Hello Dear Reader,
(Read to the end to find out if you have won the give away of the seeds)
When ever I think of entrepreneurs, I think of Dragon’s Den. I think of the people who started their business with a rented ice cream van and enough money to buy ice cream for that day. When we think of money being tight, we often forget that we probably need to go out and earn some more. Don’t get me wrong, I have the best day job in the world and wouldn’t trade it for anything but what if I, you or anyone, could take their hobby which they did for the love of it and earned some extra money from it. I think it’s possible and many of us could give it a try. It’s not going to be a massive earner, but what if you could improve your household income by £10 a week or even if that was just the extra a month? It’s not just about stopping the money going out but helping it come in too. I don’t think there is anything wrong with leaving the office at 5pm and then working with the cleaning agency giving it a hoover and polish at the end of the day to earn more money. In fact, I think it’s the sensible route to saving, maybe for a house deposit, a holiday, a new car or paying off debt or the mortgage.
I think anyone can be a frugaleur and use the tiniest amount of money to start a business. In the past, I set myself a £50 budget to renovate a room, buy new towels and bedding and then rent that room to a lodger. It can be done. This time, I used a very small budget to make my first quilt for sale. Luckily, I have a captive market and if anyone wants to buy it, email me with ‘sealed bid’ (which means no one else knows what you have bid) and the winner will buy the quilt. UK postage will be included but overseas postage will be charged at cost which the buyer will be informed of those costs at the end of the ‘sale’.
The quilt has Hobbs cotton batting inside, it’s backed with vintage Laura Ashley and edged with hot pink which contrasts the green chartreuse.
It’s soft, warm and snuggly and already has an heirloom feel about it. It’s 45″ by 62″ and would make a wonderful sofa throw or a topper for a single bed. If no one buys it, it will stay with us as I already love it. Vintage fabric designs blended with thrifted vintage fabrics and American batting. It’s deliciously soft.
Below, is the close up of the vintage Marks and Spencer’s floral which was used to sash the blocks. It didn’t take me long to make it and you can see this blog post if you want to make your own as I have included where the fabric comes from and instructions how to make it yourself. If you don’t want to do that, then you are welcome to make a bid for this one. I would love to make a quilt a week and have Yoosta-Bee quilts all over the world!
Here’s the back (and ever present ironing, drying rack and sleeping big dog xx). To get a closer look at any of the pictures, click onto the picture to enlarge it.
There you are, anyone can be a frugaleur, even me. This could be the start of my second job as I do what I can to throw money at my mortgage as that pony won’t ride itself! So, if you want the quilt, use the contact box above to find my email address, and email me a sealed bid for the quilt. The ‘auction’ closes in seven days and the payment will be by paypal. Bids must be in pounds sterling so overseas bidders will need to work out the exchange rate when they make their bid. The quilt will be shipped when payment is cleared.
Now, over to you. Who else is fighting down debt or paying off the mortgage? Who else makes extra money? Do you sell surplus veggies, fruit or eggs in the summer, or garden gate jam? Do you sell your crafts? Did anyone but they gave up and wish they didn’t? I love hearing your tales.
Now to the winner of the seeds by having their ‘number’ (out of all the comments) generated at random and the winner is FIESTA!!!! Please email me your address as soon as you can and I will send the seeds as soon as I can and happy gardening and I hope all your veggies taste wonderful
Until tomorrow,
Love Froogs xxxxxxxx
Advertisements
Well done FIESTA - hope you grow loads of lovely veggies this summer.
I am playing Frugaleur too Froogs - mine will have to be teachy things I think LOL
LikeLike
smashing quilt. I am often asked by work colleagues to do mending or make quilts. I don't make a huge amount of money but I put it in a jar in my sewing room and use it for thread, needles , wadding etc. That way I can finish off projects without eating into housekeeping. I make most of the gifts we give so I save money by using materials I already have. I occasionally run sewing days for children of my work colleagues. It is good to have a hobby that you can make a few extra pennies from.
LikeLike
I've never thought about selling our eggs, but might now!! 🙂 We have recently started painting old, worn out furniture and have also re-upholstered some auction dining room chairs (which did cost £60 but I sold our others for the same amount so technically they didn't cost anything), but from this we have had a couple of people asking if we could paint some of their old furniture so who knows we may be joining you in a “crafty” second income! Nikki
LikeLike
I'm very interested in the frugaleur challenge, I must get my thinking cap on 🙂
LikeLike
I'm an avid knitter and recently made a pair of ugg boot style bootees as a gift for a colleagues sister. Back to work after Christmas and had an order for more - which they are paying for! Wont make me much but it all helps and is such a nice feeling when someone wants to buy something you made by hand!
I hope Yoosta Bee spreads far and wide!
LikeLike
Congrats Fiesta!
I keep trying to think of something for a second line of income. I keep drawing a blank
LikeLike
hi there - i am not (yet!) creative at making things though fully intend to learn. I earn extra income by babysitting. maybe only once a fortnight or so but it all adds up.
Your quilts are lovely and I am planning one right now! I can knit but cant crochet and need to find a teacher here in London .
I couldnt bear to have a lodger so admire you for that, but even if i had a spare room that would be a last resort.
