Well, I have the day off work today to help my mom prepare for the family reunion at their house tomorrow. I got up this morning and paid all my bills (payday) per the plan. I am fairly close to having a 0% financing credit card paid off. It is one of those where it is free for 18 months but if you don't pay it off within the 18 months, it is accumulating all that interest and it will be owed. So I definitely have to have it paid off. I have until 2010 sometime, but I really want it to be paid off now so I don't have that monthly payment to worry about. I was hoping I was going to find a way to pay it off before the hours cut at work, but being that starts tomorrow, that didn't happen. I guess worse case scenario I am okay to not make payments (besides the minimum) on it during the hours cut. And the hours cut is supposed to be just temporary, the only problem is we really don't know how long temporary means.
I am off to meet my mom to do some last minute shopping and then back to her house to start preparing food for tomorrow. I also have in the back of my head that I really would like to give all the dogs a bath today. I can have my niece help me as it is pretty taxing on me physically. Either I give them a bath in the tub and am kneeling on my knees all that time or I give them one in the laundry sink. That is a great option and I have one of those shower sprayer attachments set up on that sink. It works really great. However, the dogs never learned how to go downstairs, and I never encouraged it. So, that means I have to carry them up and down. And that is pretty tough for me to physically do. Not that the dogs weigh a lot, I just can't do stairs more than once or twice a day, on a good day. When my niece helps, she can either carry up and down and dry off in between and it works great or even in the tub, she can do one or two and give my knees a break for a little while.
I now have less than half an hour to get ready and out of the house, I know I can do it, but I gotta get going! Here's to not buying too many craft supplies today....
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
DIY project
Of course, last night I ended up not working on the MT class like I was supposed to. I got interested in a DIY show and was fascinated by a project. I thought it all out in my head. I keep a journal book by my bed and I write craft ideas in it. When something on a show sparks my creativity or whenever I remember a project I have been wanting to try, when I see a commercial for something I think I can make, etc. I jot it down. So, I have a page now to this project I saw. It would be a great gift for a baby shower or for a new mom. I love scrapbooking and this basically was a store bought photo album which I am so normally against. But you customize it and get all the pages ready and all the new mom does is slip in the corresponding pictures. It sounds like a great idea because I have a hard time keeping up with scrapbooking and I don't have any kids yet. I can't imagine how hard it would be with a newborn.
This sparked my thoughts about a diaper bag I have been wanting to try and make. It was so darn cute I thought I could change the fabrics and use it as a tote bag. It had lots of pockets inside. I also reviewed those instructions. I think it seems pretty simple. The hardest part is going to be guesstimating the pattern for it.
This brought thoughts of another project actually already in the works. I apologize I can't remember which show I saw this on to give credit to, but I saw a really cute purse made out of an old sweater. The sweater had to be 100% wool. You wash it in the washing machine with hot water and liquid dish detergent. Then you dry it. This really shrinks the sweater up and "felts it". I have done this by mistake a time or two myself. So, one day last week I found myself going to a thrift store on my lunch hour. They have a bargain basement where they have three bags for a dollar. I grabbed every 100% wool sweater I could find! I have run them through the washer and dryer and they are all set for purse making. The gist of the program was using this felted wool for the purse and even for sewing on other colors for embellishments. I probably won't make the same shape purse they did, but I am anxious to try this. I love recycling and I love creating, so this a great project for me. I am not a salesman by any stretch of the imagination but am hoping if I make it cute enough and carry it to work, I might get one or two people asking me to make them one.
Would there be any interest in me posting instructions about how I make it as I go along? I can't take credit for the idea, but I would basically be making up the instructions as I go along.
You know, that would be really fun, to be able to teach craft classes. I can get so passionate about crafting. I keep trying to find a good salesman to convince them to sell my products. Once, I had this whole model thought up in my head. I went to a part that was crafty type items. They were not hand made, but a lot of them had that look to them. The girls went wild over them! At the end of the show, you filled out your order form and she handed you your products. That was so great! That was the first party I was ever at where you didn't have to wait weeks for your products. It got me to thinking if someone felt comfortable in front of people like that, they could do a home show of my products and I could have a few of each made up and people could buy and take that night with them. The "salesperson" could have a percentage from sales for their time and effort. I never really approached anyone about doing it. I never found anyone I thought would be interested in it. My one friend that really could use money like me, but is so not crafty, also is definitely not a salesperson and is much like me and doesn't like to be around people they don't know. That isn't true, I don't like to be the center of attention or have to speak around a lot of people I don't know. It isn't that I mind being around people I don't know. I also have told myself about the last ten years that I am going to sell at a craft show but I never seem to make it happen. Once at work, a girl suggested we go in together and sell crafts at a show and I said great, when, where, etc but she never did decide what craft it was she would make and sell and the idea never got off the ground.
