How to Invest in Your Medieval Recreation When You're Broke

This post was cathartic to write, but I didn't originally think I'd share it. I decided to go ahead and post it because I know I'm not the only one who finds themselves in this boat. If you're struggling to know what to do when finances are tight, I hope this post helps you the way writing it has helped me.

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Earlier in the year, my family had an unexpected financial emergency, so extra money to put toward events and SCA projects has been and will be mostly non-existent until next year. Not having funds for my hobby brings into focus the reality that improving my kit, checking boxes on my wishlist, and attending some events costs more the deeper into this hobby I go. A new, better, larger tent will be more expensive than the used little one with some issues. A pair of custom-made turnshoes in the exact period style you do will be more than the mass-produced generic pair you can pick up at any given War. It's easier to make it to the more local, cheaper day events than to shell out the extra for gas, food, and camping at larger events that are further away. So when money is tight, it can feel an awful lot like the ability to keep improving has stalled out.
Not everyone experiences this, but many of us do occasionally find ourselves in a situation in which investing money in this historical recreation hobby is not possible. So what do you do when that happens? Here are 5 suggestions.

1. Work on Research Projects
The thing with research is that there's always more of it to do! Research is the stuff that separates historical recreation from cosplay, so doing more of it when you can't otherwise invest in your kit or events will never be time ill-spent. I have a long list of research topics I've been kicking around for years, as well as a small handful of projects I've started but haven't been able to follow through on. In general, these projects don't get worked on because the lion's share of my energy and time get spent on making things. When there aren't any funds for materials to make things, though, the research can get pulled up to the front burner and more progress on that front can be made.

In this modern era of the internet, you can do a huge amount of legwork for your research and never have to pay a dime. Library cards are either free or come with a small annual fee if you have to go outside your municipal area for a good library with access to better books. It's also possible that if you find sources that you can't access for one reason or another without paying, a post on Facebook to your friends may reveal that someone else has the source or can get you the information you're looking for. I personally try to get as much use out of Google's extensive book search ability as I can, as well as the various online manuscript libraries such as Gallica or Bodleian. Sometimes Amazon's "Look Inside" feature can be helpful as well.

2. Clear Out the Unfinished Projects
We all have them. The projects we start, put down for any number of reasons, then never pick back up again. Remember though that at one time, you already invested in that project. Not being able to start new projects is a good opportunity to clean out your clutter and make space for completing great projects you may have forgotten about, without having to spend on them all over.

If you've moved beyond a certain project or realized you didn't like it, evaluate how you may be able to re-purpose what you have for other projects. Recently, I'd lost passion for an embroidered gift for a friend that I hadn't worked on in months. I repurposed several of the materials for a project for myself, dramatically reducing how many materials I needed, and made the new project affordable.

If you still want to get old projects completed but lack particular materials, explore alternatives (use different materials, ask friends if they have anything you could barter for, etc.), or go ahead and allow yourself the chance to save up for what you need. It's waited to be completed this long- it can wait some more- but now you'll be reinvested mentally to get the project off your worktable as soon as you can acquire what you're missing.

3. Inventory & Maintain Your Current Kit
Beyond the projects you haven't finished yet, you probably already have an established kit of some scale and quality. Since you're mostly stuck with it until your situation changes, you can take the time to look at everything you have, purge what you no longer need, and evaluate what might need some repairs or adjustments. 

It's sort of amazing how we can hang onto things we even when we've gotten better things (always good to have a spare!). A side effect of this habit, though, is that it can sometimes trick us into believing that our stuff isn't that good as a whole. When we can look at everything we've got and weed out the old stuff, we might be surprised to discover how much we've actually already improved.

This is also an excellent time to plot out new ways to use your gear or combine things in new ways. This can make a big impact on feeling like you aren't stagnating the next time you head to an event.

4. Focus on Your Social Relationships
Historical recreation is a community endeavor as much as anything else, and the friendships and connections we make among those who share this hobby with us can be quite valuable. Our friends may encourage us to keep doing all the things, and that's not a bad thing (they want you to improve as much as you do!) At the end of the day, though, your colleagues aren't going to stop enjoying your company, hearing about your passions, or being interested in seeing you at events just because you're a bit broke right now. Do what you can to put the time you would have spent working on things you can't currently afford into your friendships and social network.

Also, just because your project list, event schedule, or ability to camp isn't where you'd like it to be, don't let the negativity of that seep into your network and friendships. It's also okay to let some close friends (and definitely any Peers you may have formal connections with) know about your situation so they understand that your need to put on the brakes and spend more time at home isn't because you're upset or burnt out.

5. Don't Stop Dreaming
I know it's easy to convince yourself that thinking too much about the things you want to make, learn, or have will just lead to disappointment. It might, I'm not going to lie. The benefit, though, is that you continue to refine your wishlist and the direction you want to head. Even when you can't buy things or invest in events, you're going to continue looking for opportunities. If you have inspiration and ideas at the ready when you do have a little bit of money to spend, you'll know where to spend it!