My Personal Economy - Status Report August 2010

My family economy is still struggling to stem the negative cash flow as we seek improved income and decrease expenses.  I resigned from my full time job and started freelance contracting in mobile (phone) applications.  I am currently engaged in a four to six month contract with Sprint, and although I have to pay for my own benefits, the rewards of job satisfaction and compensation are so much better than they were just six weeks ago.

What I noticed when I switched jobs, is that there is an incredible churn of money to reestablish benefits, buy supplies and equipment.  This has to be good for the local merchants and web merchants.   Obviously, some of it is a shift of cash from the ex-company's huge benefits insurer to the smaller staffing agency's benefits insurer, but the new electronic purchases and daily coffee at Java City and lunch at the cafeteria flow directly from my paycheck to the merchants.

I still aspire to take my hobby to market (as I alluded to in a previous post).

A Home Spun Success Story?

Every once and a while, I like to report about a home-started business that I think is a success. I do not necessarily know the details behind the company, but it may have an outward appearance of success or just be an admitted success. My wife bought a new "jelly - jam" for our weekend toast. It is actually labeled as a "spreadable fruit." The variety she bought to try is the peach-apricot and it is heavenly.

So, I went to the website to share the discovery with my family and read the About Us page.  It reads like that idilic hobby-to-riches story and the owners now have a local (to them in New York City) factory, which undoubtably employes locals, thus feeds the economy.

Sarabeth's Bakery

The products are pricey, but that just makes it a niche.  I suggest you try the products and patronize Sarabeth's website and maybe it will inspire you to market and sell your hobby.