What was successful for me in the past was ebay. I understand they have changed the rules and definitely the fee structure a bit. When I stopped, I was getting pretty sick and truly just had to but the demand was waning for my product anyway. I came up with this really unique product and started selling on ebay. Before long, people were asking me tons of questions about how I made, what I did this with, etc. Dummy me answered most of the questions before I caught on. Imitation is the truest form of flattery. Before long, ebay was flooded with lots of imitation or copycat products of mine. Eventually, they even began selling recipes or instructions for how to do this on your own. I even had several ladies from craft shows and craft stores that would buy from me in large bulk amounts regularly for use in their items. Needless to say, I keep trying to come up with that special product again. It was relatively inexpensive to make, I already had most of the supplies on hand I needed, and they were a big hit.
At this point in time, I have most of the supplies on hand to make just about anything.
At times, I get tired of making the same thing and need to find various things I can tweak or change about it to make it interesting for me. This is why the idea of a craft home party is so intriguing to me. I can change it up as to what I make. You would almost need to for repeat sales. Of course, if something was a big seller, I should continue to make it. Can't you see it, you could even do book or online parties with the use of a webpage or a sales pamphlet with pictures. Okay, enough daydreaming, it is again, way past my bedtime!
This sparked my thoughts about a diaper bag I have been wanting to try and make. It was so darn cute I thought I could change the fabrics and use it as a tote bag. It had lots of pockets inside. I also reviewed those instructions. I think it seems pretty simple. The hardest part is going to be guesstimating the pattern for it.
This brought thoughts of another project actually already in the works. I apologize I can't remember which show I saw this on to give credit to, but I saw a really cute purse made out of an old sweater. The sweater had to be 100% wool. You wash it in the washing machine with hot water and liquid dish detergent. Then you dry it. This really shrinks the sweater up and "felts it". I have done this by mistake a time or two myself. So, one day last week I found myself going to a thrift store on my lunch hour. They have a bargain basement where they have three bags for a dollar. I grabbed every 100% wool sweater I could find! I have run them through the washer and dryer and they are all set for purse making. The gist of the program was using this felted wool for the purse and even for sewing on other colors for embellishments. I probably won't make the same shape purse they did, but I am anxious to try this. I love recycling and I love creating, so this a great project for me. I am not a salesman by any stretch of the imagination but am hoping if I make it cute enough and carry it to work, I might get one or two people asking me to make them one.
Would there be any interest in me posting instructions about how I make it as I go along? I can't take credit for the idea, but I would basically be making up the instructions as I go along.
You know, that would be really fun, to be able to teach craft classes. I can get so passionate about crafting. I keep trying to find a good salesman to convince them to sell my products. Once, I had this whole model thought up in my head. I went to a part that was crafty type items. They were not hand made, but a lot of them had that look to them. The girls went wild over them! At the end of the show, you filled out your order form and she handed you your products. That was so great! That was the first party I was ever at where you didn't have to wait weeks for your products. It got me to thinking if someone felt comfortable in front of people like that, they could do a home show of my products and I could have a few of each made up and people could buy and take that night with them. The "salesperson" could have a percentage from sales for their time and effort. I never really approached anyone about doing it. I never found anyone I thought would be interested in it. My one friend that really could use money like me, but is so not crafty, also is definitely not a salesperson and is much like me and doesn't like to be around people they don't know. That isn't true, I don't like to be the center of attention or have to speak around a lot of people I don't know. It isn't that I mind being around people I don't know. I also have told myself about the last ten years that I am going to sell at a craft show but I never seem to make it happen. Once at work, a girl suggested we go in together and sell crafts at a show and I said great, when, where, etc but she never did decide what craft it was she would make and sell and the idea never got off the ground.
