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Dilu Posts: 8,574

OK I'm suffering from hot august night blues and am finding reasons not to be working

Also I am somewhat obsessive and maybe a weee bit anal retentive- so

I have saved every single receipt from my first year.  And yesterday out of curiosity and all the above staTED reasons I added it up. 

only-  drum rollllllll


$4342.78

I told my husband and he laughed- he said he had thought I was up to $6000.00

I thought about that for a minute and said I should get busy and spend the $1657.22 that is left...

Have you ever seen your honey roll his eyes completly around?

He mentioned that he thought I would no doubt be spending it in no time anyway so please don't feel the need to go to extra trouble.

Hmmmmmm

I did remind him that much of this was stuff that is bought in bulk but lasts a long time- like discs and bolts and cotter pins....buy in bulk and save money  :lol:

And of course mohair- when it is on sale.....


Now tell me if I am nuts.....(nicely, tell me nicely....) but it shouldn't be soooo expensive this next year......

right?


hmmmmmmmm........:/

I don't know


But when in the hot August blahs- go shopping?

Dilu:P

Daphne Back Road Bears
Laconia, NH USA
Posts: 6,568

I have yet to add up my expenses for this year.... now I really don't want to! Think I'll wait til January!! bear_grin

Dilu Posts: 8,574

Oh come on Daphne....true confessions time.....be brave...... bear_grin:lol::lol::lol:

bearsbybeesley bears by beesley TM
Tofield Alberta Canada
Posts: 6,818

Ha Ha Ha Dilu! Good for you Hon! I try to keep a monthly record of expenses and oh my gosh the average month of spending is $1000.00. Some months smaller $500.00 Garnet is a very giving person but I may have to curb it a bit. He tells me if this keeps up he will be working until he is 90. He may be right!!!:lol::lol:

Hugs Louise

Delartful Bears Delartful Bears
Australia
Posts: 3,518

WOw!!  I guess because I'm not working I can't imagine being able to spend that amount of money on supplies.

I think I've done well though, saved my $$ really hard, sold a few bears, and I have a nice supply of bear stuff.  Having said that I need to go and put another order in, but it's all good.

WHen it comes down to it, if you are selling your bears, you should be able to recoup all, if not most of the costs...  THen make some $$ hopefully.

THanks for making me feel better about my spending habbits!

Dilu Posts: 8,574

Honey, remember we are old farts with no kids in the home.  OUCH!  that would be expensive to be raising kids now....I don't know how the moms and dads of today do it, I really don't.

We don't eat out

we dont go to movies or any thing like that- we are happy stay at homes

we owe no one anything ( no car or house bills)

So.....this is it.  I would go nuts without it.  Now that would be expensive..

I used to be a clothes horse but I let the gollygirls do that now. bear_grin

I made a dress for the Peta Princess- it toned down the grape koolade look a lot.  Now I just need to name her ( I don't think calling her the Peta Princess is the way to start of a relationship with the gal who could become a daughter in law :P

I'll finish up tomarrow and post a picture

On the subject of money- I remember reading about 6 years ago in a quilting mag that the average quilter spent $6000 a year.  Wow- that was 6 years ago.....so see we are much more disciplined than they are

bear_grin:lol::lol::lol::lol: all the way to the poor house 

Louise I think I can understand your expenditures-look at what you turn out and you are selling alot-  I still can't get over your polar bear

I have a long ways to go- bUT you can't sell if you don't make and you can't make if you don't have supplies.

Right?

Also not having any grand babies would make a differance too.....sigh sigh sigh.....maybe someday

meanwhile I get to see the pictures of all the wonderful grand babies you all have.....lucky lucky ladies! :D

And continue striving for the ultimate artiste golly

gollyhugs

di

bearsbybeesley bears by beesley TM
Tofield Alberta Canada
Posts: 6,818

Hey Dilu!!! Who are you calling an old FART? bear_grin:lol::lol:

I know, I know I am an old fart. And you sre so right about the kids are gone and we dont go out much and after all we are worth it. I do not recommend to any one to spend this amount of money as it does take alot to recoup. I do however feel I am worth every penny! bear_grin (Garnet would disagree)  I worked since I was 12 years old full time, even during going to school until 4 years ago. Oh..... I am just making excuses for my spending!

I am a mohair aholic. Better on mohair than WINE!:lol:

I have many many many more bears to sell trust me inorder to recoup. I guess I had better quit spending Huh?

