Or rather, my plants/business.
http://www.ethicurean.com/2008/12/04/victory-garden-wish-list/
"Victory garden wishlist"^ That reminded me so much of the one and only shopping trip that's been accomplished by me in the last few months that I had to blog about it, lol.
See, unfortunately, I've only managed to scrounge up a few gifts all year 'round for this year at flea markets, online, and church sales...mostly because money's been tight and Mom needed me to lend her some...which ended up being all of it.
So, since I'm working atm, I've had a little money and I've been shoring the rest of it up.
I'm holding onto my money even more tightly than usual because I have priorities.
First and foremostly:
I need to put some money aside for the business start up next year. I will be getting tidbits from month-to-month, to replace plants and tools, but I will need a little money for the actual selling process.
Which could mean gas and a few squares AS WELL as the renting of flea market spaces to earn money -- which I still need to figure out how to make up for what I spend on that via my food...and all I can surmise is to have a ton of cheap food with me.
TECHNICALLY, to keep the trip cheap, my Mom should drop me and everything off and go home.
It's harder to supply two people with squares and keep it cheap, granted that Mom and I don't really eat alot...but yeah...
DETAILS.
Anyway, I need to put at least thirty bucks aside and slowly put increments away until next July.
I might get away with making metaphysical supplies and selling them...which might be less fun than you think, since I'll want to keep a good chunk of 'em lol.
SECOND priority:
I need about fifty bucks so that my family can go down to see the grandparents for christmas.
We haven't seen them in year and having gotten word of recent health problems and everything, it's a reminder of how old they are and how we should see them while we can.
I'm likely to get slightly over this before the new year, when my job ends.
So I MIGHT just make it. I'm hoping that I won't have to make the full fifty bucks for the trip on my own. It'd be nice to have Dad's or Mom's help...they are THEIR parents after all.
I do have a little money in my bank...and I've something else sorta secret and extra that I don't really want to touch...even though...but yeah.
I admit, I was also slightly ridiculous with the previous bit of money I had. I splurged about fifteen bucks for me an' Mom to go see Twilight. It's just that we haven't gone to see a movie in years. And she and I both wanted to see that one...so...I splurged. *hangs head*
I KNOW, I'm normally so frugal, but with how strictly I'm gonna have to budget this next month...I feel a little guilty.
Anyway: Presents I bought for business/plants next year....
A new shovel. It was a dollar! It's sturdy, nice strong metal blade that shouldn't bend or break easily and a wooden handle.
A stamp. It says "Growth" in a pretty italic font. It was eighty cents. I thought this would be perfect for our lables next year. (Which I've yet to buy)
Three boxes of plastic bags. A starter for the produce next year. There's regular, small freezer, and gallon freezer bags. 100+ each box. These were a dollar for the first two, and a dollar eighty for the gallon freezer bags.
I found 'em all at Big Lots. GOD I love that store. We get a chance once every couple years or so to shop there and I always love it there.
So, here's a list of things I need to scout for and that Santa can bring me for my growing next year:
More plastic bags of those types. I'm probably gonna need alot.
Little baskets and containers to sell fresh produce in. (These are gonna be hard to find, though Mom thinks they'll be cheaper in bulk)
Plastic grocery sacks. (We've a very decent amount of these, but it's about enough for ONE flea market. Does Santa do freecycle?)
Flat, light-weight pieces of wood or cardboard...in squares preferrably, in varying sizes, that I can use for signs.
Black permanent markers.
A new carport and tent, ours are seriously grungy and will probably fall apart after a year's use. (Danged cheap equipment!) It'd be good to LOOK nice while selling things.
Wooden poles. Beans and tomatos galore this year...and we've only a handful of poles...
More pots would be awesome, we could always use more pots.
Stuff to collect rainwater in. Water drums or barrels or whatever they're called? Buckets'd work too.
A better ladder so I can work on a water collection system up on the roof. (Water is a farmer's most precious resource)
...and last but not least, please help me not work myself to death, lol.
...some of this stuff, I'm sure we'll be able to get for free. Freecycle, free boxes at church sales and flea markets, trash day...
Others I'm probably gonna have to buy, and predominately, this worries me because if affects how I'll have to price things. I'm keeping track of the start up cost so that I can see if I can at least earn that much back.
That's my bottom line. I at least need to earn my money back.
After the first initial year, THEN I can worry about making a profit.
See, it's a fine line. You gotta take care of yourself and be able to take care of your customers. Your goal if both of you. So it's a constant struggle not to slight either.
The goal after this line, is my future. I'm slowly structuring what I want...and it'll be a ton cheaper than alot of kids' plans in these past years, but it'll still take alot of doing...especially because of the current economic chaos.
This all gaurentees to keep me busy, at least...and at least I'm not alone. Alot of people seem to be seeing a future in farming now -- small scale, organic-based farming.
So yeah...Santa? Any bit of that, I'd be grateful for. Take your time. I have until next summer, for some of that, lol.
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