What was successful for me in the past was ebay. I understand they have changed the rules and definitely the fee structure a bit. When I stopped, I was getting pretty sick and truly just had to but the demand was waning for my product anyway. I came up with this really unique product and started selling on ebay. Before long, people were asking me tons of questions about how I made, what I did this with, etc. Dummy me answered most of the questions before I caught on. Imitation is the truest form of flattery. Before long, ebay was flooded with lots of imitation or copycat products of mine. Eventually, they even began selling recipes or instructions for how to do this on your own. I even had several ladies from craft shows and craft stores that would buy from me in large bulk amounts regularly for use in their items. Needless to say, I keep trying to come up with that special product again. It was relatively inexpensive to make, I already had most of the supplies on hand I needed, and they were a big hit.
At this point in time, I have most of the supplies on hand to make just about anything.
At times, I get tired of making the same thing and need to find various things I can tweak or change about it to make it interesting for me. This is why the idea of a craft home party is so intriguing to me. I can change it up as to what I make. You would almost need to for repeat sales. Of course, if something was a big seller, I should continue to make it. Can't you see it, you could even do book or online parties with the use of a webpage or a sales pamphlet with pictures. Okay, enough daydreaming, it is again, way past my bedtime!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Ready, Set, Go!
Perhaps I should change the title of my blog to be procrastinator! I started this on July 17th, typed a rather large post, and somehow proceeded to have my computer lock up and lost the post before it was saved or posted. How frustrating! To keep to my normal routine, I chose to ignore it. Why? Did I think it would magically reappear itself? I think I need this to keep myself accountable. I need this to get other people's ideas. I need to hear what everyone else is doing.
So, to hold myself accountable, here I am starting all over again. My situation has only gotten worse since I decided I needed to change my financial life.
Let's start at the beginning. My obsession with crafts, of all kinds, has contributed to my large debt. However, if I were really honest with myself, I might admit I possibly have OCD and just like to shop and hoard, period. Over the years, I think I have justified my hoarding as I would only allow myself to spend money on craft items (for the most part). I told myself I could make gifts for people (and I do). I told myself I could make money from the crafts, so that was an allowable hobby. At one time, it did help support my now ex-boyfriend and myself through several very low periods where he was laid off and then working a nonpaying (commission only) job. I know I can not spend, I have done it, I have proven that when times are tough, I can deal. But I don't want to wait until they are that tough again before I start doing something about my problem.
So, first question to myself, exactly what is my problem? Initially, I felt it was all financial and that I had to find a way to get out of debt. I had to find a way to basically make more money so that I can finally get out of debt. I have been trying to get out of debt for so many years, and I keep slipping up and spending and I just never get out of debt. But as I begin to write this, it becomes painfully clear that my biggest problem might not be that of financial after all, but more of my obsession with shopping. If I could resolve this, the financial problem would eventually resolve itself. I pay all my bills on time. I have a plan of action. I have every penny written down. I account for APRS, promotional APRS, minimum payments, etc. I work and rework the numbers to see if paying off one card before another is a better plan of action. I have a "snowball" plan broken out to bimonthly payments and an amortization program that will compute bimonthly payments. I have my budget broken down to bimonthly and I pay a portion to each credit card each pay (ever two week) very faithfully that Friday morning before work. I definitely pay my bills first. I theoretically should have the remainder (very small) to spend for myself, to spend on my needs and wants. I find myself charging any non necessities though. I had stopped this all together for at least 5 years but find myself just allowing myself to do it again. I have to get a grip on that.
This brings me to the entire reason for this blog, I want to keep track of my plan. I want to dabble with some ways to make some extra money. Speaking of, a second job is out of the question. I have some health problems, which I will get into one day I suppose ,that really prevent me from doing so. I have tried in the past. At the moment, I have a salary position, so my normal work week is Monday through Friday from about 7 am until at least 5 but usually closer to 6 pm. I rarely take a lunch and usually more often eat lunch at my desk as I work. I carry a blackberry and find myself answering several emails throughout the evening and weekends. I enjoy my job. I am trying not to be bitter, but something happened at work recently that I don't want to change my view of my job.
I think I mentioned that I started this post on the 17th. Well, a few days later, I made nonrefundable reservations for a vacation. I had promised my niece and her best friend I would take them on a road trip. I get plenty of vacation and I had quite a bit to use up soon before I lose it, so why not? We all agreed to split expenses and they are in high school, so I honestly didn't expect an even thirds split, but if they put forth an effort, that was enough for me. We booked at just about the cheapest hotel we could find, bargain shopped for our attractions, put together a pack it with us meal plan for the week, and are going on an extremely cheap (but fun!) vacation.
