Are you thinking out of the "BOX"

Wow, these are really challenging times financially. There are ways to overcome, if you think out of the box!! Remember that birthday money you got in your birthday card? What did you do with it? Spend it on something small that you really did not need or want!

I have to laugh at a specific bank commercial I often hear on the radio. A husband and wife are out on their Saturday morning shopping errands. He gets an alert from his bank that his checking account is low after they purchased something. No problem he will just transfer money from his savings account to his checking account so they can go over to the bakery across the street to buy those cupcakes he loves. Oh my gosh, take your money from savings to buy "CUPCAKES"!!!!

Let me share with you something my Sis said the other day. She knows how to give me a really "expensive" birthday gift. She will give me, let's say $25, and knows that I can turn that into well over $100!!!! That way I can get something really cool, that she did not have the money to buy for me.

I search the thrift stores and garage sales for things I can sell on eBay and Craig's List, that is where I spend my money. Amazing what a few dollars can do for your "financial portfolio". Let me share this find with you.

I was out "garage selling" and ran across a Starbucks lighted store sign. You know the one with the mermaid that is in the window of most Starbucks. Well I thought heck why not ask what they want for it. It was $1.00, sure I can afford that, I am sure I can get $10 at least!! Long story short it sold for $180 to a man in Japan.

Or how about this one.

So last week, I stop off at a thrift store after teaching my art class in Los Altos. 17 kiddos learning to draw, you would think I would have been exhausted, but never to tired to drop in and see what I can do with the little bit of money I had in my wallet.

I am searching around and this lady was by my side and had this awesome looking canister or cookie jar in her hand. It was sooooo cool, I said wish I had seen that first. Did not know what it was but it look adorable.

Anyway I picked up a couple of items, went up to the counter and this lady was in front paying for her items. She had put the cookie jar behind the counter with some of the other things she wanted to buy. People like to take breakable or heavy items up to the counter and have them hold them till they are done shopping. Don't want to break anything!!!!

When she was done paying the cashier she realized that they had not included the cookie jar. She got a little irritated and walked out of the store. I watched as she got into her car, was not sure if she was coming back to get the cookie jar. Well she was gone out of there. Maybe a little mad about the whole deal or something, so I ask to see the cookie jar, it was signed on the bottom Penzo, did not know a thing about that name, but for $4.00 I said heck why not, what do I have to lose.

Got it home did some research and low and behold, she is a famous artist that does beautiful ceramic work out of Zimbabwe, Africa. Her things are unique and each artist that paints on them signs them. So UP on eBay it went, within 1 hour I had a bid on it and I sold it for $75. WOW you never know what is waiting for you. Do you think that this was meant for me, what are the coincidence that I was right behind her at the checkout counter??????Hmmmmm Thank you God.

You see I do not have a world of knowledge on these thing, never ever heard of the name on that cookie jar, I just took a chance. That is what true entrepreneurship is all about, taking the risk!

So next time you are tempted to buy CUPCAKES, think how much ROI you could have to help that financial crunch.

Be Blessed and Prosper