There was a time, not so very long ago, okay, maybe 15 years ago, that Nathan and I decided we would live as simply as we could and take as little as possible from the Earth. We don't have solar panels, we don't live off the grid (appealing but too much work) and we don't ride walk/bike everywhere. But, we do live fairly simply. Our largest expense is our grocery budget because we tend to only buy foods that use sustainable practices and do not not harm our bodies. Looking around my large den, I can only spot two pieces of furniture that were purchased new. Bookcases and the parsons chair here at my desk. Everything else was gifted to us gently used or built for me by my father. I know, having furniture built counts as "new" but we did not spend hours browsing furniture stores, comparing prices, wondering what our friends would think.....and our entire home is furnished in this fashion.
All of our bedroom suits are heirloom pieces handed down through generations. All of our dining furniture was gifted or purchased used...same for the kitchen. It is all recycled, repurposed, refinished!
It's been on my mind - this lifestyle of ours - as I have been thinking of ways to earn extra money - run an at-home business, to sustain our path of homeschooling our children. For many years, I have tried to make a go of direct-sales and for a while I was even getting somewhat successful, building a down-line and earning about $500 a month. But, I never could stick with it. I think it's because so many companies are based around customers purchasing things that do not necessarily enrich their lives.
What I mean is this: when I'm selling purses or tote bags or beautiful trinkets for the home, it is purely a consumer mentality. That's just not me. I buy a purse when my old one breaks or looks so worn that it is embarrassing. I buy new tennis shoes when the toes of the old ones find themselves with a hole. New pants? We rarely go to the mall, we buy only what we need and when we need it. There is no room in our lives - for many reasons - to shop for the sake of shopping and some of the companies I have attempted to work with have promoted shopping for the sake of shopping. Folly on my part to be sure!
Right now, as we have made the move to the path we are on we are looking at our own habits more closely. How do we have what we need to survive and indeed be happy without taxing the resources around us? What are our options to bring in extra cash without urging people to shop for the sake of the moment? Are there opportunities for me to work with products that truly will enrich my life and the lives of others? If you have the answer, let me know, meantime, I'll be wandering in the wilderness searching for the answers.
***Disclaimer: I am a huge fan of Pampered Chef, Arbonne, Usborne and Barefoot Books. I do own products from the Utility collection from Thirty-One that I use each and every day. This is not an attempt to speak ill of direct selling, it is more of a reflection on how to be a healthy consumer and bring additional income into my home.
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