January Update

January Sales were strong and much better than last year. My google photos has not been working since mid January and for the life of me I can not figure it out. So the pics of the good stuff I sold will have to be worked out in the future by transferring to my email and then into my photos. A major pain in the butt. I did sell some stuff I have had for awhile and sold for some great profit.

This past week, taking advantage of the few days I have left before J. comes home and my life will change forever! I have hit up some Goodwills in the area just because it was in the middle of the week and no Estate Sales. 

I also have been watching Youtube inspirations videos to help guide me. I certainly hope I make my money back! DR gives a very inspiring suggestion on being accountable. When you set a goal you punish yourself when you do not achieve it. It is a goal you have control over. If I want to sell 1000$ a week I actually have no control over if I make it or not. But if I set a goal of listing 5 a day I have total control over than. Last night I had to catch up, but I made it. I've listed 29 items so far this week and still have today to go. I'll list the 6 before the end of the day.

The other goal was to source more efficiently. Buying things that will sell and not sit on the shelf (or in the box) for ever and then not sell. I love to pick up glass and glass does not sell. Sometimes eventually but its always a long tail. 

Which brings me to why I went to the Good wills this week. To test out the theory. And after watching CLL shop at Goodwill. First, her goodwills are jammed packed with good stuff and not many people. I guess I make the mistake of when I drop in on a goodwill it is usually on a Saturday, their busiest day. this week I went and I did find some treasures.

UPDATE: I have been ending a listing and then sell similar. The whole house has been rearranged to accommodate Joe's hospital bed. The small bedroom has been converted into and Ebay room and I have not acclimated to it yet. The photobox not hooked up yet.

A Day at Ley's Auction

 Oh what a day. Beau came up, spent the night and I  headed to the Auction of all Auctions Saturday. The consolidated warehouses, and the (I think) third and final auction, (first 2 or 3 were on line auctions) of a world famous antique dealer. So famous that he was the source for many a movie set designers who would seek out and comb over his inventory. He was in the Nulu area of Lou and had a gigantic store front in an old warehouse type building, three floors or more of endless "stuff". There was a very cool freight elevator in the building. I went to JL first in the 1980s and you paid a $1 to get in and wander around for as long as you wanted. I can't remember if I bought anything at that time being a very poor single mother going to University in the evenings!

I did purchase a print in the first on line auction, and it sits in my garage, a 5$ investment that is worth 600$ that is if someone is willing to pay the asking price. 

Yesterday was cold and windy. I got a parking place fairly close, about a 3minute (if that) walk to the warehouse. It seemed forever because of the wind and because I was not dressed for 30+ degree weather! The initial auction was packed, as you can see from above, I would guess 100+ people since I was assigned #118. The crowd swelled then ebbed. They sold smalls for the first 3 hours, switched to selling all the  bookcases, chandelier's, furniture, rugs etc. It took another 3 hours for the auctioneer to make his way back to the smalls.

Naturally, people were bidding high at first and I am adamant at not spending too much on something to resell. I coveted a set of Wm. Rogers very early silver plated cutlery and so did another bidder. I was willing to go to 30$ and he went 35$ and I just let him have it. I did get a box of nice brooches, several display boxes with pins/buttons, and some police photos and early Kentucky post cards. All in all I only spent 107$ when all was said and done. Others were spending crazy money for things like empty tin food cans, posters, etc. etc. etc. 

I met some new people. A very nice gentleman from C-don who reminded me of Muncie. A girl (I'm going to be 71 in a matter of days so everyone looks younger to me anymore) who I remember from Hay's who got some kick butt leather puttees from WWI. Which sparked a memory of  how well and how much money I made from a lot of WWII items. I need to be more aware of historical items and that they are BIG money and BIG money is my main goal now that I am looking at losing 2000$ in retirement money in a few months, years (who knows). Some regulars from Hays were there. Larry, Joe and his son, Brook, and a lot of others who names I do not know but recognize from their occasional appearance at Hays.  

I have not seen Ken for some time and I am worried he may be unwell. He told me he took a tumble in his basement, knocked himself out and came too hours later. He hurt his back and I do not think he really recovered from such a trama.

Next auction Tuesday. I have not spent much this month and have sold close to 2 grand. Of course cut that in half, and I made about a grand.

February! Good-bye January, I hope to never see you again

This was my Ebay work area. This was my death pile - well, not all of it, but a good portion. I have moved most everything to the spare little room which has been equipped with shelving and holds everything from the master bedroom (my doll, Painted Ponies and, Breyer collections and the mess in the back of the family room.

January was a sucky month. Not in sales, I will post another with January sales, which totaled nearly 50. But because my husband took a turn for the worst, ended up in the hospital and is now in a rehab nursing home.  It is not looking good. He will come home, but it is going to be a huge change. I am trying to apply for Medicaid with the help of a law firm specializing in Eldercare and Medicaid applications. I can not afford to keep him in a nursing home even if we are approved for Medicaid. I would become destitute. My "allowance" would be only for the mortgage and utilities. No food, no car payment, no gas, no home and car maintenance, no extra's like hair styling, gym membership, donations to humane society etc, no veterinarian for the two dogs, no medicare supplement for Joe and myself,  no phone, no cable, no entertainment, no credit card payments. Life would not be bearable let alone sustainable.

It boils down to this. For 2200 a month (if he is medicaid approved) I would have in home Medicaid. Physical therapy, visits from a nurse (I guess), people to sit with Joe, light house cleaning. So, I have to learn to live on what's left over.   

Added to this horror is that I have two adults living with me who are drug addicts and try to help out but are just making matters worse. My family is helping prepare the house for the influx of what is ahead of me. My house is a wreck and I have just given up any shame I may have about allowing it to get out of control.

I am trying to adjust but it is hard. I am depressed and found it extremely hard to get out of bed this morning. My daughter was already up - she is screaming in the bedroom at her boyfriend right now - and I just WANT TO BE ALONE.

That's all the news that fits.