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Need ideas

February 4th, 2006 at 06:26 am

I would love to participate in the $20 challenge, but I'm having a hard time coming up with something to do.

Yesterday when I was at the library I checked out their book sale. They have a lot of books that were donated and are in great shape (no writing, etc). I wrote down ISBNs on about 7. I tried to choose a mix: textbooks, new bestsellers, "classic" authors, etc. Ebookdrop was not accepting any of them and half.com had 2 dozen listings and none of them for the amount it would cost.

So I'm thinking books are not the way to go, at least here.

I live in an area where services are cheap, cheap, cheap, so that's not an option.

We have local flea markets where they bring things from across the border, so handknit items won't sell for enough to even pay for the fiber.

I'm stymied. I'd like to participate but every thing I think of turns out to be impractical.

One idea I am considering is recycling junk mail into plantable cards (homemade paper with flower seeds added). Since the cards are made to be planted, you don't have to worry about acid-free, etc. I can get access to scrap paper, already shredded, at work. But, I'm not sure if I can buy the equipment for papermaking for $20. The seeds also aren't an issue. Seeds are really cheap and I have access to tons of free seeds.

I need to talk to a couple of people in town, I have a friend with a booth at "Market Days" and I know the owner of a gift shop. I'll speak to them to see if this is something they'd be willing to carry for me. Then I need to figure out how we can get the equipment for papermaking. I have an old blender that I can use for the slurry, it's the vats and screens I'd need to get.

Another idea I had was to start mystery shopping again. I've been looking at my sites and so far they haven't had any shops that would be worthwhile. One shop requires a minimum $75 purchase (which you can return, but I find that returns take so long that I end up making about 50 cents/hour). The others are 30 miles away and with gas being what it is, the fee would barely cover the gas.

Posted in $20 Challenge | 5 Comments »

5 Responses to “Need ideas”

  1. PrincessPerky Says:
    February 4th, 2006 at 02:00 pm 1139061605
    1139061605

    I read directions for paper making where the screen was a window screen and the vat was a dish tub, I bet that woudl be under 20.

  2. Ima saver Says:
    February 4th, 2006 at 03:25 pm 1139066721
    1139066721

    I am not handy so making things in not a solutions for me. My best idea is just to use my grocery store card and take all my savings. (listed at the bottom of the receipt) and put it towards my $20 challenge. also, i save all my change and that helps. If my husband does an extra job, I add that too. I also pay my self (challenge money) $1 for every mile I walk.
    I do my budget in envelopes and if there is something left over (ex. I budget $160 each month for elec., this month it was $100) I put it in my challenge money.

  3. mjrube94 Says:
    February 4th, 2006 at 04:21 pm 1139070109
    1139070109

    I think the $20 is more of a guideline. The more important thing is to come up with an idea to make extra money beyond your normal job, savings, etc. So if it will cost you $50 to get started but you think you could make a go of it, I'd jump in. Just state it up front in the challenge and go for it! Good luck!

  4. robex Says:
    February 5th, 2006 at 04:35 am 1139114115
    1139114115

    I know how you feel! I would lie awake at night trying to think of something for my challenge, and still haven't come up with anything. I finally did the same as Imasaver and just started adding in can and bottle returns, lottery ticket winnings (from tickets given to me!), and grocery savings...I just wanted to start somewhere! I saved $150 in January...that is money that would have just slipped right through if I had not put it aside.

  5. jacquelynrose Says:
    February 9th, 2006 at 06:01 am 1139464866
    1139464866

    Oh I am glad I am not the only one who cannot think of anything! But, your ideas are wonderful! Keep it up! Wink

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