Shop local this holiday season

I see all sorts of talk on the local crafter sites about the local holiday bazaars and craft fairs.They are a great way to not only sell your crafts, but an excellent alternative to spending lots of money in those large box stores this holiday season.

Many of the people you will meet at local craft fairs are your neighbors, and some are there to make ends meet for their own family this season, so by purchasing your holiday gifts from a local craft market, you are helping your neighbors to stay warm and have a happy holiday season.

This year, think small and local when you do your last minute shopping.  Pick up a copy of your local newspaper and sit at a local coffee shop to enjoy a warm cup of coffee or tea while you plan out what craft fairs you till shop at this holiday season.

7 Questions to ask before you buy something for your home business

It is not easy to work at home, there are a lot of distractions and you need to make smart choices on what you really need for your home office vs the toys you would like to have because they are new and cool.

Take the iPad as an example. Yes, I would LOVE to have one, but... do I need to have one? When it comes to products such as the iPad or cell phones with two screens there needs to be a balance point between want and need.

Yes, I want an iPad, but I can do my work without one as I save up to be able to get myself one for next Christmas. Maybe. We'll see how the finances are going.

Before you buy that kewl new gadget or a more powerful computer stop and ask yourself a few questions:

1) Do I really need this to do my job?
2) What will this do that nothing else can do?
3) Is the price going to drop soon, and can I get by without it until then?
4) Will I strain my income if I buy this?
5) Could I buy a less expensive brand that does the same thing?
6) Why do I want this? List 5 good reasons to get it and 5 reasons not to.
7) Have I researched what others in my work area have to say about owning this item?

I think if you get through those seven questions you should be ready to ask a few more of your own, and have a better idea on if you want a new gizmo, or if you really do need to make that purchase.

Sell your handcrafted items for free at ArtFire.com

I found a site for selling handcrafted items where I am going to list some of the many craft projects that I create. I am hoping that this site will help me to begin selling my projects and building up a fund toward saving my parents' house.

You can Register on ArtFire.com for a free account to sell up to 10 individual items at a time, or for just $7 a month you can sell unlimited items and even create your own personalized store.

I want to upgrade to the store level membership when I can afford it, but for now I am happy to find a site that will allow me to sell my handcrafted items.