It's Time for the California Pen Show! (February Mid-Month Update)

AKA How to Pen Show on a Restrictive Budget

Note: when I started writing this post, I was sitting at the airport, eagerly awaiting my flight to Southern California. I arrived at the hotel for the California Pen Show, too exhausted and anxious to do a final proofread and hit the submit button. Now, it’s already the end of day one, but I’m still going to keep my pre-show thoughts as-is.

This will be the first pen show I've attended since embarking on this no-spend challenge. I'm excited to reunite with friends and explore the show, but I'll admit, I'm feeling a little anxious about potential temptations that might exceed my budget. But before we dive into that, let's reflect on what's happened over the past two weeks.

How it’s Going

Over the past two weeks, I've stuck to the no-spend challenge. I haven't made any purchases! Instead, I've been immersed in the novel I’m editing, preparing for the pen show, and attempting to keep up with my journal. Whenever the urge to shop or mindlessly scroll through Instagram arises, I redirect my focus towards writing and brainstorming, which has helped curb some shopping impulses. I've taken a break from TikTok this month to prioritize my writing, and I'm pleased to report that I haven't opened the app at all.

Last week, my bubble tea glass pen, a purchase I made back in December, finally arrived. I've been thoroughly enjoying using it. The wider line width compared to my Aun glass pen works wonderfully with lighter inks, and the nib is smooth and writes beautifully. Although I haven't taken many photos yet, I'm looking forward to doing a little photoshoot with it. This is my last lingering purchase from 2023, so there’s a strange sense of finality to it. The challenge feels even more real now that new stuff isn’t rolling in on its own anymore.

For Valentine's Day, I was tempted to ask my husband for a stationery item as a gift, but I ultimately refrained. I'm still undecided on whether asking for stationery gifts from him would be cheating on my no-spend. I think when for my birthday and our anniversary this year, I will try to focus more on experiences and necessary items rather than asking for stationery.

Using my Stuff

I had a brief moment where I caught up on my journaling, but then quickly fell behind again. It feels like I'm not making a significant dent in my stationery stash. Once I return from the pen show, I'm determined to tackle my stationery organization head-on. This means finally creating capsules, but I'm feeling lost on where to start. If anyone knows of any helpful resources or guides on creating stationery capsules, I'd greatly appreciate any links or recommendations you can share!

Planning for a Pen Show and all those Temptations

In the past, I've attended pen shows without a strict budget in mind. While I had a rough idea of what I could afford to spend, there were no firm guidelines, and my approach was far from stringent. However, this upcoming pen show will mark a significant departure from my previous experiences.

So, how do you still enjoy a pen show when you're on a budget?

First and foremost, set a budget and devise strategies to stick to it. Here are some tactics I plan to use this weekend:

• Withdraw cash ahead of time and bring only what you've budgeted to spend. Leave your debit card behind to avoid the temptation of overspending or taking money from an ATM. Spending cash is a great way to see exactly how much of your budget is left, rather than mindlessly swiping your card. Plus, some vendors may offer cash discounts, and certain transactions may be cash-only.

• In a similar fashion, if possible, leave your credit card in your hotel room to prevent impulse purchases. Having to return to your room to retrieve it gives you time to reconsider whether the purchase is truly necessary. Alternatively, if you're local, leave your card at home.

• Research the vendors beforehand and compile a list of items you intend to purchase along with their prices. This will provide a clear picture of your expected expenses and allow you to leave room in your budget for any unexpected finds.

  

• Keep a running tally of your expenses, especially if you're using a credit card. Write it down in a notebook or keep a list of totals on your phone.

• If you're attending the pen show with friends, let them know about your budget. Enlist their support in keeping you accountable and avoiding unnecessary splurges.

• If you’re traveling for the pen show, pack light. Limiting luggage space limits what you can buy and bring home. If you only have a carry-on, you can’t bring back a bunch of inks.

• With any purchases, before handing over your money, ask yourself some of the following questions: Does it have an immediate use? Do I have space for it? Is it different from the items I already have in my collection? Will I actually use it or will I hoard it instead? Why do I want this? It’s okay to put something back if you don’t like the answers to those questions.

• Make a pass around the show and look at all the tables before making any purchases. This will help you get a sense of what’s available and help you prioritize your spending and keep you from feeling like you missed out on anything.

