Don't know where to post this since I'm between both stages (parent of college student & Post College years). Major news is I started my own business taking old negative film strips, slides & putting them on CD's & printing them on photo paper. Also I'm taking old VHS tapes & 1/2 inch old camcorder tapes & putting them on DVD's. Currently, I've been teaching this person how to use her computer. She's never been married or had kids, therefore had nobody to really teach her. Yes, I'm still working F/T at my job (can't afford to give that up in this economy - what are you kidding me?) ;-) I don't care if experts are predicting the recession is ending & politicians are battling out health care, I need my weekly paycheck & health care coverage. Anyway, this idea came about because while ds has been in college for 3 yrs. now, it's been quiet at home with dh & myself. So freshman yr., I went through all the old medical bills & statements - got those organized. Sophomore yr. - went through finances & other paperwork. Junior yr. - sorted through my collection of old videos, photos, etc. & started putting them on DVD & CD's. Since I work at Staples, I've had many customers ask who provides this service, so that's where I got the idea. Through research, I know Walmart & Walgreens does this, but in the NYC area, there aren't that many Walmarts or Walgreens, so I don't have much competition.
So if I've been away for awhile, well, I've been keeping busy. Hey, while ds was in college, I actually went through all the crap & accumulated stuff I had through the years & I can't believe how much stuff I threw out & shredded. Unbelievable! So now that I'm neat & organized, I can actually start a business. I'm still stunned that at 55 yrs., I'm doing this. Ironically, my soon to be 21 yr. old college senior who is majoring in finance & accounting at a top business school yet should help me out here. But, he is hungry for money & he would tell me, "I can't afford him." I will say this much. I've made over $1,000. so far in the last few months which is money I wouldn't have if I didn't do this. It's allowed me to get my car fixed (body work - had 1 major dent for 4 yrs. & never got it fixed because I couldn't afford it & had a 2nd dent which is recent). Also I've helped pay down our credit card. So life is going well for me right now.
As for hubby, well, he's semi-retired from teaching. Looking for a tutoring job or something - but nothing yet. As for our daughter - still with same boyfriend of last 10 yrs. (high school sweethearts) - no engagement or wedding signs - we're keeping our mouths shut, because his side of the family are ALL asking them when are they getting engaged. Obviously, they're tired of the adults pushing the engagement on them, so leave it alone, I say. Daughter is still working F/T. Boyfriend is still unemployed & looking for a job.
Hope all is well with everybody! When I have a chance, I will read the posts & try to catch up. When that is, who knows. By the way, if anybody needs to reach me, you're better off emailing me at gutten@optonline.net. I check my emails daily. Unfortunately, I don't get to ivillage all that frequently. Oh yeah, the name of my business is Baby Boom Tech Wizard. What do you think?
I thought I was going to get the financial records organized freshman year, but it didn't happen. Maybe sophomore year, then on to the photos, which will be much more fun!
I started my side business a couple of years ago - it has taken up any time that I should have/could have been using to try to organize and get rid of stuff!
Good luck with the biz! It's a lot of fun to be your own boss, but sometimes a lot of stress as well.
You're right - I do have two part-time jobs. I have a small, one-person business doing interior landscaping, which is providing and taking care of indoor plants for businesses (think about the plants inside the lobbies of office buildings - someone has to put them there and keep them looking beautiful, it's me!). For various reasons, even though I love the industry and I'm good at it, I prefer to keep my business small and very part-time, so I also have another part-time job to supplement my income and keep me from getting bored.
I did get the "dream job" that I had posted about, and I ended up getting placed at the Conservatory, which was my preference of the two. I have been there a little over a month, and I love it so far.
I love both jobs. They are both very different, and I enjoy the variety. And they both deal with plants, which is my passion!
I do wish that horticulture paid more though! I have definitely chosed to follow my passion, instead of following the big bucks. Fortunately, I have a husband with a secure job with a decent salary and good benefits. Although my DD does remind me periodically that she wishes we had more money for luxuries...I think she'll end up going for the big bucks when she grows up!
Hi Kathy! Congratulations on this new business venture! I'm impressed at how you have really utilized your time with the kids out of the home. I somehow let the days slip by and don't get to the projects like de-cluttering & sorting through old stuff. I still have a box of my mother's old mementos in my room and I haven't figured out what to do with them yet, although she passed away a year and a half ago. I just always put those kind of things on the back burner - so many other things I'd rather do! It's a great idea for a business, though. My dh has talked about putting our old video tapes onto a DVD for awhile now but hasn't gotten to it yet. I've got some very precious footage of my father that I want to save before the tape degrades completely, so hopefully he'll get to it soon.
