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Browsing posts in: Making Money

Not one regret as it left the house

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I have mentioned that I am listing things for sale like a crazy person on Facebook Marketplace these days. And I did decide to list the hot tub. I appreciated everyone’s feedback on whether I should sell it or not. And I certainly felt some twinges as I took the pictures, shot the video, and finally posted it.

I had no clue that used hot tubs were such a hot market. After I reviewed other listings, I didn’t think I would get any bits because I was definitely not going to give it away. And I did get a few low ball offers.

But in less than a week it sold for 2/3 what I paid for it new. And they picked it up this past week.

My bills are covered until mid-August with the cash infusion from it’s sale and my continued part time work. Hallelujah!

hot tub for sale

My Reasoning

Buying this hot tub (with cash) last summer was a DREAM come true. It made being home feel like a vacation. And I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I am glad I did it. (But I probably wouldn’t do it again if I knew then what I know now.)

But my life has changed DRAMATICALLY since I made the purchase. And it doesn’t look anything like I thought it would.

  • I’m not married, about my engagement ended suddenly and without warning in November.
  • My kids have all flown the coop. I mean, I knew this was coming, but I didn’t expect 4 of the 5 to be gone all at once on what looks to be a permanent basis. (None of those 4 have any plans to return to this tiny town to live for the foreseeable future.)

Finally, I have spent alot of time in the last 6 months in my own head. Trying to figure out who I am, what I enjoy, and all that. When there are so many changes in your life all at once…well, it has totally rocked my world. And I have learned that I do not want to deal with weekly maintenance and such for just my solo use.

Win Win

As the men drove away with the hot tub, I took a deep breathe. No regrets in the purchase and enjoying it this past year. But also, no regrets in relieving myself of something else to take care of. And yeah, for getting a bit more cushion while I continue to seek regular income.

I am changing. And I am liking the change. It’s hard. I cry. But I am ready for it.

 

Bootstrapping a New Business

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There was  a post from Julie Chenell somewhere this week that really hit home during this time in my life. I follow her on everything, so can’t remember where it was exactly. I have followed her forever. And love her posts, her story, her passion…I can relate to her on so many levels.

Back to the point of this post…she kind of went off on the internet about how business owners don’t know how to bootstrap it now. The market has changed. What was once a “golden goose” for so many small business owners is evolving. And people are complaining about it and not prepared for it. I see this all over the place.

And in some senses, I am facing it myself as I attempt to re-launch my business. However, I’ve been through it a couple of times. And know that to keep up and stay relevant, my business and I must change. I’ve got to modify what I offer, how I offer it, and even where I offer it. (Phew, that’s a lot of change all at once. Seriously, who does well with change, anyone?!?)

watch this space

Bootstrapping 101

Now I’m going back to the basics. I’ve downgraded all my business tools and I’m exploring alternatives. Would anyone be interested in a serious of exactly how I modify my business in preparation for re-launching. I mean, the nitty, gritty details…tools, costs, services. Just a thought, let me know if you are interested.

But today, I spent some time reviewing the tools I love, their costs (because really everything has changed since I closed down a couple of years ago,) and making a list of what are NEEDS vs WANTS in this endeavor.

Here are a few things I am reviewing:

  1. Scheduling – I love Calendly. Thankfully, they offer a free version that does everything I need at this moment. It integrates with my Google calendar and that is a MUST have for me.
  2. Cloud storage – I have used Dropbox FOREVER, but am seriously considering switching to Google storage instead. Anyone have any experience with this? From the research I’ve done, there would be a cost savings and well, it’s Google so it integrates with everything. Although, I do have to mention that I love the Dropbox password keeper.
  3. Website – Thankfully, because I host so many of my clients’ websites, my own websites are hosted for free. But I do need to refresh and relaunch my site(s) depending on the direction I decide to go. (And yes, they are all WordPress sites that I design myself. What a website? Hit me up!)
  4. Analytics – I make decisions based on numbers, so deep diving into analytics has been important. Since Google launched GA4, I am working on getting certified and up to speed on all the new offerings.
  5. Advertising – For the bulk of my contracting career, I’ve gotten work from sites like Guru and Upwork. But after the last couple of months of investing time and money there…well, it’s not paying off like it used to. So I must explore some other options. Any suggestions, fellow small business owners?

Staying Focused but Open

I am staying very focused on searching for work…hitting up everything I can find. (And yes, I am looking at both contract work and full time W2 employment.) But while I’m doing that…I’m about to bootstrap this relaunch like I’ve never done before. Let me know if you’d like to hear more about how I do this exactly.

Read more from Hope

A Whole Day Off Work – March, 2021

I Got a New Job – April, 2014

Striking Out on Your Own – April, 2014

When Absolutely Everything is Up in the Air…Again – January, 2023