Work hard now, celebrate later
Dear Dave: My husband and I bought a franchise recently, and we are opening our business in a couple of months. We’ve got $40,000 saved up, but my husband wants us to take a two-week vacation before we open for business. He feels that the business will completely consume us for the next two or three years, and he wants to go into things relaxed and refreshed. How do you feel about this idea? – Jill
Dear Jill: I understand where your husband’s coming from.
A business is very time consuming, and to make it a success you’ll both have to eat, sleep and breathe it for a very long time.
But here’s the reality of your situation. Right now, you’re basically unemployed.
On top of that, you have just $40,000 with which to start a business. It’s time to rev up your engines and get to work, not spend a bunch of money vacationing.
Trust me, there will be plenty of time to celebrate after you’ve won, maybe in even bigger and better ways, if you’ll just delay gratification and put in the dedication and hard work now.
When it comes to opening a new business, a good rule of thumb is this: Everything’s going to take twice as long to accomplish as you thought it would, and everything’s going to be twice as expensive as you thought it’d be.
I’m sure you’re both smart people, but my guess is you’re not exceptions to this rule when it comes to opening and running a small business.
Think about it, every single dollar connected with your business could mean the difference between survival and going under.
Like I said, I kind of get your husband’s thought process, but it would be a very unwise idea right now. You’ve got to look at the big picture. You’re going to be heartbroken, and maybe in a real financial bind, if you have to close up shop in a few months because you ran out of money.
On the other hand, if you work hard now, stay smart and make this thing a success, you can take a vacation – and
really celebrate – when the time is right!
Contact Dave Ramsey at daveramsey.com. Follow him on X: @DaveRamsey.
With the news in December that a Virginia woman bought a $3.99 vase at a thrift store and sold it for more than $100,000, the question arises: How can I do that? • Finding that big score like that is pretty rare, said one professional thrifter, but it is fun trying. • Thrifting is not new, but it has changed in recent years. While people may have before been shy to admit they bought something at a thrift store, it has now become a trendy thing to do. • USA TODAY spoke to two professional thrifters for some tips on how to get started thrifting for yourself, if you’re interested in becoming a reseller or simply searching for that rare find you can sell for a lot of money.
How has thrifting changed?
Dina Younis started thrifting at age 13 in Jordan, where her family had moved from Akron, Ohio. Thrifting wasn’t big in Jordan or with her family, but Younis realized quickly how much great stuff she could get for a small amount of money. When she moved back to Akron at age 14, she continued her passion for thrifting.
Younis, now 39, started writing a blog about thrifting as a hobby in 2008. But this was before the term “influencer” was even a thing.
During the pandemic in September 2020, Younis decided to quit her full-time job as a communications specialist for a philanthropic organization to focus on her thrifting business. She resells items online and focuses on educating others about thrifting through her partnerships with a variety of thrift stores. “I can actually make a living off of doing something that I really enjoy, and I think is going to make a difference,” said Younis, who was pregnant with her second child at the time and home with a toddler.