Let's just through the monkey wrench in now. I knew I couldn't afford this vacation, but agreed to it anyways. I know I have to treat myself every now and then. I also make an effort to make up for some things (someday I might talk about this too) to my niece. Nothing I have done that I might feel I owe her for; she just hasn't had the idyllic childhood I had. Somehow, I find it my job to try and make it up to her. In any case, if I really try, I can get away with $150 for this vacation. I might not be calculating correctly on the gas and tolls, but I am pretty close. This is considering the girls are paying a third of the hotel and tickets, and I pay the food, gas, and tolls. So, we made the reservations and the next day at work, they dropped a bombshell. We are each being asked in my department to cut our hours (slightly) each week. Now, to me, as tight as I run my budget, wow, that will be a little rough. I know, I should be thankful I am not laid off or that I still have a job. But here is where I get a tad bit bitter and I am trying really hard not to. I am salary, so as I said, I work way more than 40 hours a week. And now you tell me you want to cut my hours to cut my pay? I almost feel like I will only work the hours I am getting paid for now. I know other people are certainly going to do that. I have always done what I felt was for the good of the company, without sacrificing my own life. Now I have to question if I shouldn't be more putting myself first.
I feel like I am digressing. I talk a lot, has that become apparent yet? I try not to ramble, but, oh, just get me started...
So, problem one, my ever-growing craft stash has taken over my house and it is beyond a little unorganized and cluttered. I have to find a way to weed these out. I can't throw them out. I just have a problem with that. I know, I could donate, but I just can't get rid of it, I feel somehow it could be useful and be of value to me. I feel the best recourse is to find a way to make crafts out of all my supplies and sell them. Easier than it sounds.
Problem two would be my financial worries. I have signed up for an online medical transcriptionist course and am not even halfway through it. My goal was that would be something I could do at home and I didn't have to do everyday, so if I physically was having a bad day, it wouldn't be an issue. This was a way I could make some extra money and that I could work on my debt. I have found myself not spending as much time on this schooling as I had originally hoped. I have paid for it, so I need to take advantage of that. The crafts have pretty much been sitting because I need to spend as much time as I can on this course. But if I can find a small amount of time invested craft that will sell quickly, I will certainly allow a few hours each week for that.
Problem three is with the shortened paychecks now, I am not positive I can come up with the $150 that I need for vacation in less than a month! I know, I can charge it and in comparison to a lot of other things I have charged the last few years, it really is small. However, I really want to not charge anything anymore. I have some books on half.com and have sold a few, but not enough. I am hesitant to check out garage sales for books because number one that is money upfront I need to spend and number two I will probably find lots of other junk I think I have to have at the time.
I guess my first short term goal will be to come up with the $150 needed without having to charge it. I will blog my attempts here. If anyone truly has a way to make a few bucks that is legal, quick, and fairly easy, I really would love to hear about it. Someday I will post all the money making schemes I have fallen victim to over the years.
I am making myself work on the MT class for at least half an hour now before bed (even though it is already past bedtime now).
So, to hold myself accountable, here I am starting all over again. My situation has only gotten worse since I decided I needed to change my financial life.
Let's start at the beginning. My obsession with crafts, of all kinds, has contributed to my large debt. However, if I were really honest with myself, I might admit I possibly have OCD and just like to shop and hoard, period. Over the years, I think I have justified my hoarding as I would only allow myself to spend money on craft items (for the most part). I told myself I could make gifts for people (and I do). I told myself I could make money from the crafts, so that was an allowable hobby. At one time, it did help support my now ex-boyfriend and myself through several very low periods where he was laid off and then working a nonpaying (commission only) job. I know I can not spend, I have done it, I have proven that when times are tough, I can deal. But I don't want to wait until they are that tough again before I start doing something about my problem.
So, first question to myself, exactly what is my problem? Initially, I felt it was all financial and that I had to find a way to get out of debt. I had to find a way to basically make more money so that I can finally get out of debt. I have been trying to get out of debt for so many years, and I keep slipping up and spending and I just never get out of debt. But as I begin to write this, it becomes painfully clear that my biggest problem might not be that of financial after all, but more of my obsession with shopping. If I could resolve this, the financial problem would eventually resolve itself. I pay all my bills on time. I have a plan of action. I have every penny written down. I account for APRS, promotional APRS, minimum payments, etc. I work and rework the numbers to see if paying off one card before another is a better plan of action. I have a "snowball" plan broken out to bimonthly payments and an amortization program that will compute bimonthly payments. I have my budget broken down to bimonthly and I pay a portion to each credit card each pay (ever two week) very faithfully that Friday morning before work. I definitely pay my bills first. I theoretically should have the remainder (very small) to spend for myself, to spend on my needs and wants. I find myself charging any non necessities though. I had stopped this all together for at least 5 years but find myself just allowing myself to do it again. I have to get a grip on that.
