Sometimes starting a new endeavor can be a strain on tight budgets. Luckily Painted Rocks has a very low cost of entry, and can be started for less than $20.

The bare minimum that you need when you begin is:

• Rocks
• Paint
• Paint Brushes

You can find rocks in many places including your yard, a friend's yard, or other places that you may walk. They are usually not difficult to find unless living in a large city.

As for paint and brushes, you may already have some around the house, especially if you have children. If not, you may know someone who has children and it would be a good bet that they have paint and brushes that you could borrow.

You can also use ordinary household items to paint, especially in creative ways. Nails can be used to dot paint in various widths. Q-tips could also be used for dotting as well as pins with differing head sizes and shapes. Just stick them in a pencil eraser point first.

Popsicle sticks can be used to spread paint, or to block an area as you draw a straight line.

Many women have used makeup supplies, including brushes, to paint with. If you routinely paint your nails in creative ways then the tools you use may be applicable to rock painting.

Get creative. A quick look around your house could yield a plethora of tools that could give your rocks a unique look.

As you progress and are able to spend a little more, then you can add tools and paint to your collection. Dollar stores are a great place to find paint and painting supplies. You never know what you might find.

Craft stores like Michaels, AC Moore, etc. routinely offer coupons for 40% off or more, and will most likely have a discount bin where you can find deals. In future articles we will explain how to find deals online for the supplies you need.

Painting rocks definitely does not have to cost a lot, and can provide some of the lowest-cost enjoyment for the money.