• If you come across something that exceeds your budget, resist the urge to impulse-buy. Take a breather outside the show floor or in the lobby if needed. Remember, it's okay to walk away if it's out of your budget.

A pen show isn’t just about spending money. Sure, we want to support our favorite vendors and nib grinders and small makers, but it’s not always possible or within our budgets. Pen shows have a huge social component, and it’s honestly one of my favorite parts about attending. I’ve made so many friends at pen shows and through the pen community. Fortunately, there are several ways to show support to makers and vendors without spending money:

• Share photos of their tables and products on your social media platforms (with their permission). Tag the vendors and makers to help spread the word about their offerings to a wider audience.

• Repost and share their social media updates and announcements on your own profile. By boosting their visibility, you're helping them reach potential customers who may be interested in their products.

• If you come across products that catch your eye but are not currently within your budget, make notes for future reference. Carry a notebook to jot down details about specific items, such as inks or nibs, so you can remember for later.

• Take the time to chat with vendors and makers to learn about their backgrounds and the inspiration behind their creations. Understanding their stories allows you to share them with others in the community, helping to build connections and support their endeavors.

• If you have friends who are able to make purchases, encourage them to support the vendors and makers whose products resonate with them. By spreading the word and enabling others to make purchases, you're indirectly supporting the vendors and contributing to their success. (Only enable people who have the means to make these purchases though, please respect other people’s budgets in the same way you’d like them to respect yours!)

• Volunteer to bring items home for friends and local community members, especially if you’re traveling to attend the show. This is something really special you can do for a friend. It supports the vendors, and it only costs you a little effort!

At a pen show, there are plenty of free experiences to enjoy beyond browsing vendor tables and making purchases. Here are some ways to make the most of your pen show experience without spending money:

• Bring along ink samples, memo notes, or washi tapes to swap or destash. Look out for pre-planned meetups or destash tables where you can exchange unwanted items for new additions to freshen up your stash. You can also pre-arrange swaps with friends attending the show or swap goodie bags.

• Some shows have ink testing stations. I love when shows offer these, because it lets you test out so many inks without having to buy anything! You may find your favorite new ink!

• Join the evening gatherings at the hotel bar, often referred to as "Pen Show After Dark." These informal meetups provide opportunities to socialize, try out interesting pens and nibs, and deepen connections within the community.

• Many pen shows offer free seminars, especially geared towards new attendees and first-timers. Take advantage of these to learn more about pens, inks, and other aspects of the hobby. Not only will you gain valuable knowledge, but you'll also have a chance to mingle with fellow enthusiasts away from the temptation of the show floor.

• If you're a local attendee or you’ve gotten to know some vendors, consider volunteering or working at the pen show. In exchange for your time and assistance, you may receive free entry to the show and other perks. Volunteering is not only a rewarding way to contribute to the event but also allows you to immerse yourself more deeply in the pen community.

I’ve been saving my $100 quarterly budget specifically to spend at this show. I know there will be more things I want than I can afford with that budget, so my priority will be exclusives, items that have been on my wishlist for a while, or items that I can acquire cheaper at this show. I have a few pre-planned purchases, but I also have left myself a little room in the budget for some spontaneity or a surprise. However, I still want those purchases to be more intentional and less impulsive than they may have been in the past. In the next post, I’ll talk about what I end up purchasing, why I purchased it, and how I plan to use it.

Also, if you’re at the California Pen Show this weekend, come say hi! I’ll be working at the Kyuseido table, selling pens and helping support Tokyostationpens (CY) and Stringsandpedals (Anabelle) while they grind nibs!

Totals

Nothing has changed since the last update, but I expect we’ll see some new additions in the next post. Stay tuned!

As always, you can monitor the tracker here, or copy it and use it yourself if you’d like!

Thanks for reading! The next update will be at the end of the month. I plan to do an overall recap of the show and talk about how things went!

If you’ve made it this far and you’re not a subscriber already, make sure you subscribe! All the no-spend updates are free!

I enjoy comments and feedback, so let me know what you think of my progress so far! If you’re also on a no-spend or low-spend, let me know how it’s going!

I also have a little tip jar! Any tips or paid subscriptions directly go into my “quit my job to write full-time someday” savings account.