This brings me to the entire reason for this blog, I want to keep track of my plan. I want to dabble with some ways to make some extra money. Speaking of, a second job is out of the question. I have some health problems, which I will get into one day I suppose ,that really prevent me from doing so. I have tried in the past. At the moment, I have a salary position, so my normal work week is Monday through Friday from about 7 am until at least 5 but usually closer to 6 pm. I rarely take a lunch and usually more often eat lunch at my desk as I work. I carry a blackberry and find myself answering several emails throughout the evening and weekends. I enjoy my job. I am trying not to be bitter, but something happened at work recently that I don't want to change my view of my job.
I think I mentioned that I started this post on the 17th. Well, a few days later, I made nonrefundable reservations for a vacation. I had promised my niece and her best friend I would take them on a road trip. I get plenty of vacation and I had quite a bit to use up soon before I lose it, so why not? We all agreed to split expenses and they are in high school, so I honestly didn't expect an even thirds split, but if they put forth an effort, that was enough for me. We booked at just about the cheapest hotel we could find, bargain shopped for our attractions, put together a pack it with us meal plan for the week, and are going on an extremely cheap (but fun!) vacation.
Let's just through the monkey wrench in now. I knew I couldn't afford this vacation, but agreed to it anyways. I know I have to treat myself every now and then. I also make an effort to make up for some things (someday I might talk about this too) to my niece. Nothing I have done that I might feel I owe her for; she just hasn't had the idyllic childhood I had. Somehow, I find it my job to try and make it up to her. In any case, if I really try, I can get away with $150 for this vacation. I might not be calculating correctly on the gas and tolls, but I am pretty close. This is considering the girls are paying a third of the hotel and tickets, and I pay the food, gas, and tolls. So, we made the reservations and the next day at work, they dropped a bombshell. We are each being asked in my department to cut our hours (slightly) each week. Now, to me, as tight as I run my budget, wow, that will be a little rough. I know, I should be thankful I am not laid off or that I still have a job. But here is where I get a tad bit bitter and I am trying really hard not to. I am salary, so as I said, I work way more than 40 hours a week. And now you tell me you want to cut my hours to cut my pay? I almost feel like I will only work the hours I am getting paid for now. I know other people are certainly going to do that. I have always done what I felt was for the good of the company, without sacrificing my own life. Now I have to question if I shouldn't be more putting myself first.
I feel like I am digressing. I talk a lot, has that become apparent yet? I try not to ramble, but, oh, just get me started...
So, problem one, my ever-growing craft stash has taken over my house and it is beyond a little unorganized and cluttered. I have to find a way to weed these out. I can't throw them out. I just have a problem with that. I know, I could donate, but I just can't get rid of it, I feel somehow it could be useful and be of value to me. I feel the best recourse is to find a way to make crafts out of all my supplies and sell them. Easier than it sounds.
Problem two would be my financial worries. I have signed up for an online medical transcriptionist course and am not even halfway through it. My goal was that would be something I could do at home and I didn't have to do everyday, so if I physically was having a bad day, it wouldn't be an issue. This was a way I could make some extra money and that I could work on my debt. I have found myself not spending as much time on this schooling as I had originally hoped. I have paid for it, so I need to take advantage of that. The crafts have pretty much been sitting because I need to spend as much time as I can on this course. But if I can find a small amount of time invested craft that will sell quickly, I will certainly allow a few hours each week for that.
Problem three is with the shortened paychecks now, I am not positive I can come up with the $150 that I need for vacation in less than a month! I know, I can charge it and in comparison to a lot of other things I have charged the last few years, it really is small. However, I really want to not charge anything anymore. I have some books on half.com and have sold a few, but not enough. I am hesitant to check out garage sales for books because number one that is money upfront I need to spend and number two I will probably find lots of other junk I think I have to have at the time.
I guess my first short term goal will be to come up with the $150 needed without having to charge it. I will blog my attempts here. If anyone truly has a way to make a few bucks that is legal, quick, and fairly easy, I really would love to hear about it. Someday I will post all the money making schemes I have fallen victim to over the years.
I am making myself work on the MT class for at least half an hour now before bed (even though it is already past bedtime now).
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