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Surviving Spouses | Careers and the Military
Same Ol', Same Ol'Ok, so you're stationed overseas on one of those small bases where the exchange is no bigger than your living quarters in base housing. No problem, if you want to do some shopping just get up early and head out in town, right? Wrong! If you're anything like me, you're out to find bargains! You're out to find those one-of-a-kind items to take home and brag about so shopping at the base exchange is out of the question for me. I mean, come on, you've seen it. That "New Arrival" section right in front as you come in. The exchange has only been open for about 2 hours and already it's been stripped, right down to the mannequin. I'm sure if you've ever lived abroad you can relate to this. Oh sure, you can hop on the internet and shop until your heart's content but it's not the same. Half the fun is searching and haggling. What to do, what to do... Hey, I know! You can make a few of those nicely decorated silk floral arrangements that you send the family as gifts and sell them to people on base. Better yet, make a few extra knit caps and sell those. Wait a minute, sounds like $$$ to me! This is your chance to make a few extra bucks while doing something you enjoy. Plus, think of the excitement you'll start when you tell your neighbors about your handmade sweaters and knit caps or whatever you decide to sell. If you haven't realized it yet, military folks get paid every 1st and 15th of each month, guaranteed! I'm sure the Army Air Force Exchange Services (AAFES) and the Marine Corps Exchange (MCX) know that. Now don't get me wrong, these two organizations provide a great service to the military community and we all appreciate that, but there's nothing wrong with a little "friendly" competition, right? Right. So many spouses, and service members, possess a marketable skill or talent that can earn them a little extra cash each month. Why not spend a few hours each week and get started making some of it? Not only are you earning extra money, but you're providing a unique product that most times can't be bought at your local exchange, and that's what customers are looking for. Add all the TLC you put in while creating your products and you've got "Sold" written all over it. It doesn't take a lot to get started. Probably the most difficult part is deciding on what your product is going to be. Here's a few things to think about before you get started: - Choose a product or service based on your skills and interests.
- Do a little research on your idea (Tip: Type in your skill or interest in any search engine)
- Is this product or service practical in your area?
Example: If you're stationed in Okinawa and you're hobby is making fleece sweaters, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to sell your sweaters. But then again, I've seen weirder things in Okinawa. :) - How much will it cost to start up? Can you start with a few items or clients and work your way up?
- Have you called the Base Legal Office or Staff Judge Advocate to obtain the proper paperwork authorizing you to operate a home-based business? (It's not difficult at all. It just takes a few weeks, sometimes.)
- Do you have the proper equipment and/or supplies?
- Try having a few business cards made for you. (You can make these with your own computer for about $5.00-$10.00)
- Tell everyone about your product or service
There is much more you need to do and think about before actually getting started. These were just a few I came up with at the moment. It's always safe to contact the Base Legal office or Staff Judge Advocate for any legal questions and you can visit some great sites I personally recommend. One other quick word of advice is to talk it over with your spouse and your close friends before making the final decision. Make sure you have a pen and paper ready to write down all the comments, criticism and suggestions you get. Also, surround yourself with "positive" people. If you let all the negativity around you overwhelm you you'll never succeed. And have fun! That's what it's all about. If you're not having fun at what you do then stop right away and figure out where the fun went. Regroup and keep going. Sammy is a contributing writer for 4MilitaryFamilies.com. |