Hugs Louise

doodlebears Doodlebears
UK
Posts: 7,414

doodlebears Celebration Ambassador

Guess I must be a mohair-aholic (great new word Louise) I can't resist buying all the yummy stuff. I have a HUGE stash of the stuff, as for adding up my receipts, well you must be joking, my poor old ticker couldn't take it. My daughter does that for me, raises her eyebrows and shakes her head a little then shuts the filing cabinet.

Jane

psichick78 Flying Fur Studios
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 3,073

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I had about $500 worth of mohair before my 2nd teddy was even done!!! Thank goodness I have been selling art on ebay for a while, so my boyfriend can't complain about the money I spend. Although, I don't really care for clothes, shoes etc. so I have to spend my money on something right??
I have a gross amount of mohair, felting supplies and sculptiing supplies. I could almost teach classes and not have to buy anything for the students.
What makes mohair soo addicting anyway?? For me it's because I want to have a large selection, so depending on my mood, I can always find something I like.
But in the end, it makes me happy, so who can put a price tag on that. Right?
Heather

MerBear MerBear Originals
Brockville, Ontario
Posts: 1,540

Agreed. There's something about having a stash of mohair, wool, felting supplies, material and crochet threads that's heart-warming. Luckily my husband has his own addictions...books, so he doesn't complain much about mine. As well, I'm still working and my extra cash is mine to spend as I like. I could always take up smoking or drinking but since I don't do either I have to spend my money somewhere! Hopefully in the next couple of years I'll become a grandmother and then I guess I'll have to split my spending somehow.

Marion

Judi Luxembears
Luxemburg, Wisconsin
Posts: 7,379

Mee too...I am a mohair-fur-and-all sorts-of-supplies-aholic!!!  Dilu, I have quadrupled that amount in one year.  I hate doing taxes but the more you can add up the more you can write off.  Add everthing...including ebay fees.:D

Shelli SHELLI MAKES
Chico, California
Posts: 9,939
Website

Shelli Retired Help Advisor, Banner Sponsor

Yes, add up everythign.  I save EVERY SINGLE receipt; even for magazines I purchase, which are a business expense -- even if not a "supply" in my bearmaking per se. 

If you're like me, after adding everything up, you will end up with a profit of something like $4.21 for the year.  Whee!

Have fun with that! :P;)

Daphne Back Road Bears
Laconia, NH USA
Posts: 6,568

Hmmm.....
while on the subject.....
Any good books out there, or software you 'business' artists recommend for doing the tax side of things?

I'm not ready to pay an accountant for advice and honestly have yet to claim... oh, I'd better not say it in case the IRS meanies are reading and report me!

I know I won't have much of a profit and it's my understanding that one has to have a profit to make it necessary to file taxes. Or is that just a certain amount of sales, not profit? See, I'm trying to find excuses....

Anyway, any directions you can point an artist with no interest or knowledge in the financial side of things would be appreciated!!

Daphne .... no, Ursula Undercover bear_cool

Dilu Posts: 8,574

Mr. Paranoia sums it up nicely for me;

"well, you never know when ther huns will be at the gates and the world economy will collapse and for crying out loud if you weren't doing this what would you be doing?!"

My apologies to any huns that are lurking....

Besides, and this is serious, you are half way through a project and you don't have the perfect whatever you need to finish.....you really want to wait 7-10 days for mail order to come?

I try to anticipate ahead....eyes of every size, solid for my gollies and colors and clears for the bears....

Stuffing....well does it really make sense to buy it bu=y the bag.....I don't think so.....

joints?  well who knows what size you will need next so you have to have them.....a large selection too!

The hardest supply I have to find....black worseted wool....I  declare it is the hardest thing.....can take me hours.....I need to stop buy only 2 yards at a time- I think it is time to move up to the serious level and buy 10 at a time...this is getting just silly trying to find this. ( at a reasonable price)

Hey Ursula- don't worry-just give the auditor one of your beautiful bears- he will hasve to understand.

Dillydallydoodelywo

Judikins of Oz has her blue dress-but not her blouse-  it really is hard to get going this month.ugh!

Laura Lynn Teddy Bear Academy
Nicholasville, KY
Posts: 3,653
Website

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You may be surprised... for taxes we have a CPA do our taxes... and it costs us only $200... and that's for personal, and 2 businesses!  (used to be $150 before hubby decided to do a biz...) 

AND... that amount is tax deductible for next year....

Our CPA is worth his weight in gold!  We really only go to him once a year... but it's nice to know we have someone knowledgeable to talk to when necessary bear_original

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