Quitting My Job Wasn't So Bad!

I noticed some buzz around my post on quitting work and thought I'd let you know how it's going for me - year one!

Well....we sold our home in January and paid off all our debts, so nothing to pay here except utilities, insurance, and food - the basics.  We were fortunate enough to buy real estate about 15 years ago, so we have a rental income.  We are currently forced to live in one of our rentals, but we rent the other one, so we are not big real estate moguls!  haha  My husband works part-time and I sell things from home.  My Mom also contributes to the household.  We have both started businesses of our own.  He has honey bees and sells a little honey and I, well, I sell things from home.

Is not working making it difficult for us to live?  Not at all!  Even though my husband works, we use none of that for our bills.  We only use our rental income from our one rent house to pay the bills.  It's not much, but remember, our "money move" was paying off every debt we owed.  Definitely, debt can keep you as a prisoner!  My husband keeps what he makes from work and I keep what I make selling things online.  

I would have to say I'm extremely blessed and I could sit back and enjoy the support from my husband.  But that's not me.  I like having my own money and love to create things to sell online.  Buying things at live auctions and selling them online gives me a thrill.  I don't really know why...maybe we would need a psychologist to uncover the reasons why.  At any rate, my life is so much better now than it was when I was in the rat race!  My hubby relies on a relaxed part-time job where he has plenty of time to think and do what he wants during certain slow times.  Quitting my job was different at first and hard to adjust to the idea of it, but I'm good now.  

So, how about you?  What money moves are you going to make to get you in the position to quit your job?  I know its not as easy as it sounds and there are many reasons why you can't just quit.  Believe me, I've been in that place where it seemed impossible. I remember reminding my kids as they were growing up that life is not fair, you just have to get things swingin' your way! Jim and I have definitely gotten things going our way.

If you've read my first blog, I was whining about not having enough time.  Well, I got it now.  It's hard to get moving sometimes and there are always challenges to overcome, but I'm working on it every day.  I feel like I'm on my "second act" like some retired folks! I'm 52 and living the life I want to live. 

NEW DAY! 2019

Ahhhh, I love the idea of starting over.  Time to forgive myself for not reaching all my goals and think about what I want for the year ahead.  I'm such a planner.  The down side to that is I can plan too much and don’t get much done!  Uhhggg!

Oh well... here we go anyway!

• Post 60 items to the local online auction each week.  Last year, we made a profit of around $500 per month and it's easy. This year, I'm hoping for $800 per month.  It can be done!
• Refurbish and post one piece of furniture each month.  I have some ideas....  I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!  Brooke is promising to come work with me at least once a month. 
• Post 4 new items per month to the Etsy store.  I'm hoping to list each item in multiples to plump up the store for better sales.  Four items per month can translate to one per week.  
• Open a Shopify store once the Etsy store is plumped up.  Yep, I think I'm gonna make the move to my very own (editable) online store.  I'll also keep the Etsy store.  Yay, more fees for me!  LOL
• Repair the building we own in town.  Still working on having a warehouse for all our good stuff!  Jim is working his bee hives for delicious honey and we will need a storage place for that and all my crafts and antiques.
• Find some automation tools for increased sales.  I'm learning more and more about this kind of marketing.  Looking forward to learning more and implementing some things some time this year.

Well what do you think?  I think it's doable.  I really want to find a way this year to make my life easy as I explore my creative abilities.  I would love more time creating and less time on background things.  Hiring someone to help may be on the horizon as well.

Quick Five: Adornaments!

Oh, I love Christmas!  My favorite memories are of decorating the tree.  Now, I'm obsessed with ornaments.  And, of course, making them from objects found in everyday life!  Check these out.

1.  Ali from Southern California was a guest blogger at mythirdtruelove.blogspot.com and she posted some ideas on reusing children's book illustrations!  So cute!

  2.  Yellowblissroad.com featured Alice W. with a tutorial on these cute arrow ornaments.  So cleaver!

3.  I've been obsessed looking at these cute dioramas this year!  This one was found at Findinghomefarms.com.

4.  Featured in Country Living Magazine, Barbara from 21rosemarylane.com, shows us how cute popsicle sticks can look as snow skis!  These are simple and smart!

5.  I love what Amanda from Relovedrubbish.blogspot.com did with sheet music!  Here's just one of projects!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and now ready for a very special Christmas!  

Different!

Who says you have to pay a fortune for a wedding! Check out this bouquet Brooke made for her special day! It’s an upcycled book, “365 Ways to Say I Love You.”  If you zoom in, you can see some funny illustrations from the book! If you’re planning your wedding day, use your imagination... and cut those costs!

Wedding Bells!

Can’t believe it, but my baby girl is all grown up and now married! She and her handsome man were married on top of a hill in southeast  Oklahoma overlooking Atoka Lake. It was simple and beautiful! 

This May, they both graduate from OSU so they’ll be well on their way! So proud of them both!

Christmas Times a Comin’

Ho, ho, ho!

Are you ready for Christmas? 

I’m procrastinating on all holidays this year, but watching all the Hallmark movies I can to get into the mood!

This season I’ve been totally obsessed with Brooke  Riley’s Facebook page, Re-Fabbed. She’s great and has wonderful free-style videos showing how she creates her home and surroundings on a low budget! That’s her tree top for this year...totally awesome tree! I had no idea you could do that to a tree!  You’ve got to check her out! Follow her links to her blog and store too!

So.... what are you doing this year?