LikeLike
grr -lost my first comment. Condensed version - i babysit to earn a bit of extra cash and want to learn to crochet and quilt! Admire you for having a lodger before but even if i had a spare room, couldnt bear the idea - that would be a last resort for me.
LikeLike
Beautiful quilts!! And congratulations to Fiesta. 🙂
LikeLike
Oh, I am so excited but I do not have your email address.
LikeLike
See the tabs above -media and contact- click that and you'll see my email address
LikeLike
Yippee, Froogs! I retired 6 years ago this March, and 8 months after retirement, I started a yarn dyeing business on Etsy. From my small earnings, I've paid for any number of air fares to visit younger DD, bought fabric and other goodies for my new-found love, quilting, and have made so many on-line customers who then became friends.
Go for it! Think of it as extra money. I helped support my mom in her last years, gave generous gifts to my kids and grands. And, the best part is that you are your own boss.
LikeLike
Like you. I sell my quilting books and patterns on eBay. There are seriously so many free online sources that I do not need to keep all those book. I have even sold some orphan blocks. U fortunately ebay has been keeping a big chunk so I am going to try Pinterest. A blogger purchased a bracelet that I made and blogged about and now I listed them on Pinterest.
LikeLike
Sometimes, it isn't even about following your passion, but just doing what you can do. My husband worked in a large medical center for several years. On the side he did transcription work for some of these doctors' private practices. I take care of other people's children for 2-3 hours per week, to make an extra $140 USD per month. Overnight gigs pay even more. An overnight babysitter can make about $100 USD for the night in my town. Not too shabby for making dinner, playing games and reading bedtime stories. There really are a lot of opportunities to make a few extra dollars, if you're willing and have some extra time.
LikeLike
My side business has been writing and editing. I have done a lot of it over the years. I recently started a local news blog for the tiny town where we have a second home-have been approached about advertising, but haven't accepted any yet.
My friend, who owns a motel in that town, is not very busy in the winter. She shops at thrift stores for the motel (it's fabulous-every room is different) and buys other items, as she finds them, to re-sell on eBay. eBay didn't work out too well for me, but it does for her. Right now she is working her way through a pile of books and magazines she was given from an estate. China and crystal are her real specialties.
BTW, Froogs, beautiful quilt. And congratulations to Fiesta, too.
LikeLike
I do writing and editing too! The plan is to get to a point where that will be my main income, topped up with performance work. Sadly I've had to cut back on performing right now as it is not such a great earner and I don't have time or energy to devote to developing that properly.
LikeLike
I've written a novel - just editing now. If I ever get it published it'd be a great second income stream. The only problem is that using your spare time for profit(one hopes) leaves very little time for chores. The novel may end up polished but not my house….
LikeLike
I agree with you. We took opportunities to earn more cash when we were getting out of debt. Not fun things, not exploiting our great talents but things that brought in some good money. I would personally not like to turn a hobby into an income source as I like to work to my timetable and taste when I'm doing something I enjoy. I understand and take my hat off to people who can turn a hobby into a job and still get as much enjoyment from it though.
LikeLike
I think thats an excellent idea. You are very lucky to have a pastime that enables you to bring in extra income. I am not gifted in any department that will help my impoverished state in this manner. I read a lot and have just sold some books in order to be able to buy food but wish so much that I could knit or sew or draw or something..even just as a hobby.
LikeLike
Years ago I paid for college classes by teaching crochet at my sons gradeschool in the evening. Now I sell on ebay and Amazon. My blog doesnt make money but it is a way for customers to stay in touch with me. I also wrote a book decades ago that still brings in annual royalties. I will self publish my next book on homemaking this year. It is all what I love doing. However I cant bear to sell any of my quilt-children! 🙂
LikeLike
Try selling on facebook too.
LikeLike
You can also sell on facebook.
LikeLike
Your quilt is beautiful and I hope you sell it. To pay for my dogs very expensive acupuncuture I designed and make fabric dog poo holders, to carry those little plastic bags in . It has a copyright on it so no one should take my ideas. I love sewing too and bags are my passion.
LikeLike
Congrats, Fiesta! I make and sell lots of things, right now I'm making 2 quilts for a friend, the profit from these is going into my travel fund. I have a holiday planned and need the extra cash.
LikeLike
hi froogs
ive been following your blog for a while now. i am also trying to pay off all my loans of by july and double my mortage payment to pay it off in 3 years instead of 7. i also make baby items to sell
http://www.babyknits.appee.com
jill x
LikeLike
I love the whole idea of being a frugaleur! I totally agree that just because you don't have much to spend it doesn't mean you can't start a business!
LikeLike
This post is just what I needed to read today! I am moving toward being a frugaleur, but didn't have a name for it! I'm part of the Sealed Pot Challenge and saving to pay off my debts (a bit in excess of $15,000). I was laid off last spring and am 'couch-surfing' at my Mum's for now. Past retirement age, I was quite set back when laid off, but decided to use this opportunity to follow a few of my dreams on my way to debt freedom.
Thanks so much for all the information. I'm looking forward to learning from someone who's already achieved what I dream of . . . ~ Linne
LikeLike