Risk Factor

Being a kid in this house is survival of the fittest and I must say, Reef is a champ.

Baby boy, indeed!

He’s so easy-going and I marvel at how willing he is to go with the flow,

smiling the entire time.

 This summer has proven him a fish and for the kid who hated going underwater, he's regularly jumping off the diving board.

 That's my boy!

While shopping trash, I've learned taking chances is part of the industry.

In American, land of capitalism, there’s a saying “It takes a dollar to earn a dollar.”

So like life, making money off trash involves some risk.

I love anything unique.  The weirder, the better.

Give me something like this and I hardly know what to do with myself.

I found this in downtown Phoenix at Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store.

Their prices are high, but every once in a while I hit a 50% off sale.

So, here this thing sat priced at $99.00.

Half-off at $50.00 and I'm intrigued.

What is it?

 A trunk?

A cabinet?

A piece of art?

Most importantly, can I sell it for a profit?

I'm just not sure, but I know I have to try.

I bring it home and clean it up a bit.

The color's wonderful with just enough paint chipping away to verify it's vintage.

I put it in my foyer and dress it up a bit, thinking I might keep it for a while, but no.

I'm too curious.

I list it on Craigslist for $100.00.

No takers for weeks and I'm certain I'm out my $50.00 when I receive a call.

"I love your trunk," she says.  "It's just what I'm looking for to use as a sofa table."

Sold and my confidence comes back in full swing.

I find this wicker patio set and 1/2 off its $50.00.

I think I can re-sale this, so I pack it in my car and bring it home.

I list it on craigslist for $100.00 and it sits for a month in my garage.

Wouldn't you know it, I receive a call from a girl who's been looking for this exact thing and she picks it up at the end of the day.

Later that night, I receive a call from another girl, hoping I still have the wicker furniture.

To think it sat all that time and then at the last minute I have two interested customers.

How ironic.

Last year, I paid $30.00 for this Armani Exchange leather coat.

I listed it on eBay for $100.00 and no takers for two weeks.

I thought for sure I was out my money, when I had a customer from Jackson Hole, Wyoming offer $50.00.

I was very happy with my profit and quickly re-invested it in more trash.

I'm getting more comfortable with the risk factor, but I'm not sure if I'll ever get used to putting hundreds of dollars out there; hoping I'll get it back.

But I do know, if I buy something cool I will find a buyer eventually.
And it will be worth my time.

Recently, Reef took up coloring.

I think his tongue does most of the work.

At first he wanted me to sit with him, showing him the different crayons and suggesting where to color.

Now, he sits for hours and colors in his own little world of imagination.  

The sky's the limit.