Needing Ideas for making my own money

[imarodeomom]

Howdy! Im a stay at home momma and Im wanting to make extra money to help pay for our entry fees, feed, fule, ect. Im not sure what it is I can do to get out there and make money, wondering if anyone had any advice or ideas that have worked for them. Thanks!

 

[Beekissed]

Welcome to the forum!

Can you give us an idea about any skills you may have in your arsenal and how much money you can invest in a money-making venture? Do you have land, fences, equipment for growing things like animals or fruits/veggies?

How much time can you devote to this type of business? Does the area in which you live have a high tourists flow or do you live near any big towns?

Just trying to get an idea for what would suit you..........

 

[big brown horse]

 

[hennypenny9]

I don't sell things myself (yet...) but at my work at a fabric store I hear of different ways to make money, if you're crafty.

Making scrubbies from nylon netting http://berlinswhimsy.typepad.com/berlins_whimsy/2008/05/knitted-kitchen-scrubbie-tutorial.html

Making baby supplies such as blankets, bibs, slings, breastfeeding cover ups, cart protectors (they go into a shopping cart basket) and toys.

Making girls dress up clothes such as tutus.

Aprons.

Soap making!!!

And finally, and this won't work for everyone... Get chickens and sell the eggs.

 

[imarodeomom]

Well I live in a med sized town, lots of crop growers and all, I sold my chickens because us being gone all the time, I plan to raise a new flock soon, I make bread, I have very expensive bread maker, and an awsome oven for handmade bread, I also like doing jams and salsa, but Im just not very confident that people would like my stuff! Im also a Pampered Chef consultant but Im not that into having parties or the pressure of making a certain amount. Something did just come to me..I noticed a old dollar store had been reopend and they were doing like a fle-market type thing in there, the sign said set up a booth, I dont know though, I can really sew good yet, I would love to sew kids rodeo shirts and sell them at rodeos...I have many ideas but not enough no how on how to get started.

 

[Beekissed]

Ima, its been my experience that one just has to start. Its hard to scope out a handmade items business in one's area until you do things for awhile and see what sells. Do a lot of window shopping at craft or gift shops and see what people are buying....then try to offer something unique at a good price that may be similar to what they are throwing money down for....

A short list of things that can be done at home with a minimal investment....they won't get you rich but it will provide some cash money that won't be taxed:


Honey bees
laying hens
soaps
candles
herbs
veggies and fruits(think small roadside stand)
dried flower arrangements
horse care demonstrations/horse riding lessons
crafts/sewing
dog grooming
herbal homemade dog biscuits
Cut flowers/arrangements (again, think roadside stand along side of veggies or fruits)


The problem with running a flea market table is that most of the business you will get are on weekends, which is probably the time you will be attending rodeos.

Anybody else care to add to this short list?

 

[big brown horse]

Bee, you covered most of the bases.

When my daughter was itty bitty, I watched a friend's infant too. Two babies were easy to handle and I didn't have to watch hers on the weekend.

 

[2dream]

Bee you have some good ideas there. But you are right - flea markets and weekends go together. But if its your booth and you choose to shut down and 2 o'clock you can. Or at least you can at some places. Some flea markets have rules. One really big one here has a rule that you have to stay until 5 o'clock and you better not run out of merchandise. If you do you are not coming back.

Maybe do two weekends a month. There is also handcrafted jewelery but that takes a pretty good investment. I know a lady that makes a killing 1 time a month at different flea markets machine embrodring initials on purses that she sells. She works one weekend out of the month and makes more than I do. But you have to have a power supply for that and an expensive machine.

That being said. Like those of us working 8 to 5 Monday thru Friday there is something to be said for working 2 days a week and being off the rest of the time. LOL I wish I could do that.

 

[freemotion]

Um, I just got a phone call asking for $20 worth of my goat's milk soap, which I put in a basket with a sign in my office just to see what response I would get, and if people would come back for more. I sold through it in a heartbeat, and I have no soap for the poor guy that wants it. Guess I'm in the soap business.....soon.

Minimal investment. Do a quick search here for threads about soapmaking if you are interested. It does need to cure for a bit, so it won't be quick, but it is easy and you can make lots when you have more time if you have the room to dry and cure it (bars in a single layer, not quite touching each other, no cats leaving fiber art on your soap and minimal dust in the room.)

 

[big brown horse]

"The goat lady" was the most popular booth at my mom's antique shows. She sold mainly soaps. (Brought her cute goats for a prop too.)