That’s right… the first post. The Manifesto! I could be cheeky and pull a Plays-With-Squirrels moment (if you get that, I love you), but I won’t.

Basically, this is the mission statement post. All blogs have them. It’s just part of nature. Who am I to shake that up? I’m not, that’s who.

So, I was sitting one night, frustrated with the various communities (cosplay, retro, reenacting) that were basically making it seem like you have to have money in the bank to do these hobbies. You have to have the $20/yard period correct fabric. False. I buy at Joann, and have been regularly complimented on the historical accuracy. You have to have such-and-such prop that’s 100% screen accurate. False. I rarely do, yet people get who I’m cosplaying. You have to purchase from insert-expensive-retro-site-here. False. I buy from Amazon, or big-box stores and STILL look “accurate.” My point being: stop telling people they have to be rich to play, and start helping them look for ways to play that’s in their budget.

Therefore BudgetBounding begins. An open book of what I spend, how I do my research to get the historical accuracy so that I don’t spend $20/yard, and how I throw together looks for cheap. It’s simultaneously easy and hard, and I’m all about it. Everyone can do these things. Everyone. And I want to help show you how you can.

Stay turned for some Captain Marvel. Some 18th century. Some retro. All of the things.