Income on the side...

Donna_in_OK

Donna_in_OK

Veteran Member
So, I was wondering how many of you are thinking about making income on the side after it hits the fan?

I know that people will always need things done for them such as alterations and the like.

Can we start a thread brainstorming ideas that we might be able to use to generate a little extra cash should it hit the fan?

I have a small embroidery business, and I imagine that people will still want to give gifts for things like weddings and births. Offering that type of service might generate a little extra income.

Wondering what type of items you might be thinking of? This is meant to be a discussion for all of us to consider as potential income....
 
duchess47

duchess47

Has No Life - Lives on TB
We board horses here, sell our eggs, hatch out chicks and guineas and sell them. I'm thinking about selling some of the herbs that I've started in the greenhouse and if I have excess produce this summer, will try to sell some of it. I don't have a creative bone in my body though, so offering a service like yours is out of my league. I would be one of your potential customers :)
 
Donna_in_OK

Donna_in_OK

Veteran Member
Talking about selling herbs... Good idea.

Also, start extra seedlings and sell the extra. On Craigslist here, I saw a guy selling buht jolokia and jamaican scorpion pepper starts for $7.00 each, and they had just got their first true set of leaves.

We started our own Buhts.. but that gave me that idea as well. I think if you can get the strange little things that some may want, you can offer to John Q Public at a slightly higher price than the common items.
 
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CVORNurse

Inactive
We sell eggs to friends and my sister in law takes them to their doctor's office and pharmacy for the workers there. I have wondered if it would be worthwhile to make and sell jelly/jam this summer.

If I were a better sewer, I would make baby quilts and blankets. I do a good enough job for family, but hesitate to sell it to others.
 
Donna_in_OK

Donna_in_OK

Veteran Member
That is part of the purpose of this thread. Find things that we can do ... or possibly do. I realize that there are things I would LOVE to do, but need more experience before I would want to do them for money. Hem a pair of slacks (or kids pajamas... here they charge 20.00 (or more) to hem a pair of pants !!!)

Just realize if there is something that you think you MIGHT WANT to offer for services or goods... to start practice now so that you have a better product to offer in the end.

I also have a few thousand yards of material and TONS of patterns. I LOVE the 1.00 a pattern sales and have been building up a collection for YEARS.
 
duchess47

duchess47

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Donna, consider making show shirts for women and girls for horse shows. Those cost a fortune and everyone has the same style, colors. The girls especially want something classy that stands out. Check and see if there are horse clubs in your area and take custom orders.
 
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Donna_in_OK

Donna_in_OK

Veteran Member
Anyone else come up with some ideas?

I saw a recipe to make bath fizzies - pretty cheap and you could make them and sell in small jars for special gifts.

During hard times, people still like to have a luxury item every now and then... it's just human nature. The trick is finding the item you can make cheaply, sell at a good price yet not break the buyers bank.
 
Kathy in FL

Kathy in FL

Administrator
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Income "on the side"? To be honest, for many what is their side income will likely become their only income if it hits the fan ... and that's assuming they aren't forced to switch to a barter-only scenario.

We roll all of our income streams together since they follow the same path as the primary income source. It saves on bookkeeping problems as well as IRS problems. Licensing, etc. also doesn't have to be paid for twice.

Either way, set your accounting system up now that way once you get your income incoming (grin) you can keep track. Reporting said income is your choice but be very, very careful that in the times that are coming that your best customers could become your worst enemies. I've seen it happen. They get hacked off about something and rather than going through you they go straight to the IRS or state or whatever. And if the .gov gets involved all bets are off because then you not only have income tax to deal with but sales tax, permits, etc.

The .gov hates small business people. So do people who are jealous jerks.
 
Donna_in_OK

Donna_in_OK

Veteran Member
So very true Kathy.

My main point of this thread was getting people to think about alternative income streams should their jobs dry up and nothing is to be found. Start to perfect a craft now, so that if and when income is needed that you have a product to offer that people will actually pay money for.

But, I do agree 100% about the books. Having my own small business, I know that I have to account for every penny, and can see the microscope only coming into tighter focus when the .gov's revenue streams start to dry up.

Edited to add: Be ahead of the crowd - because as more and more people lose their jobs, they will start to put their heads together about how to do things to get you to pay them to do, or make things to get you to buy. Be ahead of the curve.
 
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naturallysweet

naturallysweet

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Depends on what TSHTF is. If it's a total collapse of society, I'm going to start to sell goat milk. I figure that there would be enough people who would be desperate for milk for babies who can't get formula and for people to drink, that I could have a go with it.

I already have the farm with all the various crops, so at least I'm a mile ahead of most people.
 
G

Grammytomany

Inactive
When I worked out in the energy business before I had to retire, everyone and their brother it seemed like, wanted me to cook for them for the week including their lunches!! I was stunned at how many. I could have made a living at it I think but I loved my job and had good income and benefits. I make lots of breads, donuts, pastry, etc. But I enjoy making lots of meals from very few ingredients.

My mother had bad ulcers of her tummy and had to have raw goats milk to live literally. So, I think your goats milk and cheese if you can will do you well Naturally. My DD loves goat products and uses a lot because she doesn't tolerate regular milk and she is a vegetarian too.
 
C

coloradohermit

Deceased
As Grammy mentioned, cooking, plus dehydrating and canning for folks who don't know how, especially if you know how to cook on a campfire or have a sun oven. Minor veterinary services like birthing help or things like disbudding goats or tending hooves or castration. Butchering. Leather work which could be done for useful items like holsters or repairs. I do stained glass, which could be used for small giftie items or window type repairs. If tshtf, finding a new window to replace a broken one could be a problem, but unless its shattered, piecing it back together would be easy enough. DH does ammo reloading and some simple gunsmithing. Having the tools for harvesting, cutting and splitting firewood for sale/barter. Small scale building with scavenged materials for raised garden beds, animal coops etc. Simple mechanical repair like working on generators or small garden machines. Growing and drying tobacco. Knitting and crocheting for gloves, sweaters, small blankets etc.
 
