Earning Money

[Annpan]

What can I do to earn money

We have just got through the first bill for the current dry-rot work ... and we still don't have a price for the rest of the work

We can get by on OH's wage, but, we will have big loans to pay off... we have been loan free (bar mortgage) for over a year, and I just don't want to be in debt again... it is just a demeaning, horrid feeling.

You guys know me as well as anyone else. What can I seriously consider making to sell... from my home... and does anyone have experience of this?

Lifestyle choice means I have to look after E full-time, also running our mini-holding, and I do not drive, so I have to stay at home... any thoughts, suggestions, ideas, support, cash, cheques, etc would be most appreciated

[The Hopefuls]

how about growing some veg for ebay?
last year we made quite a bit on tomato and cucumber plants

just a suggestion :)

[Mydreamlife]

Do you have a sewing machine? How about aprons, tea cosies etc for farmers markets etc? Sounds a bit silly but could sell along side plants as previously mentioned or jams/chutneys?!

In exact same position, no huge bills coming in but have loan to pay for previous house problems!!!!!!!

Something always turns up!

OOOOHH how about ironing? A friend of mine does it in the evenings for a a couple of days a week and it runs their car easily + some food shopping. Worth a thought.

Good luck
Claire

[Esther.R]

Exactly same position here. I run a small business making webbing horse tack, it is not a huge earner but it does bring in a little.

[ina]

Do you have a sewing machine? How about aprons, tea cosies etc for farmers markets etc? Sounds a bit silly but could sell along side plants as previously mentioned or jams/chutneys?!

I'd be careful with stuff out of the kitchen - you might get into trouble with health issues.... I know that a lot of WI and similar groups have given up on that, because they all suddenly needed certificates etc, and have their kitchens inspected. I don't know what the rules are on eggs - but if you want to keep a few hens anyway, and sell the surplus, that should work in your garden, too. Just make sure it's not more than 50 hens - that's classed as commercial and needs to be registered!
Plants and crafty stuff is probably the least problematic.

[red]

are you a fast knitter? can knit things for other people.. they supply the pattern and yarn - but you have to build up a rep.. contacts etc.

dog walking? obviously.. with buggy and E...

urm - sell things you make on etsy..

[red]

raise extra plants and sell them at the gate... i saw people buying tiny basil plants at a fate last year... doh!

[the.fee.fairy]

Ebay!

I'd stay away from soaps - you have to be certified. I did think about it, but then i found out about all the hoops you have to jump through..

I agree with the Etsy suggestion though!

[MrFalafel]

Do you have a sewing machine? How about aprons, tea cosies etc for farmers markets etc? Sounds a bit silly but could sell along side plants as previously mentioned or jams/chutneys?!

I'd be careful with stuff out of the kitchen - you might get into trouble with health issues.... I know that a lot of WI and similar groups have given up on that, because they all suddenly needed certificates etc, and have their kitchens inspected. I don't know what the rules are on eggs - but if you want to keep a few hens anyway, and sell the surplus, that should work in your garden, too. Just make sure it's not more than 50 hens - that's classed as commercial and needs to be registered!
Plants and crafty stuff is probably the least problematic.

That might vary from area to area. The local WI around me still makes and sells lots of jams and chutneys etc. Also at the local market, there's a baker that sells lots of cakes and things tasty. Frequently selling out a few hours after setting up the stall. You can also find people who already have market stalls who would be happy to split the cost and share the table.

When my wife was starting out her chocolate business, she made chocolates and candies from home at first. No trouble with any health and safety people at all. And for transportation, she would get ride down to the market with another stall holder in exchange for some chocolate, sell all day and then get a ride back home. Typically the market winds down around 3 or so so its not a long day.

[MrFalafel]

Oh and while I'm thinking about it, I know of a couple of other ideas for working from home:

1) Bespoke baking: cakes, breads and things for people who have allergies or dietary requirements. Also wedding cakes and other items. There are a couple of women in the county who started this off small and now have a thriving business with it

2) massage therapy: this is more long term but my mom trained as a certified accupressurist and spent years doing in-house treatments for patients even though she lives in a very rural area. Now my step dad has trained in a specific form of massage therapy and does the same thing. Good money, too.

[Wombat]

Knitting, spinning, dyeing then sell proceeds on ebay!

Nev

[ina]

That might vary from area to area. The local WI around me still makes and sells lots of jams and chutneys etc. Also at the local market, there's a baker that sells lots of cakes and things tasty.

They do it around here, too. I think as long as it is for charity, or at least it's not advertised much, the authorities turn a blind eye... But I have read of several cases where they were banned from even taking a home baked cake in to an old folks' home for their afternoon tea!

[Annpan]

I actually made and sold a few 'special dietry requirements' cakes for a deli when I lived in Glasgow (if any one asks... I used their kitchens ) but when I looked into setting up and doing it properly it seemed as I needed a catering quality kitchen... no animals, no kids, mesh over opening windows, a fly zapper, 3 sink (hands, dishes, food) and possibly a hygine cousre for me

I had previously thought that you could put 'homemade' on food items, and it would be buyer beware... It took me several days of looking and I didn't really find all the information I needed, so I decided it was too much palava.

I would rather cook/ bake / preserve than anything else... but I just can't work out the rules.

I can knit and sew, looks like tough competition on Etsy, and I couldn't really find anything on Ebay... would love to sell at farmers markets...
I'll need to design some stuff... I have some ideas... just haven't put pen to paper yet.

Thanks everybody

[niknak]

Carboots? its amazing what you find when you tidy out the garage/ attic etc. Maybe a friend or neighbour who drives fancies doing one too. There good fun, but wait for a nice day or everything gets ruined

[Thomzo]

Hi
What about offering a telephone answering service to small businesses? Sole traders could switch their phones through to you when they are out of the office (they don't always want to answer a mobile all the time). You could take messages and answer basic questions.

You could do typing, proof reading or do you have any experience at book-keeping?

A friend of mine tried to set up her own cake making business but she did need a separate kitchen and all that palaver.

Taking in pets while the owners are away? A lot of pet owners don't like taking their "babies" to the kennels.

Good luck. Whatever you chose you must enjoy it.

Zoe