! Including glue sticks for the hot glue gun, poster board, construction paper, etc.
Another good way to save money is to share supplies with other students, by splitting the cost of a large sheet of foam, half a drawing board, or mat board, etc. Most students are willing to do that and share supplies at one table/area. Also, don’t forget about yard/estate sales, you never know what you’re going to find!
And finally, a note on the bookstore, sometimes you can find what you need there but it’s very expensive! Nevertheless, A few things are good to buy there including, film and photo paper for Art 225 but only for convenience and to make sure you are buying the right stuff! (Buying online is still cheaper) Otherwise, most everything else can be found elsewhere and for a much lower price. And if you find yourself really broke, don’t forget, artists for centuries have been using found items, from garbage to household items, and even body fluid and dirt! So, don’t feel discouraged, the best thing about being an artist is being able to create with anything.

Have any money saving tips? Please comment!

Alison Bur
Gallery Assistant
University Art Gallery
Saginaw Valley State University

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