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Grammytomany

Inactive
I forgot, I can do metal smithing too. That might come in handy. And, I can do the birthing help for the little moms that are having a hard time...i.e., lambs, goats, etc. Not the big girls, but our DD can do it all. Hubby can do the hoof cleaning and cutting. Even tho' we are old, those are things we learned to do well and probably would make ourselves usefull, thank the good LORD.
 
Broken Arrow

Broken Arrow

Heathen Pagan Witch
Between my hubby and I we can do custom welding such as stall fronts or any other welding and fabrication. Custom hand spinning, leatherwork, weaving, knitting, baking,tractor/mechanical repair, plowing, discing, massage therapy, sell eggs and veggies, herbs, animal husbandry, butchering/meat processing, hunting guide, horse packing, blacksmithing, cowboying, branding, fence building, and prob a few more that I cant think of at the moment
 
Broken Arrow

Broken Arrow

Heathen Pagan Witch
Thought of a few more. Sheep shearing, canning, herbal medicine, and we both have a good background in emergency medicine, hazmat, and hubby can do gunsmithing, construction and leather tanning.

Thank you Donna. We both have spent a lot of time and effort in skill building for just such a purpose. We are teaching the kids these skills also.
 
T

TexasQF

Senior Member
We already do a lot of this. We have 3 businesses... now pool cleaning would go by the way side, but the farm (produce, eggs, etc) would likely expand... and my other business that grew kinda on its own... we make soap, lotion bars, and bath salts... we also blend spice mixes and herbal teas, knit, sew, and bake... we take part in farmers markets one of which is year round... but currently also ship all over. I know I tend to be amazed what people buy... especially when I share many recipes freely... but I am grateful!
 
T

TexasQF

Senior Member
http://texadus.com/blog/

just click on recipes on the side bar... not everything is up there at the moment... but the seasonings are. If you want the tea recipes just ask the cranky lady is a big hit... our most popular cookies are not up right now... they are a ginger snap and a cranberry harvest... I tweaked an oatmeal raisin cookie recipe to use cranberries, pecans, and a bit of oj... both usually sell out. The squash muffins are on there and we have people buy us out and freeze them... none of these are complicated at all.

My dd has more recipes up on her facebook page she and a friend do.... Bloomin Roses. I think her bread sticks are on there.
 
joyfulheart

joyfulheart

Veteran Member
Thank you so much! Found the two recipes... Tried to find bloomin roses, but couldn't find that on facebook. Would love new recipes though!

It looks like I'm going to be doing 100% from scratch cooking now. New and serious food allergies have hit our home... uugh.-- Citrus and artificial citrus flavorings. Didn't realize HOW many things store-bought have that! uugh...

TexasQF said:
http://texadus.com/blog/

just click on recipes on the side bar... not everything is up there at the moment... but the seasonings are. If you want the tea recipes just ask the cranky lady is a big hit... our most popular cookies are not up right now... they are a ginger snap and a cranberry harvest... I tweaked an oatmeal raisin cookie recipe to use cranberries, pecans, and a bit of oj... both usually sell out. The squash muffins are on there and we have people buy us out and freeze them... none of these are complicated at all.

My dd has more recipes up on her facebook page she and a friend do.... Bloomin Roses. I think her bread sticks are on there.
Click to expand...
 
M

MamaTiger

Inactive
Like Lynn just said, we already do this...My dh sells produce and fruit year round. I already sell soaps, lotion bars, bath salts, and sugar scrubs as well as baked goods and crocheted items thru him. This has greatly helped us as the economy woes have hit most of our customers...sales from these items have enabled us to bring our income up from the fall due to the failing economy. Most of the crocheted items are bigger sellers at Christmas time, but the soaps/etc are selling year round. It doesn't make us a living, but it certianly helps.
 
D

Deena in GA

Administrator
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I try to keep a stock of netting so that if/when "it" happens I can still make crocheted scrubbies. They work really well and last longer than the commercial scrubbies.
 
M

MamaTiger

Inactive
I have some netting...bought because I want to learn to do that Deena. Just haven't made the time, but I think it would be a very popular item.
 
D

Deena in GA

Administrator
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Its easy to do, MamaTiger, but rough on the hands. ;) I make round ones, just join three stitches together and start crocheting, increasing as needed. sorry I don't have any instructions. I just increase until I get it as big as I want, then do a row around and start decreasing as I go.
 
M

Mesquite

Member
I agree with others who state that a lot depends on what kind SHTF situation it is. If autos are still running, I'll continue my windshield repair business as people won't be so eager to purchase new cars and will do more upkeep. I can knit (sweaters, caps, mittens, etc), crochet and have my old Singer treadle machine that I used when my daughter was a baby to take in sewing. Since my mom has quit sewing, I got her roomful of quality fabrics and patterns (as well as 2 huge rolls of heavy denim fabric from the Texas factory) so could make clothing for others. We have chickens for eggs and meat, beef cattle and plenty of growing space for garden and all those products would make good barter items. I also inherited my mom's canning jars so along with my All American pressure canner, could put up food for those who hadn't planned ahead. Hubby reloads so could work out deals there - I'd still like to see him get into gun smithing. By offering necessary items if it does hit the fan, I thing we'd do OK.
 
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