I did it again! I had this “brilliant” scheme to make money—not much, but some—and “this time” it was going to work! But I learned the hard way—finally—that the best way to make money is to do the best thing that I’m good at, and that’s writing.

I love to knit. It’s a relaxing hobby that brings me joy. Since I’ve been a knitter for years, I’ve tried many different projects and because of this, family and friends have been treated to many of my hand-knitted creations.

A few years ago, my favorite hand-knitted gifts for new moms and new grandmothers were cute little caps for the new arrivals. I made pumpkin caps, strawberry caps, blackberry caps, watermelons caps. I also make flower caps for spring and caps with Christmas and winter themes. I knitted and gave many caps.

I enjoyed making them and giving these caps. The receivers were thrilled with them, so much so that many suggested that I make them to sell. Although I knew better—I don’t like to turn a hobby into a business—I decided to do this. I even went as far as finding a children’s boutique willing to sell my caps. (It would pay me $20 for each cap it sold and it would retail it for double this price.) This sounded great to me and I began to plan how I was going to spend all the money I was going to make.

Continue reading "Rich, for Sure!" »

Posted by Sandra Dalka-Prysby at 10:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Every once in a while I have a “brilliant” idea for a way of making extra money. This usually happens around the holidays or a few months before my annual kayaking trip with 15 friends. Extra money is good for both of these occasions. Over the years, however, my way of making extra money often becomes…well…a drudgery and, if truth be told, the extra money is hardly worth it. I’ve learned the hard way that it’s better to save all year long than to try to make a few extra bucks in some brilliant way.

My latest endeavor was to make mother-daughter felted purses. I made one set for my daughter and granddaughter and the purses are really cute. Friends and family members urged me to make more sets and to sell them. Wow! What a great idea for making extra holiday cash.

I took my set to a chi-chi children’s boutique in town to show the owner my creations. She loved the purses and said she’d be happy to make them available on consignment. She would sell them for $50 a set and take 25 percent. This sounded good. She wanted five sets by the following week. I could do this.

Continue reading "A Losing Proposition" »

Posted by Sandra Dalka-Prysby at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

For years I have been a failure in one (really more than one) area of my life. Always on the search for ways of saving money, I have been a “coupon clipper.” But alas! I’ve learned the hard way that the half an hour or more that I spend each Sunday night cutting coupons from circulars is most-often a waste of time.

I appear to know what I’m doing. I have a large accordion file with a multitude of pockets. Alphabetically I have labeled each pocket. There’s “baking,” “beauty,” “bread/rolls” and “breakfast” in the front of my file; “miscellaneous” at the back. Immediately after clipping the coupons, I place them in their correct pockets. This is a great first step and I do this well!

Continue reading "Coupon Clipping: It's Sort of My Thing!" »

Posted by Sandra Dalka-Prysby at 05:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

I’m going broke saving money! Sounds like an oxymoron. Call it what you will, it’s the truth.

I’ve learned the hard way that marketers have me pegged. Offer me a $10-off coupon on just about anything and I buy. Forget the requirement that I have to spend $50 to get that “free” $10. In my mind—and obviously in the minds of thousands of other consumers (otherwise, these coupons would be nonexistent)—the $10-off appeal makes spending an additional $40 or more dollars a good deal. Then I go over the bills at month’s end and realize how very stupid I am. That’s when I know I’ve been suckered again!

Businesses will use just about any tactic—they call it a “campaign”—to get sales and they depend on people like me...people who have an unbridled desire to save $10 on just about anything. Like me, budget-conscious consumers think that they can’t afford to pass up free money. Saving money on the things we need is a good thing, but spending additional money for things we really don’t need is not good for the budget.

Continue reading "And I think I'm smart!" »

Posted by Sandra Dalka-Prysby at 08:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Each year I easily double my Hanukkah and Christmas budget by shopping for myself. This is especially problematic when I shop for the women in my life. This year I am thinking about giving my sis a Juicy tracksuit. She would never buy one for herself, and would enjoy romping around in one. With two kids and one more on the way, she could use a little casual glamour. But if she gets one, shouldn’t I get one (or two or three) too?

Continue reading "One for You, One, Two Three for Me" »

Posted by Carrie Bickner-Zeldman at 07:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

There are so many things that I have learned the hard way, but nothing compares to a recent experience that taught me you never get something for nothing. There’s always a price to pay.

I needed a way to make a little extra money. I was going on a kayak trip with 15 other women and, although my husband has never prohibited my spending, I thought that it would be nice if I contributed to the expense of this trip. But how? Then it came to me. I could do what my friend does when she needs money. She uses her body and I could, too!

Continue reading "What A Way To Make Money!" »

Posted by Sandra Dalka-Prysby at 12:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)